Ben Carson reveals he threw rocks at cars and was chased by cops when he was young

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Republican presidential contender made quip at event in New Hampshire
Told how he and friends pelted cars with rocks when they were young
Said his youthful antics were 'back in the day before they'd shoot you'
Crowd laughed along - but he risks reigniting debate over police violence

Published: 07:04 EST, 1 October 2015 | Updated: 07:49 EST, 1 October 2015

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Ben Carson has revealed that he and his friends used to throw rocks at passing cars for fun when they were younger - then joked that if he did such a thing today he would get shot.

Carson, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, told the story at a campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday, and quickly added that his comments about the police were 'just kidding'.

The 64-year-old candidate, a former neurosurgeon, chuckled as he described fleeing from police after provoking them on purpose - then added: 'That was back in the day, before they'd shoot you'.

He said: 'Does anybody remember throwing rocks at cars when you were young? ... Everybody did it, because it was so much fun. Those old people, they would get angry, and stop the car and chase you.'

He continued: 'Sometimes the police would come, always in unmarked cars, and they'd be chasing us across the field.'

After describing his escape by climbing a fence too high for them to follow, he said he would 'laugh at them because they couldn't do that... that was back in the day, before they would shoot you'.

The comments, recorded by NBC News, raised a laugh from the audience, and Carson quickly added: 'I'm just kidding! You know they wouldn't do that'.

His off-the-cuff comment risks reigniting the debate over victims of police violence, usually young black men, which has generally been seen as a side-issue by Republicans.

Carson, the only black presidential candidate, has been open about his wayward past in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan.

Comments: Ben Carson made the joke at the University of New Hampshire. He is pictured with a police escort outside the venue

According to the Baltimore Sun, he had violent outbursts in his school days, and tried to stab a classmate over his choice of radio station. He said he later learned to control his temper by force of will.

Some people thought the comments were ill-judged. Pete Haviland-Eduah, policy director for the Million Hoodies campaign group, said: 'Ben Carson.. Has jokes about police shootings. Not much on policies to prevent them.'

Another Twitter user suggested he had told the truth despite his swift retraction, writing: 'Ben Carson used to taunt police, now they shoot', followed by the adage: 'A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth'.

DailyMail.com has contacted Ben Carson's campaign for comment.