Cop Pulls Over Speeding Cop Escorting Speaker Sexton And It Got Physical
- Body cam shows a heated stop involving TN House Speaker Sexton.
- SUV was clocked at 85 mph before the trooper finally pulled over.
- MNPD cleared its officer after an internal review of the stop.
Imagine watching a police officer pull over a speeding SUV, only for the driver to get out and enter a confrontation with the officer. That’s exactly what some motorists in Nashville recently witnessed, but it didn’t end with an arrest or even escalating violence, and additional units called for backup.
Instead, the officer in question let the driver go because they were with the Tennessee Highway Patrol in an unmarked government vehicle during a dignitary detail.
More: Police Run Over Biker After High-Speed Chase
The incident occurred on the eastbound Briley Parkway near the Two Rivers Parkway exit, where a Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) officer attempted for several miles to stop an SUV traveling at 85 mph in a posted 55 mph zone.
Escorting Someone Important
Again, the vehicle was part of a dignitary detail, in this case transporting Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton, but the MNPD officer had no idea. At one point, the SUV flashed blue lights back at the pursuing officer before eventually pulling over.
Body cam footage shows the THP trooper exiting the vehicle and identifying himself as Highway Patrol. The exchange quickly became physical and confrontational, with both officers placing hands on each other and trading sharp words.
At one point, the MNPD officer warned he would arrest the trooper if he touched him again. “I don’t care who you are,” the MNPD officer can be heard saying after the trooper identified himself and explained he was transporting the House Speaker.
The trooper flashed his badge during the encounter, all while Speaker Sexton remained inside the SUV. Despite repeated assertions that they were on official business, the MNPD officer refused to allow the vehicle to leave until identification was provided. After both officers identified themselves by name and credentials were shown, the stop ended without arrests or citations.
Complaints Filed, Officer Cleared
According to WKRN, Speaker Sexton’s chief of staff, Kevin Johnson, filed a Citizen Complaint Report accusing the MNPD officer of being out of control, unprofessional, and physically aggressive. However, an internal MNPD investigation cleared the officer, concluding his actions were reasonable, measured, and consistent with department policy.
The report also noted that the Tennessee General Assembly was not in session at the time. It’s also unclear why the THP officer was speeding at 30 mph over the limit. The Tennessee Highway Patrol declined to answer questions about whether it conducted an internal investigation or whether speeding is common during dignitary protection details.
Speaker Sexton’s office strongly criticized the MNPD officer, calling him overzealous and claiming the stop jeopardized the safety of both the Speaker and the trooper. The office further stated that no traffic laws were violated under state law and argued that executive protection duties justify the trooper’s actions. Interestingly, they didn’t cite the specific laws that they referenced.
Questions Without Clear Answers
Despite the statements, there are plenty of unanswered questions. Does Tennessee law exempt THP troopers from posted speed limits during dignitary protection? Does THP require troopers to notify local law enforcement when conducting such an escort? Did THP conduct an internal review after the fact?
These and plenty of other questions are ones we sent to local authorities. We’ll update you here if we hear back.
Credit: WKRN
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