The sneering cop who turned to a camera while a man was live streaming and said, “You’re going to get your ass whooped in front of f_cking lord and all creation” before pulling the man out of his car and beating him will not face criminal charges.
Virginia State Trooper Charles Hewitt’s actions were “distasteful but legal,” said Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano in announcing his decision Tuesday.
The incident took place on April 20, 2019 but did not come to light until July 2020 after the attorney for the driver posted the video online which led to the investigation by the prosecutor’s office.
Derrick Thompson was pulled over for an expired inspection sticker but then the cops claimed to smell marijuana and ordered him out of the car. But Thompson refused to step out of the car, believing he was being racially profiled.
“Watch the show, folks,” Hewitt said to the camera before attacking Thompson.
No marijuana was ever found in the car but Thompson was convicted of obstruction of justice in 2019. But his attorney, Joshua Erlich, said he plans to file a lawsuit.
Although Hewitt was cleared of any criminal charges, he will now be investigated by his own department who do not appear too happy with his actions.
“Even though criminal charges are not being brought forth in this incident, Trooper Hewitt’s conduct is still inexcusable and not reflective of our department, our personnel, or our standards of conduct,” Virginia State Police Colonel Gary T. Settle said in a statement, according to the Washington Post.