Cop pulls over black police captain by mistake. What happens next is shocking.
Officer Jenny Thompson and her partner, Tom Stevens, were patrolling through the city, driving their police cruiser. A tense atmosphere prevailed as Tom complained to the others about certain recent transformations in the management of the police department.
“Can you believe they put one of them in charge?” Tom muttered angrily, gripping the steering wheel with his fist. “This department is going to hell.”
Jenny fidgeted in her car chair. It was embarrassing how naïve she was. She’d been a part of the force for only a few months, yet Tom’s racism made her uneasy.
“Maybe we should give the new captain a chance,” she suggested cautiously.
Tom scoffed. “You’re too naïve, kid. They’re all the same. Can’t trust them.”
When they got on Main Street, Tom’s eyes narrowed. A sleek black sedan caught his attention. The driver, a well-dressed black woman, was obeying all traffic laws, but something about her rubbed Tom the wrong way.
“See that?” Tom grumbled. “Such a woman must have stolen that car.”
Jenny frowned. “We have no idea of that, sir. She is not engaging in any wrongdoing.”
“That’s what you think,” Tom said and switched on the light in the patrol car. “Time for a little routine check.”
The black sedan came to a halt in a professionally smooth manner. Jenny could see the driver’s shoulders stiffen as they approached the car, and Tom stepped out of the patrol car.
“Sir, please,” Jenny pleaded. “This doesn’t feel right.”
Tom did not even answer her words and started walking toward the sedan with amusement on his face. Jenny followed, feeling nervous, though she was reluctant to admit it. When they had nearly reached the car, the glass between the driver’s seat and the passenger compartment descended. There was a woman inside the car who looked calm but scared. She shifted her gaze back and forth between the two officers.
“Is there a problem, gentlemen?” she asked the officers in a calm voice.
“License and registration,” Tom demanded, his tone dripping with disdain.
The woman did not resist and handed over her documents. Jenny realized the woman’s hands were shaking slightly.
“Elaine Davis,” Tom read out. “And what have you been doing in this neighborhood, Miss Davis?”
“I have to go to a meeting,” Elaine answered as coldly as she could. “Is there a reason you pulled me over?”
Tom’s eyes narrowed. “We are the ones who ask questions around here. Get out of the car.”
Just as Elaine put her right hand on the buckle of her seat belt, the driver’s door was pulled open violently by Tom. He grabbed her arm tightly, pulling her out of the car before she could even undo her seat belt entirely. Elaine stumbled, catching herself against the side of the car as her personal belongings spilled onto the pavement.
“Hey!” Elaine protested, trying to steady herself. “That was completely unnecessary.”
The sudden action stunned Jenny. She instinctively moved closer, her voice shaky but determined. “Sir, that wasn’t called for. She was complying.”
Tom looked derisively at Jenny. “You’re not going to give me trouble, are you? You’re not going anywhere near these people, probationary. They’re real criminals. I know how to deal with them.”
Elaine stood up, brushing the wrinkles off her jacket before giving Tom a hard glare. “You have no right to treat me like a suspect. I am innocent of any wrongdoing.”
Tom crouched down on his knees and started searching through the disordered belongings from Elaine’s purse. People on the sidewalk started to take brief pauses, some pulling out their phones to capture the event. Jenny felt a knot forming in her stomach as she watched Tom violate Elaine’s privacy and rights. Summoning her courage, she stepped forward and placed a hand on Tom’s shoulder.
“Officer Stevens, this isn’t protocol. We need probable cause to search her belongings.”
Tom indignantly jerked his hand away, his cheeks red with anger. “Search warrant? Based on what? A fancy car and a nasty demeanor are all the warrant I require. You should remember who is in control here.”
Elaine took a breath and spoke clearly, trying to dress away her anxiety. “I demand to know why I am being treated like a criminal. This is harassment.”
Tom took a step toward her, his voice low and threatening. “You are in no position to demand anything. Unless you want things to get worse, I suggest you keep quiet.”
The growing crowd murmured in disapproval, and the tension in the air was palpable. Jenny knew this was wrong but didn’t know how to stop it. Tom continued to search, and as he did, he discreetly pulled a small bag of white powder from his pocket and slipped it under the driver’s seat. Jenny saw the movement from the corner of her eye, her heart racing as she realized what was happening. This wasn’t just racial profiling anymore; it was a frame-up.
“Well, well,” Tom announced triumphantly, emerging from the car with the bag. “What do we have here?”
Elaine’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s not mine. You just planted that!”
Tom smirked. “Looks like we’ve got ourselves a drug dealer. You’re under arrest.”
Elaine glanced at Tom, and as he began to reach for the handcuffs, she could no longer hold back. “This is ridiculous! I’m telling you, that’s not mine.”
Jenny felt sick to her stomach. She knew what she was witnessing was wrong—a blatant abuse of power. Her father’s words echoed in her mind: A true officer works for people’s safety—all people, and it doesn’t matter the color of their skin.
Elaine turned her eyes toward Jenny, pleadingly. “Officer, you were there. You witnessed what he did. Please tell him this is not right.”
Suddenly, Tom turned around, red with anger, and looked Jenny straight in the eyes. “You better listen, rookie. This is how we clear the streets.”
