Things This Man Used to Propose: Cops, Tasers, a 'Gun'

But nobody got Tasered—or dumped
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 13, 2016 1:11 AM CST

Daiwon McPherson got the unusual marriage proposal he was looking for and lived to tell the tale. The Alabama man faked a standoff with police Friday night to surprise girlfriend Shawna Blackmon with a ring. McPherson, 33, arranged the proposal with the help of two police officers and some fellow bikers. After he didn't show up for a date, Blackmon was told that her boyfriend had a gun and was being chased by police, AL.com reports. She turned up at a gas station to find the two officers pointing Tasers at McPherson. He asked her to take the "gun" from his pocket—and ended up producing a ring instead. "First thing you're going to think is: We got another black man going to get killed by two police officers," Blackmon tells WPMI. "Nope, that was the whole flip."

Blackmon, 28, has been with McPherson since 2010. He tells AL.com that he set up the stunt to show people that police can work with the community for a good cause. Video of the proposal has been viewed more than 10 million times online. "I really wanted to bring the bike life and the police together," McPherson says. "I can't believe I actually pulled this off." The AP reports that some are condemning the stunt as reckless, though police say it was approved up the chain of command, the Tasers were unloaded, and no guns were involved. "At no time was he placed in any danger or anyone on the scene," a police spokesman says. Other officers on duty at the time had been told that the incident was a fake. (This cliff-top proposal in California went downhill fast.)

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