Adam Finley had such an interaction with a bad cop. He was roughed up, sworn at and handcuffed. When he tried to file a complaint, he was hit with criminal charges. The local police chief turned Finleys wife against him, which (according to both Finley and her) eventually ended their marriage. The fact that video of the incident should have vindicated him didnt seem to matter.
Finleys trouble first reported by the Jonesboro Sun and Stan Morris at NEA Report began in December 2016 in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Officer Matthew Mercado of the Walnut Ridge Police Department pulled Finley over, near the railroad yard where Finley works. But Finley hadnt committed any traffic infraction. Instead, Mercado apparently suspected that Finley didnt really work for the railroad and therefore was trespassing, or perhaps engaged in some sort of criminal mischief.
The encounter quickly escalated. But as you can see in the video below, the escalation was entirely due to Mercados behavior, not Finleys.
Mercado didnt turn on the audio for his camera until about 30 seconds into the stop. During that time, the video shows Finley handing Mercado both his license and his employee ID from the railroad company. Mercado then asks Finley to get out of his truck. Its here that Mercado then turns on his mic. He asks Finley, Whats with the attitude? Finley, who appears to have done nothing to indicate an attitude, replies, Nothing.
Mercado persists. No, you have an attitude. Whats your problem? Finley responds, I dont have no problem, Im good. Mercado again pushes. I can pull you over if I want. Finley says, Thats fine.
Later Mercado again expresses doubt about Finleys employment again, despite having Finleys employee ID in his own hands. It doesnt look like you were working, he says. As he says this, Finley takes a small step away from the truck. Mercado snaps, If you get up on me again, were going to have problems. Finley, clearly taken aback at the escalation, flashes a nervous smile. Mercado again ratchets up the tension. Im glad you think all of this is a joke, sir. Finley shakes his head and again tells Mercado that he works for the railroad. Mercado again indicates that he doesnt believe him.
Mercado then orders Finley to put his hands behind his back, and says hes going to arrest him for obstructing my operation. Finley, clearly nervous, protests and tries to prove to Mercado that he works for the railroad by showing him some equipment in the back of his truck. At this point the stop turns violent. Mercado grabs Finley and throws him against the truck. Finley puts his hands behind his back. Mercado cuffs him and says, Youre about ignorant. He then again shoves Finley into the truck, this time with enough force to dislodge his own body camera, which falls to the ground.
Over the course of the next several minutes, Mercado repeatedly uses profanity, lectures to Finley as if he were a child and claims that Finley is hostile and aggressive. Throughout all of this, Finley is remarkably calm, insisting over and over that he works for the railroad, and that he doesnt understand why he was pulled over.
Mercado ultimately released Finley without arresting him, likely after finally realizing that Finley really did work for the railroad and had done nothing wrong. But before he does, he issued multiple threats and allegations. At one point he tells Finley, The next time I tell you something, youre going to ride lightning. Hes referring here to a stun gun. Later he warns, Dont later on try to complain that I roughed you up or anything like that, because you know I should take your ass to jail. He also falsely accuses Finley of assaulting a peace officer.
