Paris Police release bodycam footage of traffic stop after cell phone video lands on social media
April 25, 2023
On Dec. 31, 2022, a passenger of driver Tyler Hill recorded a Paris Police Office stopping the vehicle for a defective tail light.
“It has recently come to the city’s attention that cell phone video footage depicting “a portion” of a traffic stop conducted by a Paris Police Officer on a 23-year-old male identified as Tyler Hill is being circulated throughout local social media along with misleading narrative comments. In order to provide a more complete and accurate description of the events, we have prepared this release,” stated Chief of Police, Richard Salter.
The officer stopped a red, 2011, Cadillac in the 2800 block of Lamar Avenue for a defective tail light. The vehicle was being operated by Hill and occupied by two other individuals. According to Salter, “The officer communicated with the driver through the front passenger window asking for the driver’s identification and proof of insurance. The driver was unable to produce either document but provided his name and date of birth upon request of the officer.”
After confirming the information provided by Hill, the officer discovered the vehicle’s registration had been expired for five months.
“When the officer returned to the car, he informed the driver that he was going to receive a warning for his Defective Tail Light and a citation for No Insurance – if he could not provide any proof of insurance. “The officer then asked Mr. Hill for his current address. Mr. Hill refused to provide his address and asked the officer what would happen if he failed to provide his address. The officer explained to Hill that if he failed to provide the address he would be arrested,” added Salter.
“The officer then gave Hill ample opportunity to comply with his request. Hill still refused and was told that he needed to exit his vehicle. Mr. Hill refused to exit the vehicle. The officer then called for other officers to his location to assist while maintaining control of Mr. Hill’s arm while attempting to remove him from the vehicle,” said Salter.
“Mr. Hill continued to resist arrest, was warned and eventually was pepper sprayed. Due to Mr. Hill’s actions, he was then forcibly removed from his vehicle and arrested when additional officers arrived. The two passengers were identified and released from the scene without incident and Hill’s vehicle was impounded. A search of Hill’s vehicle revealed evidence of marijuana residue and paraphernalia.”
Chief Salter stated, “Had Mr. Hill simply provided his address when asked, he would have not been arrested; and had he not resisted, he would not have been pepper sprayed, handcuffed or charged with a Class-A Misdemeanor for Resisting Arrest, his vehicle would not have been impounded. He would have been issued a citation for not having insurance and allowed to go about his evening.”
We have included both the cell phone video and the police bodycam footage below.