easyt65
Diamond Member
- Aug 4, 2015
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POLICE PUSH BACK
Bodycam video raises doubts over Dem state rep’s claim that he was pulled over for ‘Driving while Black'
Minnesota police released bodycam footage taken during a traffic stop with state Rep. John Thompson that raises questions over his claim that he was pulled over for "driving while Black." Thompson was pulled over for not having a front license plate.
The officer asks Thompson for proof of insurance in the video, which the politician says is on his phone and notes that he is a state representative in the district. The officer asks about his Wisconsin driver’s license and returns to his vehicle for roughly 14 minutes.
"You're suspended in Minnesota," the officer says after returning to Thompson’s car.
The state legislator shakes his head no, prompting the officer to say, "That's what the computer says. If it's wrong, you'll have to deal with DVS [the Department of Vehicle Services]."
Thompson has reportedly never held a Minnesota license, according to documents reviewed by local outlets, and the officer cited him for driving with a suspended Wisconsin license.
His license was suspended in 2019 for failure to pay child support in Ramsey County Minn., outlet WCCO reported.
"Simply put, the traffic stop was by the books," Axtell continued. "What happened afterwards was anything but, I’m dismayed and disappointed by the state representative’s response to the stop. Rather than taking responsibility for his own decisions and actions, he attempted to deflect, cast aspersions and deny any wrongdoing."
The driver, an elected official who does not dispute driving without a front license plate, owes our sergeant an apology."
Thompson has not answered Axtell’s call to apologize but supported the release of the bodycam footage and noted the officer’s actions "were by the book."
Rep Thompson, you admitted you were driving without a front license plate, thus breaking the law. You were also knowingly driving with an expired license. You were breaking the law. You were wrong. apologize to the officer, and pay your child support, you deadbeat.
Bodycam footage raises doubts about state rep's racism claim for traffic stop: 'Driving while Black'
