A state trooper who was caught on camera threatening to beat a man during a traffic stop has been fired after people demanded justice.
The incident took place in Fairfax County, Virginia, where State Trooper Charles Hewitt verbally and physically confronted motorist Derrick Thompson after he pulled him over back in April 2019.
In the viral video taken by Thompson at the time of the traffic stop, the trooper is heard threatening the driver after Thompson tells the officers that he’s recording.
The incident reportedly began to unravel as Thompson was told to exit his vehicle after one of the troopers said they smelled marijuana. At that moment, Hewitt began walking towards the car and Thompson began filming the incident.
“He just illegally entered my car,” the driver said after Hewitt reached into his car and unlocked the front door.
Responding, the state trooper said: “Take a look at me. I’m a f**king specimen right here, buddy. You are getting on my last nerve. You are gonna get your a** whooped!”
After hearing the threat, Thompson expressed concern for his safety by saying: “Sir, my hands are up, I’m not threat.” While facing the camera on his phone, he added: “I feel unsafe. I have just been threatened by an officer as two other officers stand by and say absolutely nothing.”
Just moments after the driver refused to exit his vehicle, Hewitt faced the camera and said “watch the show” before grabbing the man by his neck and pulling him out of his car. Though the phone fell and the vision became obscured at that moment, the audio could still be heard in the background.
“Sir, get off my neck! I am not resisting! You are harming me!” Thompson yelled.
Following the altercation, Thompson filed a case against the trooper saying his constitutional rights were violated when he was threatened and assaulted by Hewitt. Though Thompson received $20,000 in compensation, Virginia State Troopers refused to admit any wrongdoing.
It has now come to light, however, that Hewitt is no longer on the force after Thompson’s attorney Joshua Erlich spilled the news following settlement talks. The information was also confirmed by VST spokesperson Corinne Geller.
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