The Paris Police Department responded to a video circulating social media, which show what police say is only a “portion” of a traffic stop on Tyler Hill, along with a 30-minute body worn video by the officers.
To see the video, click here
On December 31, 2022, police stopped a red, 2011 Cadillac in the 2800 block of Lamar Avenue for a defective tail light.
The vehicle was being operated by 23 year-old Hill and occupied by two other individuals.
“The officer communicated with the driver through the front passenger window asking for the driver’s identification and proof of insurance,” said Paris PD Chief Richard Salter “The driver was unable to produce either document but provided his name and date of birth upon request of the officer.”
Salter said the officer then noticed that the vehicle’s registration had been expired for five months and brought this to the attention of the driver. The officer then returned to his patrol vehicle to confirm the information provided by the driver with his in-car computer.
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 Hill for his current address but he 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. 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. Hill refused to exit the vehicle. The officer then called for other officers to his location to assist while maintaining control of his arm while attempting to remove him from the vehicle,” said Salter.
Hill resisted arrest, was warned and eventually was pepper sprayed, Salter said.
“Due to Hill’s actions, he was then forcibly removed from his vehicle and arrested when additional officers arrived. A search of the vehicle revealed evidence of marijuana residue and paraphernalia.”
A video of the incident, taken from inside the vehicle on a phone held by Hill, was posted to social media last week with negative backlash towards Paris Police Department and the officer.
“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,” Salter explained. “He would have been issued a citation for not having insurance and allowed to go about his evening.”
Contemporaneous with the statement from Salter, the police department released the officer’s entire body-cam recording so that a more “complete and accurate account of the incident is provided in comparison to the circulating social media video.
“The city supports the Police Department and its officers and is confident both the facts and the law, support the officers actions in this.”
Note: The video released does have limited editing to protect confidential information of third-parties.
