A hit-and-run accusation against a police officer during a protest in the United States was invalidated after patrol car camera footage was released.
The incident occurred last Sunday (11) during a protest in Memphis, Tennessee, against the activities of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
In posts that quickly gathered thousands of views on social media, short video clips accused Tennessee Highway Patrol officers of hitting a protester.
The videos, filmed by other demonstrators, captured the moment when a man identified as a “traffic agent” appeared to be trying to direct car traffic in the area.
However, footage recorded by the patrol car camera revealed that the man was simply fooling around. The clip showed that he stopped in front of the patrol car, ordered them to stop, then squatted in front of the car before standing up and walking away.
“In Memphis, there are posts on social media claiming that an individual was struck by a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer. This is false. Take a look for yourself,” the department posted on Facebook.
“We respect and protect people’s right to peacefully protest. However, that right does not include entering active roadways or putting yourself in danger. In this case, the video clearly shows the individual holding the front of the trooper’s vehicle, lying on the ground, then getting up shortly after and leaving the scene on his own.”
“At no point does the video show the individual being struck or injured, despite the narratives circulating on social media. Our priority is always public safety… for motorists, protesters, and certainly our officers,” the post continued.
Photo and video: Facebook / Tennessee Highway Patrol. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
