Viral Video Shows Man Being Forcibly Removed from SUV by Texas City Officer During Traffic Stop, Prompting Internal Investigation Texas City Police Chief Landis Cravens said his department has initiated an internal investigation following an online video posted to TikTok on Tuesday (7/22/2025), which depicts an officer pulling a man out of his vehicle during a traffic stop. Jahiel Freeman shared a video capturing his encounter with a Texas City police officer that took place in the parking lot of a shopping center on July 17. The video had more than 300,000 views on TikTok at one point. Officer Michael Turner, who joined TCPD in 2022 after spending 2.5 years with La Marque Police Department as an officer, pulled Freeman over in the 200 block of state Highway 3 for failing to activate his turn signal 100 feet before the turn. Freeman’s brief video begins as Turner approaches the SUV and explains the reason for the stop. Turner then instructs Freeman to exit the vehicle. Freeman asks again why he is being pulled over, and Turner reiterates that it is because he did not activate his turn signal 100 feet from the intersection. Turner then opens the SUV door, while Freeman protests, saying repeatedly, “You can’t do that, that’s unlawful.” Turner again orders Freeman to get out of the vehicle. When he refuses, the officer reaches in and unbuckles the seatbelt as Freeman continues to protest. The officer then grabs Freeman’s arm and forcefully pulls him out of the car. The video cuts off just as Freeman goes to the ground, and Turner is heard saying something along the lines of he told him to get out of the F***ing car. Freeman, 21, was arrested for misdemeanor resisting arrest, search, or transport, according to the Texas City Police Department report released to i45NOW. The department denied i45NOW’s request for a copy of the officer’s body camera or dash camera video, citing state law that allows the footage to be withheld because of an ongoing investigation. Freeman stated he did not want to provide more details until he could do so with his attorney and did not share additional information about the incident. Cravens confirmed that, based solely on the video, he ordered an internal investigation. As of Wednesday afternoon, the department had not received a formal complaint from Freeman or any attorney representing him. “We are aware of a short video clip circulating that may suggest possible officer misconduct,” Cravens said. “We take such matters seriously, and a full investigation is underway to determine the facts. We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work through the process thoroughly and objectively.” Cravens emphasized his commitment to transparency and accountability. He confirmed that Turner, who is also a K9 officer for the department, remains on duty during the investigation. Racheal Spahr, president of the Texas City Municipal Police Association, said the organization was not privy to all the facts. “While the video circulating online shows only a brief moment in time, there is often much more to an incident than the thirty seconds captured on (a) personal camera,” she said. “The Texas City Municipal Police Association believes every use-of-force incident should be reviewed thoroughly and fairly. “We fully support a complete and transparent investigation to ensure that all facts are considered before any conclusions are drawn, and we hope the administration allows for that investigation to be completed before administering any discipline.” While Freeman believed the officer’s actions were “unlawful,” Galveston County defense attorney Jonathan Zendeh Del, who is not involved in the case and unfamiliar with details beyond the video, noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has held that officers may order passengers or drivers out of a lawfully stopped vehicle. State courts have also upheld that the “Fourth Amendment allows officers to control the scene of a traffic stop, including ordering occupants out of the vehicle for safety.” Officers are permitted under the law to forcibly remove someone from a vehicle if they refuse to comply with instructions. However, this does not necessarily mean the officer didn’t violate Texas City Police Department policy or procedures, which the internal investigation will examine.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2025-07-24 02:24:13 UTC