December 5th, 2020. Windsor, Virginia. An Army lieutenant in uniform pulls over at a gas station. Within seconds, guns drawn at his head, hands up, still in uniform, then pepper sprayed twice. The officer's words, "You should be afraid. This is real body cam footage. >> Put your hands out the window and turn the vehicle off. Put your hands out the window. He's not complying. Jeff, >> come around your side. >> Let me see your hands. How many occupants are in the vehicle? >> What's going on? >> How many occupants are in your vehicle? >> It's only myself. Why are your weapons drawn? What's going on? >> Open the door slowly and step out. Open the door. >> I'm not getting out the vehicle. What's going on? >> Get out of the car. Open the door slowly and get out. >> What's going on? Get out of the car now. >> Open the door. Get out of the car. >> Hold hold hold. >> Keep your hands outside the window. Keep your hands outside the window. >> My hands are right here. What's going on? >> Get out of the car now. >> Get out of the car. >> What's going on? >> Get out of the car now. >> Get out of the car now. >> I'm serving this country and this is how I'm treated. >> Yo, look. Guess what? I'm a veteran, too. I don't know. Babe, get out of the car. >> What's going on? >> Get out of the car now. >> What's going on? >> What's going on? You're fixing to ride the lighting, son. >> I'm sorry. What? >> Get out of the car now. >> What's going on? >> Get out of the car now. Get out of the car, >> sir. Just get out of the car. Work with us and we'll talk to you. Get out of the car. >> You received an order. Obey it. >> I'm I'm af I'm honestly afraid to get out. Can I? >> Yeah. You should get out. What's going on? What did I do? Get out now. >> I have not committed any crimes. >> You're being stopped for a traffic violation. You're not cooperating at this point right now. You're under arrest for a traffic. You're being detained. Okay. You're being detained for >> traffic violation. I do not have to get out of the vehicle. You haven't even told me why I'm being stopped. Really? >> Get your hands Get out of the car now. Get out of the car. >> Get your hands off me. Please. Get your hands off me. Get your hands off me. Get your hands off me. I didn't do anything. >> Don't do that, sir. Get out of the car now. Don't do that. Get out of the car now. >> I'm trying to to talk to you. I'm trying to talk. Can you please relax? Can you please relax? >> Get out of the car right now. >> This is not how you treat a uh I'm actively serving this country and this is how you're going to treat me. >> I didn't do anything. >> Whoa. Hold on. What's going Hold on. >> Watch it. RC deployed. Get out of the car. Get out of the car now. That's That's [ __ ] up. That's [ __ ] up. >> Get out of the car now, >> sir. Just get out of the car. >> I'm trying to breathe. >> Get out of the car now. >> That's [ __ ] up. That's really [ __ ] up. >> Yeah. Oh, get out of the car and get on the ground now. Get >> I I don't even want to reach you by seat belt. Can you >> take your seat belt and get out of the car? >> Can you please >> get out of the car now? >> Listen, get off your seat belt and get out of the car. Look, I'm just going to just leave. Get out of the car. >> Look, take your seat belt off. Take your seatelt off. >> Look, my hands are out. >> Take your seat belt off. My hands are out. Don't know each other. >> My hands are out. Please. Please. Look. This is really messed up. My go. Get out of the car. >> Take your seat belt off. Put your specialist. Where are you? >> I'm a lieutenant. Lieutenant, get out of the car. Take your seat belt off and get out of the car. >> You made it way over. You just complied. Get out of the car. >> I'm reaching for my seat belt. >> Fine. Take your seatelt off and get out of the car. >> Straight onto the ground. Straight onto the ground. >> Ma'am, is your command offic? Let's go. >> Is your command officer available? >> Get on the ground. Get on the ground. >> Get on the ground now. >> Get on the ground or you're getting sprayed again. Get on the ground. Can you please talk to me about what's going on? >> Get on the ground. Get on the ground now. >> Can you please talk to me about Get on the ground. >> Can you please talk to me about what's going on? >> You're not Can you please talk to me about what's going on? >> Why am I being treated like this? Why? >> You're not cooperating. Get on the ground. >> Why am I being treated like this? This is really messed up. This is really messed up. Sir, just >> this is really This is [ __ ] up. Sir, this is [ __ ] up. Sir, this is [ __ ] up. You know, this is [ __ ] up. >> Lay down. Lay on the ground. Just lay this [ __ ] up. >> Lay flat for me, sir. >> You know this is [ __ ] up, >> sir. Lay flat. >> Lay flat. >> This is [ __ ] up. >> I can't [ __ ] believe I'm being treated like this in a [ __ ] >> Get on the ground. >> Right there. Right there. What's that? It's >> gum. >> Gum? What the [ __ ] >> Get on the ground. >> It's gum. >> Hey, sir. Sir, can you just work with us? >> Can I just work with us? Lay down flat. Hold. Lay down flat. Lay down flat. Sir, lay down or [ __ ] up. Lay down. You're going to get tag. This is >> [ __ ] up. >> Lay down or you're going to get chased. This is [ __ ] up. >> This is [ __ ] up. >> Put your hands behind your back. Put your hands behind your back. >> This is [ __ ] up. This is [ __ ] up. >> I agree. All you got to do is listen. >> All right. Po 3 custody. >> This is [ __ ] up. Can you open up the window for my dog? I hear him choking. Can you open up the window, please? >> Yes. >> Yes, we will. Stand up. Okay. >> This is [ __ ] up. >> Is there any weapons on you, sir? No. >> Okay. Any weapons in the vehicle? >> Yes. >> What kind? Where in the >> What kind of dog you got? >> He's mixed. He's a service animal. Why did you just do that asked, sir? >> Why didn't you just do that? I'm >> flying my hand out. >> No, you weren't. >> You were not. >> My partner put his blue lights on. >> Yes. >> You didn't stop. >> I was pulling over to a well lit area for my safety and yours. I have respect for law enforcement. >> No, you don't. No, you don't. No. Wrong answer, sir. If you did, we would not be in this situation right now. All right. >> Can I get some water, please? >> Absolutely. Settle right on this curb right here. Turn around. Come sit on this curve. Walk backwards. Walk backwards. Can you get some way? Can you open up the window for my dog? I got my ham choking already. >> I'm going to go grab a bottle. All right, Joe. You good with that? >> Yeah. >> Can I get a bottle of water? >> Hey, what's up? >> OC, >> you want a cup of water? >> Whatever. I'll come back and pay for it. I'm just going to get two bottles. ain't worried about it. Here, I'm going to give you a big stuff like this. >> Okay. >> I'm going to get my back. I'm going home. >> You are not going to be with you. >> I don't go wrong. >> Do you want another one? If so, just let me know. >> That'll be okay for now. Thank you. It's dark over there. Those areas are dark. I did not feel comfortable. Those areas are dark. >> Pour it on my face. It's >> It's going to make it worse. You know that, right? >> All right. So, if it's going to make it worse, don't do it then. >> Yeah. It's going to react and make it worse. They're right here. >> Where are the meds? >> They're here. I I need them to talk to me. What's right here? What's up, man? >> What can you do to I didn't do I didn't commit any crimes. I'm leaving tonight. I'm not going to jail. I need something be done for my eyes. Nothing actually. >> You notify 801. kind of stuff. They just need to get out and told them take your handcuffs on you for their safety until they can figure out what's up. But why you don't want to stop for a dark area. I pulled over to a well-lit place. That's fine. You didn't tell him that. >> I told him that and that's why I don't understand why. >> How do you say your last name? >> Nazario. >> Okay, Mr. Zarya, I know this doesn't make a lot of sense to you, but the more that you blink, you're it's going to cause your eyes to tear and it's going to get that burning out. Okay? >> So, blink for me. You understand what you're saying? >> The more that you blink your eyes, it's going to cause >> tearing tear up. Your natural tears my nose. Can I please blow my nose? >> Go ahead. Let it out. That'll help out my nose. Mr. Taking medication regular basically. >> I got I got >> Can you please take a couple? >> There's nothing going on. There's nothing wrong. Come on. >> Obviously there is cuz you wouldn't comply with us. All we did was ask you to get out of the car and you refused. Said, "No, I'm not getting out of the car." >> I was asking what was going on. >> My hands are out the window. >> And they told you it was a traffic stop and you refuse to comply. >> So, hold on. Before we get to that, my medics are still here. You still need my medics? >> Yes, I would stay here. >> What's going to stay here as long as you need it? >> So, how long does this take to um to wear off? >> You just come out of rookie school. >> How long pepper spray activate? >> It'll take about 20 minutes, man. 20, 30 minutes. >> The more I'm telling you, I know it doesn't make sense, but the more you blink, the better it's going to be. I didn't believe the guys when they told me either. Okay? But the more you blink, the better it's going to get. >> They go through this very anxious. >> Can you please take the cuffs off me, please? I need to >> No, I need to relax. Okay. If you want us, >> I did not fight you. Look, can you can you adjust this, please, for my wrist, please? Please >> take a please. When I take your arms out, do not pull away. Okay. >> I'm not going to pull away. >> I'm gonna work with you as much as you'll work with me. >> My grandmother is hired NYPD. >> All right. What do you want to do with this hand? >> All right. >> Where's your ID at, sir? >> I believe it's in this uh here. >> Yeah. Did you feel something rectangular? >> Yeah. >> Where you stationed at, Mr. >> I'm coming from um your pocket. >> Your zipper. >> Oh, zipper. Okay. >> I'm coming from a medical event. I'm a medical officer. All right. I'll >> put your wallet back in here. I'll hand you all do exercise. >> Do you have We're preparing We're we're preparing for a deployment. So um thank you ID. >> Yes sir. >> Where are you saw [ __ ] all day? I can't see [ __ ] without my I'll get that from you in a minute. Heat. Heat. That's all. You just step on the car. We'd be done by now. >> Talking about >> Mr. Lazario, look, you want to stop in a well lit area because you're nervous. >> Yes. >> The whole BLM movement, you're probably nervous and all that. They feel the same way. They're nervous for their jobs and their lives. >> I get where you're coming from. They get where you're coming from. Let's let's let this pepper spray kind of wear off and stuff and then just just have an intelligent conversation with them >> driving all the way down here. First of all, you pass a well lit parking lot there. But look, you felt Hold on. You felt uncomfortable over here. Okay, coming here was not the problem. That was not the problem. The problem is when you refused to get out of the car, okay, you refused to get out of the car. Had you when you got here and you stepped out of the car, I can promise you this would have been over by now. It been over. You be gone. >> Look, like he said, he's a vet. He don't want to get you in no trouble. >> Dizzy, are you going to fall over? >> You okay, Mr. Morario? That's still wearing off a little bit now. >> There's uh I can see a little better. >> Okay, very good. So, we're progressing. We're getting there. Where you stay at? >> I'm heading to Petersburg right now. Um, check on some family stuff. >> I got a bunch of gear in the vehicle. I'm I'm transferring units right now. My vehicle's loaded up with gear like >> Okay. Well, specifically, he was asking about weapons. What kind of weapons you got? >> It's right there. >> I'm sure he's saw already. >> No, you just got a handgun. You got a long gun. hand. >> I got it. Yeah, he came back with it. >> Run a firearm. X-ray delta 996874. XD96874. temple. One unit um Smith to Northolk. >> They haven't told you where your next deployment is. We're going to uh we're going to split up. I don't know if I'm going to be in Kuwait or Afghanistan. And I'm at the throw the sandbox. >> All right. Have no chest pain. Short of breath. >> Am I done? Okay. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. My partner. >> You all right? If I pop the trunk? Hey pop. Hey pop nose. >> Yeah. Thank you. >> Car with you on deployment or stay with family? >> Um I'm making arrangements for that. Yeah. If I could I would take them. That's my king. Okay. Go ahead and have seat on your bump right there. Okay. Cuz I don't want you to fall down. I don't want you hold on. Just Yeah. Relax right there. Tell what happened. Why would you comply? I looked out the mirror and I saw guns drawn. I put my hands out and we told you, we identified ourselves. told you to step out of the vehicle and you wouldn't. All you had to do is comply and we'd have been done by now. Okay? Cuz trust me, as far as All right, Mr. Nario. So, back. Let's go all the way back to square one. Okay. I turned around on you at the food line. I actually came out of cost plus and I came up behind you. >> I saw you before you turned >> and you had no tags. displayed. I I see it, but per the law, it has to be in the license plate bracket. I understand it's paper and I understand why it's there. Yes. But at that time, I had no idea. I didn't know that you had a vehicle registration until I approached your car. And at that point, I was too busy dealing with you to deal with the tag. You want me to wipe your eyes? Okay. So, look, all this was going to be was, "Hey, man. I stopped you. You didn't have a tag. You got your driver's license. I'd have ran you and you'd have been on your way." Okay. what would have been a two-minute traffic stop turned into all this. >> As as I was telling him, you know, I pulled over to well lit areas before and I've never looked out the window and saw a gun blazing immediately. >> So, so the reason we did that is because we followed you for a mile and a half with lights and sirens on and you didn't pull over. I understand you want to get to a well lit area, a a welllit area. I get that. But when we follow you that long, look at look at the climate this day and against everybody against us, against y'all. You know what I mean? >> Yeah. >> I'm not out to hurt you and I know you don't want to hurt me. That's not what it's about. What it's about is making sure that everybody goes home at the end of the day. So when you don't stop and you continue to proceed, our suspicions are raised. What's going on in the car? What don't you want us to see? So you pull into here and if you would have just complied with the simple commands that we were giving you originally, it would have been done and over with. and you would have got back on your car and you'd be gone by now. >> But you wouldn't get out the car. You wouldn't comply. >> It was just looking out the mirror and seeing your guns out already. That's what I was asking like what's what's going on? I was just >> And then and and not to mention you have I know you weren't reaching, but not to mention you had a gun at your right leg. You you get our perspective though on the safety issue for us as well. You get that? >> Yeah, I I do. I do. And and that's why I put my hands out and I was asking what and when you put your hands out they were like this outside the window. How do we know nothing's in your hands and I was telling you stick your hands out. Stick your hands out. Stick your hands out. And I was having you step out. You wouldn't do any of it. You following what I'm saying? Okay. So this can go one or two ways. Okay. I I don't want to hear you up. I'm going to be straight up with you. You're a good man. You've made lieutenant in the army. How hard was that? That wasn't an easy task, was it? >> No, it wasn't. >> And And what would this What would this do to your career? >> It would hurt it. And I'm in the I'm uh in the middle of getting promoted right now anyway. So, yeah. >> To what? Captain or first lieutenant? >> Um to first lieutenant. >> Okay. So, >> and then when we get you out of the car, we have to wrestle with you on the ground just to get your hands behind your back, just to put you in cuffs, just for a safety matter. You following where we're at? I mean, what what would you do if you came across that overseas? You know, if you were infantry and you came across that, you following me? >> You see where we're coming from? I'm trying to work with you as much as I can. I would have never went, like I said, it would have been a simple, you know, hey, I see your tag now. You know, make sure you get it displayed on in the proper spot. And you'd have been moving on with your day and I'd have been moving on with mine. But here we are. >> How's your drive doing it? Better. And I keep calling you. I told you I'm a veteran and I respect rank. Okay? I was a freaking I was a former in the Marine Corps. I respect rank. However, I do have a job to do. Okay? I just talked about chief of police. You asked for a superior. He's off obviously right now. Saturday, I called him. He came out. We talked. Here's how he was thinking. I told what I wanted to do. He said, "That's no problem. Two ways we can handle this. We can either sit here with you until you get your eyes back or you can see, and I mean at a good distance, you're safe to drive, okay? And you're going down the road. Go do your deployment. go continue serving my country, which I respect and I thank you for. Okay? Or we can push the issue, write you tickets for no uh license plate displayed, and for resisting resist obstruction of justice. I don't even go that route because that route makes the army get involved and I know how they are. The you don't know this. The ar he'll vouch for it. Um cuz he's been in and he's got friends that are legal officers. I know the military is the only place. >> Okay. the military is the only place where double jeopardy exists legally because whatever we do we do it to him the army can turn around jam for the same thing. I don't want to see that happen. You're obviously a second country. You ain't been in very long. If you plan on making this a career or even six years or whatever, it's up to you. I don't care. There's no need getting this on your record. I don't want your record. However, this is how it is to you. If you want to fight and argue, I mean, and I don't mean to disrespect you, okay? I mean, you have that right as a citizen. If that's what you want, we'll charge you, have you go to court, notify the command, do all that, or we can take the take time out of our night, which is not a problem. We we're being paid to take care of people. Okay? We'll sit here with you, get your eyes back. You and uh what's your dog's name? Smoke. Smoke. That's badass name for a bad dog. Um you and Smoke can get on down the road. Okay? It's entirely up to you. What do you want to do? I got no problem. I'll sit here with you till you get your eyes back and send you on down the road. Okay? I don't want to charge you. I will. It's my job. But I don't want to. The chief's giving me discretion on how to handle it. He's like, "These are the two choices." I said, "That's what I was thinking. That's what I want to do." He's like, "Not a problem. We can either let it go, help him out, get his eyes back, and get him on down the road so the army doesn't get involved, or we can charge you, and that's a big hassle for you." It doesn't change my life one way either way. Cuz you see what I'm saying? It's not about me. This is about you. What you want to do if if you want to just chill, let this go and no charges filed. We'll take the handcuffs off. We'll get you a bottle of water to drink it on and sit here until you feel comfortable driving. All right? Or the other option is we write the summon just charge you have and we by then we have no choice. We have to notify your command. Again, I'm not I don't have to be an ass. I don't be threatening. Uh I say that because that's just the way it is. Okay? I'm just talking to my boss. Those are two choices that he gave me. Personally, as a veteran who served, okay, I did my I did six years. My wife's a retired sailor. If you're tired of the EA out of the Navy, okay? I don't want to see you get jammed up by the army. Okay? I don't want to see it happen. You need to spit. Just let us know. Go ahead and spit cuz I We've both been sprayed, so we know what it's like. It sucks. If you need to spit, go ahead and spit. You're not going to offend us. >> All right. Um, what do you want to do, Lieutenant? I'll let you tell me cuz >> I mean, no, nobody's going to ask for charges. So, no, I'm not going to ask for that. >> I understand that. However, I have to make that option available to you, right? I mean, I I mean, I have to. So, here's what I want to do. Especially as as as calm as you've been since everything ended. I want to take the handcuffs off. Let you sit here with smoke. We'll sit here and wait with you. Let your eyes come back. Okay? Cuz it's going to take it takes you anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes depending on how much actually got in the eyeball itself before you can really see well enough to drive, especially at night. Okay? We'll sit here with you and then we'll get you on down the road. But the command won't know nothing about it. >> All right. >> I I do have a good rapport with my command. So I wouldn't feel right not talking to them about it. So >> that's I'll put it this way then for you. >> They're going to hear from you. They will not hear from us. >> I'll give you that much respect. Okay? Because I understand. I told you I was here for 6 years. It's always better for the command to hear from you than somebody else. Especially the law. That's never a good thing. Someone talk about I get it. Okay. I get the climate we're in right now. I get it. Okay. The climate we're in the the what the media is feeling with the race relations between minorities and law enforcement. I get it. Okay. So, like I told you, as far as you not stopping and you uncomfortable and you wanted a wellness spot, Lieutenant, that happens with all the time. >> Lieutenant Nazario awarded $3,685. Officers mostly cleared. 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