Dashcam footage saved a man from felony charges after he was accused of seriously injuring a police officer in The Woodlands, Texas.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on April 27 as Toby McLaughlin, a 40-year veteran, was directing traffic outside the Ironman North American Championship.
The Montgomery County Precinct 2 Constable’s Office initially claimed that McLaughlin sped away in a white Honda Civic after being hit by a driver who ignored commands.
McLaughlin was taken to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital in serious but stable condition.
Police located the 50-year-old driver and charged him with failure to stop and render aid, a third-degree felony. He was given bail of $30,000 and held in the Montgomery County Jail.
“Those videos don’t take sides.”
That’s when the dashcam video saved the day.
The video shows the driver ignoring the officer’s commands, but instead of showing the officer being hit, the video shows the officer trying to kick the moving car, causing him to fall to the ground and get injured. There is.
The video also records a man reacting to the incident by shouting, “Why are you so fucked up kicking a car?”
Felony charges against the driver were dropped after the district attorney’s office reviewed the video and confirmed that the officer was injured.
KPRC-TV legal analyst Brian Weiss said the proliferation of dashcam video and other surveillance technology has revolutionized the amount of evidence available in these cases.
“I believe that ringing doorbells, dash cams, and municipal surveillance cameras are probably one of the most important developments in the criminal justice system in a generation or two, because they have the power to free innocent people. “and it emphasizes the criminal justice system’s dual commitment to convicting the guilty,” he explained.
“Those videos do not endorse either side,” he added. “And based on these compelling videos, we can get acquittals almost immediately and in real time, and in some cases convictions in real time.”
Instead, the driver was charged with a Class C misdemeanor related to obedience to a police officer.
“The maximum possible penalty is a $200 fine for court costs,” Weiss said.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Officer McLaughlin as he recovers from his injuries and we wish him a speedy and full recovery,” police said in a statement.
The Woodlands is a special purpose district located approximately 45 miles north of Houston.
Video of the incident is below.
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