MEMPHIS — The Tennessee Highway Patrol has released dash camera footage in response to rumors that a protester was struck by a cruiser.
“In Memphis, there are social media posts alleging that an individual was hit by a Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper. This is false. Have a look for yourself,” the department stated in the release.
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The dash camera footage shows multiple law enforcement vehicles responding to the scene of a protest spilling onto a roadway. As the recording vehicle drives into the area, a man wearing an orange safety vest walks out from behind another vehicle.
The responding trooper quickly comes to a stop, narrowly avoiding striking the man.
“Move! Get out of my way!” the trooper commands the protester.
The trooper then begins to slowly move his vehicle forward, while continuing to instruct the man to move out of the way.
The man can then be seen grabbing the cruiser’s push bar and using it as a support while lying down on the road. He then stands up, walks away and gets into the driver’s seat of another vehicle.
“Our priority is always public safety…for motorists, protesters and certainly our troopers,” the agency stated. “When someone enters the roadway, it creates a serious and immediate risk, and troopers are trained to respond to prevent injuries or worse outcomes.”
