No, you didn't command come here. Sir, I'm with you guys for Christ's sake. I'm a [ __ ] federal agent. Who's your supervisor? My god. This is crazy. You ought to be ashamed of yourself. What happens when a federal agent shows up at your door and you think he's lying about his identity? That's exactly what happened when ATF agent James Burke knocked on this woman's door, identified himself as law enforcement. She didn't believe him, so she called the police on him. >> Hello, what's going on there? Uh there is someone at the door he he knocked the door and he say he's a police when I tell him I can't open the door because my husband not here. He say I will not stay on you are not uh I you are not uh I'm sorry. He he tried to open the door. Okay, so uh how long ago did this happen? Uh 3 minutes. Okay, is he still there or did he leave? >> Yes, yes, he's still there. Yes, he's still there. Okay, did he show you a badge or give you any kind of ID at all? >> Yes, he show me a he show me a badge. Okay, what what did the badge look like? I I don't know. Okay, did it Okay, did it have a name on it or a number on it? >> No, no, there is only signal on it. And so is he still at the front of the house? Keep me posted on where he is. >> still knocking the door. He's still knocking? Okay. Yes. Okay. Police respond to the scene and what unfolds [music] next turns into a situation nobody saw coming. Hey, turn around. Let me see your hands. Turn around. Let me see your hands. I'm a federal [ __ ] agent. Okay, let me see your hands. I need to SEE SOME ID. GET ON THE GROUND. GET ON THE GROUND [screaming] NOW. GET ON THE GROUND. HERE'S YOUR DEAL. GET ON THE [screaming] GROUND NOW. I'M A FEDERAL AGENT. >> 9171 10-3. I'm a FEDERAL AGENT. >> GET ON THE GROUND. ON THE GROUND. I'M A FEDERAL AGENT. I'm Why wouldn't you show me your ID when I got here? Don't move forward, Burke. You didn't ask for it. Get on the ground. We'll figure it out. Not getting on the ground. Well, then stay where you're at. I'll stay where I'm at. >> Fine. Why do you got to make this harder than it is? Listen, I'm not getting out. I have no I have no problem making this You're the guy. I'm not overreacting. We got a call that someone's impersonating a police officer out here doesn't have ID. No kidding, CUZ SHE DOESN'T WANT TO OPEN the Okay, get on the ground so I can find OUT WHO YOU ARE. IT AIN'T HAPPENING. OKAY, FINE. FINE. Do you find I think I'm a police officer or something? What the heck's the matter with you? Who do YOU THINK YOU ARE? GET ON THE GROUND. >> I'M NOT GETTING OUT OF THE I'M NOT DO NOT REACH FOR YOUR WAIST. KEEP YOUR HANDS UP. Why would I have an old lady [ __ ] GET YOUR HANDS UP. GET ON THE GROUND. LET'S FACE DOWN NOW. NOW. [screaming] FACE DOWN. YOU GUYS ARE MAKING A BIG MISTAKE. >> FINE, WE'LL SETTLE THAT IN A SECOND. SETTLE THAT FACE DOWN NOW. ALL THE WAY DOWN. All the way. All the way. >> my IDs right here. Left pocket. Left And we're going to put your arm behind your back, sir. Wait a second. Do not resist. I'm not resisting. You're acting like a [ __ ] WAIT A SECOND. STOP. WAIT A SECOND. NO, DON'T DON'T DO THIS. WAIT A SECOND. I GOT A MEDICAL CONDITION. GET MY LICENSE OUT OF MY POCKET. WE'RE GETTING YOU SECURED. PLEASE, PLEASE WAIT. NO, WHOA. HOLD ON. HOLD ON. I'M HYPERVENTILATING. PLEASE. WAIT, PLEASE, SIR. I'M I'M NOT WOULD YOU PLEASE GET MY ID OUT OF MY LEFT POCKET? >> STOP. >> I'M BEGGING YOU. MY MY WIFE'S PREG PLEASE, IT'S RIGHT HERE. PLEASE GET IT. AS OFFICERS MOVE IN TO restrain him, he repeatedly tells them to check the ID in his pocket, insisting he's law enforcement. But in the moment, that request gets ignored as officers focus on getting him into handcuffs and securing the scene. WAIT. SIR, HELP ME UP. JUST HOLD ME UP. SIR, I CAN'T DO WAIT. SIR. STOP RESISTING NOW. >> PLEASE, HELP ME. SIR, PLEASE GET MY MY FEDERAL CREDS. NO, DON'T DO THAT, PLEASE. SIR. >> ME TASE YOU. PUT YOUR RIGHT ARM BEHIND YOUR BACK. OKAY. HELP ME UP. HELP ME UP. NO, YOU'RE GOING TO STAY ON the ground and put your right arm behind your back. >> Let me breathe. Let me breathe. I'M GOING TO I'M GOING TO OW. DON'T DO THAT. OKAY, HERE. MY GOD. IT IS CUFFS. PLEASE STOP. PLEASE STOP, SIR. WAIT A SECOND. SIR. Please help me up. PLEASE. I'M A FEDERAL AGENT. MY GOD, MY GUN, MY PISTOL. >> NO IDEA WHAT you are. I have no idea who you are. Sir. Who the heck do you think YOU ARE ACTING LIKE NOBODY. I WANTED YOU TO SEE MY GODDAMN CREDS. THE LADY WAS FREAKING OUT FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. SIR, PLEASE. PLEASE. Roll over. Sit up. It's in my goddamn SIT UP. SIT UP. LET HIM SIT UP. LET HIM SIT UP. >> I showed HER MY GODDAMN CREDS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. NOW, this raises a real question. If someone is claiming to be law enforcement, should there have been an attempt to verify that before things escalated to this level? From the agent's perspective, he never even had a chance to show his credentials. He was met with guns drawn and constant commands to keep his hands up. [music] So, what do you think should have been done differently in this situation? Let us know in the comments. Wait there. Left pocket. Left pocket, cargo pocket. Please take it out. Stay on the ground. Don't try and SIT UP. >> IT. I [ __ ] get it. THEN YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEHAVED THE WAY YOU DID. I WANTED YOU TO SEE MY CREDS FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. MY GOD, I'M HERE TO [ __ ] TALK TO YOU. >> NO, YOU'RE THE ONE THAT'S IN THE WRONG. You know, if you have interaction with the police, you obey commands. >> Sir, I was trying TO GIVE YOU MY >> DIDN'T COMMAND COME HERE. SIR, I'm with you guys for Christ's sake. I'M A [ __ ] FEDERAL AGENT. WHO'S YOUR SUPERVISOR? What's his name? What's your supervisor's name? Hang on a second. The SAC is currently John McPherson, who's on his way out to retire, who will soon be rolling. I took the MAG OUT. MY GOD. THIS IS CRAZY. YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF. >> Stand up. STAND UP. >> TRYING TO be ashamed of myself. Come out and sit in the back of the cruiser. GET IN THE CAR. GET IN THE CAR. SIR, PLEASE. You got to sit in the back of the cruiser. MY GOD. SIR, I'M JUST TRYING TO DO MY GODDAMN JOB. WHY WOULD YOU MAKE US DO THIS? I DIDN'T WANT YOU TO I WANTED TO WAIT. NO, HE'S HOLD HIM. HOLD HIM. HOLD HIM. I'm locking the door. Relax. Hold him. Hey, guys, please just talk to me for 1 second, please. Get in the car. We'll talk later. Sir. Wait. Wait. You had YOUR CHANCE. NO, I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU MY CREDS. YOU DIDN'T LET ME SHOW THEM TO YOU. I DID. GET IN THE HAVE A SEAT. WAIT. WAIT. HAVE A SEAT. >> PLEASE. WAIT, I GOT TO BREATHE. PLEASE, SIR, let me breathe. LET ME BREATHE. I GOT I HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION. GET YOUR LEGS IN. We're closing this door. Sir. >> Get your legs in. Please call me an ambulance. I just did 2 seconds ago. I don't need a medic. You just said call an ambulance. YOU DON'T NEED A MEDIC? ALL THE WAY IN THE CAR. GET ALL THE WAY IN. WAIT, SIR. ALL THE WAY IN. Put your feet all THE WAY SIR, I'M BEGGING YOU. GET ALL THE WAY IN. WAIT, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? UH OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. GET IN. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD. NO, WAIT. I CAN'T YOU'RE [ __ ] MY HEAD UP. THE SEATBELT'S IN PLACE. PLEASE. WHAT THE [ __ ] AT THIS POINT, officers have retrieved his ID and it clearly identifies him as an ATF agent. But even after confirming Burke's credentials while he's restrained on the ground, they don't release him. Instead, they double down and place him in the back of the patrol car. Now, this is where things get controversial. Was this a case of officers letting their egos get in the way, unwilling to admit they may have misread the situation, or were they still not fully convinced, choosing to play it safe until everything could be verified? Either way, this moment raises some serious questions about how situations like this are handled. WHY WOULD YOU ACT LIKE THIS? I DIDN'T ACT ANY WAY. If you are a police officer, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. I was trying to give YOU MY CREDS. GUNS UP. SIR, I'M TRYING TO GIVE YOU MY CREDS. >> [panting] >> SIR. WE'RE SECURING EVERYTHING. I'm trying to secure your vehicle. Secure the gun in your vehicle. Please call my supervisor. Please call John McPherson. We have our supervisor on the way. We'll let him handle it. I mean, seriously, guys. Hey, sir. I didn't mean to get you worked up, but you When you get a gun pointed at your face by a cop, you get nervous. You don't get to argue. YOU DON'T GET TO ARGUE. YOU DON'T GET TO ARGUE ANYMORE. >> I JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU MY CREDS. YOU DON'T YOU GET TO DO THAT AFTER you're secured. No, you screwed up, you bet. >> [snorts] >> First thing he should have had his badge out when I got here. Whoever Whenever the sergeant gets here, we'll call his supervisor. Dude, you saw how he was. He wouldn't I know. No, you never No. Don't even argue Don't even argue with him. Just Just let him yell. Just let him yell. Please call my supervisor. Please call my supervisor. He may have been really a police officer. He's got a badge, but he wouldn't do anything. Wouldn't get out of the ground. I told him over and over to get on the ground. He wouldn't comply with anything. I can't [ __ ] breathe. He followed us the whole time. Sir. Wouldn't get in the car. If he is a real police officer No, we're I got a little scratch. I'm fine. I do got that here. All right. Did we get him all a good pat down on him and everything? Not really, no. We got 133 off him. I gave her my name. I gave her my badge number. And when the officer Can you get her in the car? Where? I I couldn't show him my creds. He's telling me to get on the ground. HE'S WAVING THE GUN. I'M FREAKING OUT CUZ that's not the response I expected. He was strong. I said, "Well, he acted it's on video." He's got a good-looking badge and ID. He's worked up. James Burke. He said over and over I'm not getting on the ground. I will not do that. I said, "You don't you obviously don't know what's going on here." If he's here to work a warrant by It's not a warrant. He said something about the guy info her wife her husband bought a shotgun or something. He was here to follow up on some shotgun purchase. Yeah. I don't know if he's a 50A or 50B. I don't know. You got witnesses info. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. We want him to hang out. Sarge might want to have a word with him. Just have him hang out for a second. I think he's landlord or something. Uh he's right there. As the agent sits in the back of the squad car, deputies shift their focus to the witnesses on scene, including the woman who originally called 911. She begins to explain exactly what she saw and what promoted her to call 911. Are you guys the ones that originally called? Yes, we did. Okay. What what did he say to you when he was talking to you? He asked me to open the door because he's a police. I tell him I can't open the door because my husband Yeah, he said, "You have to open the door." I tell him, "I'm sorry, I can't. I'm staying with my kids." My kids started to crying because they they afraid. Okay. Did he ever try to Did he ever try and break the door or anything like that? >> Yes, he still knock and he say, "I will stay here until evening if you don't open the door because you are liar." Okay. Very good. There's a chance the sergeant might want to talk to you. So, thank you very much. Okay. What's he got? There's a chance he may even be legit. Who knows? But she said that he grabbed the handle and tried to push it open. They said if we put it out as an eight that he's trying to break in. That's why I thought he's working a 58 by himself. Yeah, yeah. We got what the run says. We got my video. Yeah, we Oh, it's just ridiculous. It's just plain In these days we got people like this. I told him I said, "If you are a real police officer, you should be ashamed." I said, "We'll figure that out after you get on the ground." So, we got one cuff on. We couldn't get the other one on. I had to drive-stun him. Yep. Very good. We sure try. That's the sergeant. If you want to go and see if you can talk to him, you can. It's up to you. Yeah, I'm going to He may wait till he's ready, but Thank you so much. He did have a gun, yes. He very well may be a real police officer, but he wasn't following protocol. Yep. Thank you. Thank you. As it turns out, he was a legitimate federal agent with valid credentials, and that's where the situation becomes a lot more complex. There's real debate over who handled this the wrong way. Officers claim Burke never properly identified himself, while others argue he was never given a fair chance, especially with deputies arriving with guns drawn. At the same time, Burke did refuse [music] commands to get on the ground and comply, which only escalated tensions further. Situations like this can spiral [music] quickly, especially when both sides believe they're in the right. Agent Burke was eventually released about an hour later with no charges filed, >> [music] >> but the story didn't end there. Burke went on to file a lawsuit, claiming the incident caused lasting physical and psychological damage. According to his attorneys, the injuries were serious enough that he could no longer perform his duties in the field and was reassigned to a strictly administrative role. In the end, the court sided with Burke, resulting in a $1.6 million settlement. Following the verdict, his attorneys released a statement saying, "Today's verdict sends a clear message. Our community will hold officers accountable when they abuse their power and violate people's rights. We are grateful the jury recognized the tremendous harm this incident caused Jim and his wife, Summer. As for the officers involved, Vieha and Winchell remained employed with the department, according to records from the Ohio Attorney General's Office. Both having served since 2001. Cases like this highlight how quickly situations can escalate and how those split-second decisions can lead to long-term consequences for everyone involved. If you enjoy real body cam footage and breakdowns like this, make sure you subscribe to Body Cam Central for more content just like this. And if you want to keep the story going, check out the video that just popped up on your screen. You're definitely not going to want to miss that one."