Jasper police viral video causes concern in Marion County

JASPER, Tenn. (WDEF) — In a viral video posted on social media, patrolmen were depicted dragging a passenger out of his vehicle with brute force.

Jasper authorities provided context as to what they say happened during the traffic stop.

The traffic stop occurred on Highway 28 by exit 155 around 12:30 a.m.

The driver had run through a stop sign which prompted an officer to pull her over.

When investigating, the patrolmen noticed an unidentified AR-15 in the backseat. The men later learned that it was a BB gun.

Patrolmen Derrick Long and Justin Graham asked the occupants to exit the vehicle along with their information.

Passenger, “Sal” Hrynecwicz was “intoxicated and not cooperative” according to Jasper Police.

In the video, officers were depicted removing the passenger by striking him, before taking him to the ground. 

The investigation is under review from the DA’s office who was provided with the patrolmen’s body cam footage.

“The weapon was identified by Officer Graham as he’s walking up to the vehicle. You saw that. And he shined his flashlight in the back area and observed the weapon. That’s when he began to ask the defendant to step out of the vehicle for officer safety,” attorney Mark Raines said.

Raines referred to a federal court case, Pennsylvania vs. Mimms (1977) concerning police authority to remove occupants from a vehicle at a traffic stop.

He claimed that the defendant gave four false names when asked for his identity, one being his attorney in Dunlap.

Sal is currently in jail on two counts for assaulting a police officer and refusal to comply.

“If everybody would have done what they were supposed to do, she would’ve gotten a traffic citation, they would’ve done a field investigation, found out that was a BB gun, and everybody would’ve went home,” Chief of Jasper Police Billy Mason said.

As it is still under investigation, Jasper authorities will continue to provide information to the case.