re: Virginia police officers threatened Army Lt. during stop (Body Cam footage included)

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Perhaps the better question is, why should a police officer assume someone traveling at a low rate of speed who does eventually pull over is trying to evade them just because they passed a possible area to stop previously?

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The cops do not know who is in a vehicle that they are pulling over. Taking a long time to finally allow the cops to speak to you could be interpreted a number of ways, but my first two thoughts are that the suspect is trying to get rid of evidence or is getting a weapon ready for use.

THAT is why the cops responded in such an escalated fashion to the suspicious vehicle. Then, when he played the passive-aggressive game and stated that he didn't have to comply because it was "just a traffic stop", their sense of inherent malfeasance escalated.

The cops weren't the greatest, but nothing there indicates that they were in the wrong based on the knowledge that they had at every stage of the situation.

That's my initial opinion.

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You can see the streetlights in the video goober

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Which video is that, Barney?

The one I saw did not start until they were pulling into the BP parking lot.

But I did find an answer to my question, see above. It was less than a mile, and Nazario had slowed to well-below the speed limit and was driving with his turn signal activated on the largest thoroughfare in the thriving metropolis of Windsor, Virginia.

I also looked at the area on Google Earth, and I see no area that would certainly have been both open and lighted prior to the BP store, other than PERHAPS an auto parts store that was likely already closed for the night.

Clearly, he was engaged in a desperate effort to evade the police.

Gas station is well lit with multiple cameras. The LT did everything correctly. He is still alive due to his actions. Kept his hands visible and didn't let the cops aggressive attitude anger him to a point where they wanted it to go. He disregarded conflicting commands that could have gotten him killed.

It's obvious they wanted to escalate the confrontation, while he is seen and heard trying to to de-escalate.



So many people blindly support public servants whether they be police or politicians.

These people feel like they are our overlords instead of employees. It's really a warped state of affairs.

I guess my point is that if you go into that situation with that mindset, you can justify doing so in nearly any situation.

This would be like me showing up to my front door with my shotgun every time a package is delivered, just on the off chance it was one of those thieves impersonating a delivery driver. You just can’t live life or police in such a manner.

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The cop saying “what are you a private or specialist” was truly low IQ. Coming from someone who exclaimed he was a Veteran, yet couldn’t distinguish an LT’s bars from a Pfc or Specialist insignia on the LT’s multi cam uniform.

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Yeah, I laughed at that one.

Given the way that cop was acting, I would not put it beyond the realm of possibility that he was intentionally demeaning this young officer.

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If the LT had nothing to hide, he would’ve gotten out of the vehicle, complied, and requested a lawyer, and a phone call to his Battalion Commander. That’s IF there was nothing to hide.

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I agree. We should all also submit to warrantless searches of our homes. Nothing to hide, right?

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Since when is asking you to step out of your car the same as a warrantless search?

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Well, it is not the same. Merely analogous.

We should ALWAYS just do whatever cops ask us to do. Anyone who does not ... that person MUST have something to hide.

Seems clear to me.

So I'm speeding on a farm country road and a cop puts lights on to pull me over.

I think I'm going to drive to a well light area with cameras even though they're are bright lights on the cop car and recordings.

I then drive for twenty minutes trying to find a bright well lit area with cops trying to pull me over.

The cops don't know what is going on, except I'm not stopping when they want me to stop.

Then when I finally stop, and they tell me to get out of the car he says I've done nothing wrong and there is no reason for me to get out of my car.

Uh, yeah there is. You just drove for twenty minutes trying to find your safe space. Cops might very well thing you are going to drive away again if given the chance.

frick stupid people.

This person was trying to push a narrative. If you want to say cops have to much power, you can say it.

But if you don't have to listen to a cop when they pull you over or try to arrest you, then cops will not be able to do anything.

Cops say they wanna arrest you. You say no. Impasse.

Or we can go back to the way things were. Punish those that abuse their power. But listen to the fricking cops.

No, our best are lying in the street wearing $800 sweaters.

None of that happened. He reduced speed and turned on his flashers while continuing to drive less than 2 minutes. Nothing about his behavior indicated he was trying to evade police.

The reason for the initial stop was BS to begin with. He was stopped for a missing tag that was clearly visible.

There are rights and written law we expect everyone to respect obey them.


It is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to pull over to a well lit area, preferably a parking lot.

These cops were looking for action and they created some. It's really that simple.