A Virginia State trooper has been put on administrative leave following a video that captures him grabbing a Black man out of his car during a traffic stop in Fairfax. The incident began when officer Charles Hewitt said he smelled marijuana in the car, but they never found any drugs. The video was taken from the 2019 incident, but the video has recently gone viral following social justice becoming a mainstream topic since the death of George Floyd.
Derrick Thompson, the man behind the wheel has retained an attorney, and they’re seeing some action according to NBC 12. “Take a look at me. I’m a f*** specimen right here buddy,” Trooper Hewitt can be heard saying in the video.
“Sir, my hands are up. I’m in no threat to the officer,” Thompson responded.
“You’re going to get your a** whooped in front of fu**** Lord and all creation,” Hewitt said.
Hewitt was trying to get Derrick Thompson out of his car because there was a suspicion Thompson had drugs.
“I’m giving you till the count of three. Don’t do this,” Hewitt warns in the video.
“I’m not touching this officer. My hand is by my head,” Thompson responds.
“One, two, watch the show folks,” Hewitt says while looking at the camera. “My life is in danger,” Thompson is heard saying before being brought to the ground.
“I’m not resisting…Get off my neck sir, you are harming me,” Thompson says.
“He appears to be enjoying himself,” Attorney Joshua Erlich said who’s representing Thompson. “He had lacerations to his head that were bleeding profusely. He also had some injuries to his legs…He asked several times for medical treatment and did not receive it.”
“The VSP in April 2019 weren’t wearing body cameras so if Mr. Thompson had not created this video, there would be no record…I don’t know if we would’ve gotten the same reaction a year ago…We’re seeing much more accountability from law enforcement,” Erlich added.
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