By Police1 Staff
HAMPTON, Va. — In an attempt to be transparent with the community, the Hampton Police Division has released video of a traffic stop that ended with a local man suffering from injuries officials say were the result of an accident, WAVY reports.
The footage was released after the alleged victim of the incident, Andre Lloyd Wiggins, his attorney, and family held a press conference in front of the city courthouse Monday, June 13. The attorney told reporters the city had previously denied them the footage.
Wiggins, 59, claimed he was unable to speak due to the alleged injuries he suffered during the confrontation with police. According to a release, officers pulled over a vehicle because they knew the driver had a suspended license. The driver refused to comply with officers’ requests and wouldn’t identify himself. During a search of the car, a K-9 unit detected illegal drug odors and all three passengers, including Wiggins, were asked to step outside.
Officers found a small bag of marijuana in the seat where Wiggins had been, so they searched him.
“While searching him, Mr. Wiggins was leaned against the side of the van door, which began to close (sliding sideways) as he attempted to adjust his balance. This caused him to fall to the ground, resulting in a facial injury,” said Hampton police Sgt. Jason Price.
The police called for aid and Wiggins was taken to a hospital.
“The Division deeply regrets that Mr. Wiggins was injured,” police said in a statement. “However, we feel that the video footage clearly shows that Mr. Wiggins’ injury was an accident and not as a result of a use of force.”
The department also said they are “committed to open communication, transparency and public trust.”
Wiggins claims that during the confrontation, when police tried to pull off his boot, it made him lose his balance and hit the ground face-first. Wiggins claims his jaw was broken, four teeth were missing, his tongue was almost bitten off and he needed five corrective surgeries.
The driver of the vehicle, Kenneth Lovell Piggee, 46, was arrested for falsely identifying himself to law enforcement, operating a motor vehicle after being declared a habitual offender and served with an outstanding warrant for revocation of a suspended license.