A Taylorsville police officer has been suspended pending further investigation after a video of a tense, profanity-laced traffic stop in the town's downtown area began circulating on social media. The footage shows the officer ordering a driver out of his vehicle before the two move out of frame, their voices still audible as the confrontation escalates.
The Town of Taylorsville said it became aware of the video after it was posted online, and officials confirmed to WCNC that the stop stemmed from a report of reckless driving through downtown. According to the station, the video shows the driver positioning his phone to capture the interaction with police before the officer is heard telling him, “Explain to me why you're driving like a dumb--- through town.”
Driver Questioned the Legality of the Stop
The video captured the officer instructing the driver to get out of the car, and the driver immediately complied, the outlet reported. As he stepped out, the driver can be heard asking, “What am I being detained for?” and telling the officer, “You can not take me for whatever reason you want to.”
The officer's response, caught on the recording, was blunt: “Shut the f--- up.” Moments later, the officer and the driver moved out of view of the phone's camera, according to the footage reviewed by the station, leaving the remainder of the encounter undocumented on video.
Town Points to Professionalism Standards
Taylorsville officials said the suspension is pending further investigation into the officer's conduct during the stop. The town reiterated that it requires all staff to conduct themselves at the highest level of professionalism, a standard it says is now under review as the investigation continues.
Under North Carolina law, reckless driving as defined in subsections (a) and (b) of G.S. 20-140 is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, according to the North Carolina General Assembly.
