Outrage erupted online after an Arkansas police officer was filmed roughly pulling a man by his braids during a traffic stop.
The shocking video showed the officer standing outside the man’s car while he remained inside during what appeared to be a traffic stop. The officer was seen holding the man’s arm and pulling on it before the situation appeared to escalate. He then grabbed some of the man’s braids and began pulling him by his hair.
The officer tried to open the car door from outside while still holding the man’s arm. The man then raised his other hand in an apparent gesture of surrender, but the officer did not stop. “Out of the door,” the officer yelled. Even after the man opened the door, the officer grabbed a large amount of his braids and pulled them roughly, appearing to try to pull the man through the car window instead of allowing him to exit through the open door.
The video continued to show the officer repeatedly pulling the man’s braids, with the force appearing to move the man’s head. Despite the man appearing not to resist, the officer then punched him in the face. He pulled the man’s braids again and placed his foot against another vehicle, seemingly attempting to gain more leverage while pulling his hair. The officer eventually stopped and allowed the man to exit through the door rather than the window.
What Happened Before Controversial Video
After the video went viral, details regarding the arrest were provided. According to NEA Report, the arrest followed a police pursuit in which the suspect’s vehicle was driving 82 mph in a 60-mph zone. The officer claimed that the driver then accelerated after he turned on his emergency lights. The officer wrote that he clocked “the SUV at 113 mph before its speed increased to 130 mph.”
After police stopped the vehicle, the video was taken. The officer claimed that there was a struggle with the suspect. One of the suspects was also “booked on allegations of felony fleeing, first-offense DWI, reckless driving, resisting arrest, speeding more than 15 mph over the limit, improper passing on the right, failure to stop at a red light, no seat belt, and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a felony.“
Viewers Outraged After Arkansas Officer Pulls Man by Braids
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers were left outraged after seeing how the Arkansas officer treated the man during the traffic stop. They believed the force used was unnecessary and violent. “This is absurd. There is no reason for this and the cop is so dumb he’s trying to pull the guy through the window when the door is open,” one person wrote. Another person claimed, “He’s purposefully trying to pull his hair out. To cause him extra pain and humiliation. He saw that the door was open and figured this was his last chance to get a hold of his hair. You see that it’s the first thing he grabbed in the video. It was his goal all along.”
More people expressed their outrage and criticized the officer’s actions. Because the man was black, some viewers also accused the officer of racism based on what they believed they saw in the footage. “You see the fist he put on the forearm? He was contemplating swinging that fist down onto it. He is full or rage and anger during this interaction. Racism. Angry racism. Clear as day,” one person wrote. Another person said, “What the hell? Is this normal in the US? This is so extreme it’s hard to believe it’s even real. These are the people who are supposed to civilize the world?”
The footage prompted discussion about how much force police officers should use when detaining or arresting someone. It also raised questions about how perceived excessive force can spark public outrage, especially when a suspect does not appear to be resisting or posing an immediate threat.
