Pulling and Striking: Examining the Blytheville Dashcam of a Trooper's Arrest
An Arkansas State Police incident report says Trooper Theodore Henderson used force after a pursuit; the dashcam footage shows a uniformed officer pulling a rear-seat passenger through a rear window and striking him.
How we obtained the footage
Released by NEA Report.
What the incident report says happened
The incident report, attributed to Trooper Theodore Henderson, says the pursuit began after he saw a 2023 Infiniti QX50 travelling at 82mph in a 60mph zone on Arkansas 18 and that the driver accelerated after emergency lights were activated.
The report says the vehicle was stopped after police deployed spike strips and used a tactical vehicle intervention, that the driver was identified as Adonerus Johnson and arrested on several allegations, and that Washington, seated behind the driver, failed to comply with repeated orders to exit.
The report states Henderson wrote that Washington pulled his arm away and braced against a partially opened door, that Henderson gripped Washington's wrist and hair as he pulled him toward a rear window, and that Henderson struck Washington once after he believed Washington was preparing to strike him and a second time while trying to handcuff him.
What Tedrick Washington Jr. says happened
Tedrick Washington Jr. told The Shade Room that he had been cooperating with police and alleged the trooper used excessive force.
Washington said he intended to pursue legal action.
The pursuit and initial contact
0:00 to 0:06, the dashcam vehicle travels behind a dark SUV on a road at night with emergency lights active.
0:06 to 0:12, the dashcam vehicle contacts the rear quarter of the SUV, forcing the SUV to spin sideways across the lane.
The alley turn and stop
0:16 to 0:25, the dashcam records a police vehicle pursuing a dark SUV as it turns.
0:25 to 0:39, the pursuit continues down a narrow residential alleyway.
0:39 to 0:48, the police vehicle hits the dark SUV, which turns sideways and stops adjacent to the police vehicle.
The pull through the rear window and the strikes
1:53 to 2:00, a uniformed officer grips and pulls a passenger through the rear driver-side window while the door is open.
2:01 to 2:03, the officer is seen striking the passenger.
2:04 to 2:09, the officer pulls the passenger completely through the car door to the ground, while other officers join in.
What is established and what remains attributed
Established by both the incident report and the recording: the police pursued a dark SUV at night and made contact with its rear quarter causing it to rotate; the vehicle stopped and officers approached; a uniformed officer pulled a rear-seat passenger through the rear driver-side window, struck him, and other officers joined as the passenger was pulled to the ground.
What rests on the incident report or on other accounts alone: the report's description of the vehicle travelling at 82mph in a 60mph zone and of the driver accelerating after lights were activated; the report's account that spike strips and a tactical vehicle intervention were used; the trooper's stated belief that the passenger was preparing to strike him and the trooper's explanations for striking; the list of charges against the driver and against Washington; and Washington's statement that he was cooperating and that he will pursue legal action.
The moments, in order
- 1:53 to 2:10. Officer Pulling and Punching Passenger. An officer (Trooper Theodore Henderson) in uniform pulls a passenger (Tedrick Washington Jr.) through the rear window of a black car. 1:53–2:00: An officer in uniform grips and pulls the passenger through the rear car window while the door is open. 2:01-2:03 The officer is seen striking/punching the passenger. 2:04–2:09: The officer pulls the passenger completely through the car door to the ground, while other officers join in.
- 0:00 to 0:13. Dashcam contacts SUV rear quarter causing spin. A police vehicle through its dash cam pursues a dark SUV at night before making contact with its rear side, causing it to rotate sideways across the lane. 0:00–0:06: A dashcam vehicle travels behind a dark SUV on a road at night with emergency lights active. 0:06–0:12: The dashcam vehicle contacts the rear quarter of the SUV, forcing the SUV to spin sideways across the lane.
- 0:16 to 0:48. Pursuit down alley ends with SUV stopping beside police vehicle. A dashcam records a pursuit of a dark SUV at night as it turns into an alley and stops. 0:16–0:25: A police vehicle pursues a dark SUV along a road before the SUV turns. 0:25–0:39: The pursuit continues down a narrow residential alleyway. 0:39–0:48: The police vehicle hits the dark SUV which turns it sideways and stops adjacent to the police vehicle.
What you can check for yourself
- An officer (Trooper Theodore Henderson) in uniform pulls a passenger (Tedrick Washington Jr.) through the rear window of a black car. 1:53–2:00: An officer in uniform grips and pulls the passenger through the rear car window while the door is open. 2:01-2:03 The officer is seen striking/punching the passenger. 2:04–2:09: The officer pulls the passenger completely through the car door to the ground, while other officers join in.
- A police vehicle through its dash cam pursues a dark SUV at night before making contact with its rear side, causing it to rotate sideways across the lane. 0:00–0:06: A dashcam vehicle travels behind a dark SUV on a road at night with emergency lights active. 0:06–0:12: The dashcam vehicle contacts the rear quarter of the SUV, forcing the SUV to spin sideways across the lane.
- A dashcam records a pursuit of a dark SUV at night as it turns into an alley and stops. 0:16–0:25: A police vehicle pursues a dark SUV along a road before the SUV turns. 0:25–0:39: The pursuit continues down a narrow residential alleyway. 0:39–0:48: The police vehicle hits the dark SUV which turns it sideways and stops adjacent to the police vehicle.