sit back for me some too you get up on me again we're gonna have problems [Music] i'm glad you think this is a joke sir i have to prove why i put you over you didn't even let me do that i'm sorry and then i walk up on you and you jump me off all verbally but you're getting ready to go to jail is there anything in here i need to know about i can get you for drug obstruction for government operations just listen to me now assaulting a peace officer i should take you to jail right now the next time i tell you something you're gonna ride lightning don't later on try to complain that that i rushed you up or anything like that because you know i should take jail right welcome back to the lackluster channel i am often asked for updates but most cases take years to litigate today's story is just over four years old and is a prime example in december 2016 adam finley was at a job site working for a railroad company when officer mercado of the walnut ridge police department pulled him over after observing him near some of the company's buildings when adam asked why he was being pulled over officer mercado became immediately hostile and violent despite adam showing the officer his employee identification and being in uniform for the job you have anything concealed any weapons or anything like that okay well what's what's with the attitude nothing no you have an attitude and what's your problem i don't have no problem yes you can i can pull you over if i want that's fine because i have a right to uh ask you what you don't know okay it didn't look like you were working sit back for me some too you get up on me again we're gonna have problems i'm glad you think this is a joke sir [Music] what were you doing over there aren't you in a marked vehicle but i didn't see you doing the work over there and you wanted to go back over there [Music] yeah you're obsessing [Music] about ignorant get your ass over here [Music] i'm sorry i didn't know you come here you set your ass right there and you move from there and i'm gonna ride [Music] how dare you move from there [Music] that's your problem right there i'm out here by myself i don't know if you've got a gun in there and then i walk up on you and you jump me all verbally i'm 37 sir okay we're the same damn age man the man why would you talk to another grown man like the way you did i just asked you why you pulled me over i was gonna tell you you know by law we have to tell you why we're pulling you over because i can't impede on your civil liberties but you didn't let me you become hostile and aggressive yes you did say one crossword i just said why you pulled me over so it's how you say things sorry you should be but you're getting ready to go to jail is there anything in here i need to know about for what uh for one didn't i tell you not to get up on me like that that's the call stood there sir no you got up on me sir i told you don't get up on me is there anything in this vehicle you need to know about i need to know about yeah i need my phone you don't need it right now i've got nothing to do i didn't you've got to sit right there that's what you got to do didn't i say don't get up that's the other problem right there adam you got any warrants you better tell me right now so why would you talk to a cop like that i'm sorry please forgive me i'm just nervous please stay on the hood where'd you graduate with school [Applause] i went to swifton adam my name is matthew and this is all being recorded i'm going to let you go but you understand i can get you for object obstruction for government operations just listen to me now assaulting a peace officer i should take you to jail right now all right let me tell you something when you come in contact with an officer let them tell you why don't just start what are you doing don't be confused i'm gonna alleviate all the confusion now you put yourself in my shoe sir you're a police officer yes sir that's my property right there i'm supposed to watch are you in a marked vehicle that says railroad and where's your place from so now could you see where i'd be suspicious of what you were doing over there yeah and then when i made contact with you you're aggressive and hostile with me verbally and um and i didn't mean anything turn around and do you understand why i put you in cuffs sir why you thought that no sir because how many times did i ask you to stop approaching me well i'm just trying to find something that makes you believe me you know okay so let me ask you this you ain't got nothing in your pockets dude okay because the next time i tell you something you're going to ride lightning all right i'm going to tease you because i have the right to defend myself oh yeah but when i tell you once look at me adam when i tell you once please do not approach me like that don't come to me like that you have to listen to me oh yeah okay i'm not sure where you're from sir but i i listen to people when they tell me something okay so cop or not man-to-man right and this is all being recorded so don't later on try to complain that that i'll rest you up or anything like that because you know i should take you to jail right you don't understand that because if you want i'll take more of your time and we'll go through the books and i'll let you see it now you need me call your boss and let them know that i held you up no i'm good any questions sir do you want me to write my name down and stuff for you oh no what is it matthew mercado yes sir did we learn anything today adam yeah what okay have a good adam did not receive a citation for the stop but after the incident he went to the walnut ridge police department to file an official complaint and met with officer matt cook and he gets behind me and pulls me over and i pull in there at the feed store and i just looked at him and said why'd you pull me over you know what what did i do wrong you know as far as driving because i thought i ran a bite or something he started cussing me he tells me to get out of the truck and i get out of the truck and you know the doors open my door and i'm standing right here and he's right here and i turn around and get my wallet you know and to give you more stuff so when i would and he's like don't get too close to me and i turn around and then i turn back around like this and like i said i'm not moving i can't believe there's a truck here door here him right here and he's saying don't get close to me and he grabs me and throws me up against the car and pushed me in handcuffs and just starts screaming and then he drags me back to his car and throws me up against his car for no reason he said i had a bad attitude he had no reason at all to me the way he done me threatened me with the taser said if you backed up again and i didn't do anything i mean i wasn't doing anything he said i'm gonna give you the lightning or whatever i want the video and i'm gonna order he had no reason that's what he kept saying all this has been recording that's just like no good you're gonna need one with the permission of police chief chris kirksey and at the recommendation of deputy prosecuting attorney officer cook issued adam citations for refusal to submit to arrest and obstructing government operations and uh as far as the audio when you first come up when he first came up the window with the vid your car i'm assuming the reason he pulled joe where's reasonable suspicion because you were over there by the track i understand there was nothing that said being it's a rental truck because the transmission got out of his work truck and you know any place i merely asked him why he pulled me over and i wouldn't i wouldn't but he had no reason at all doing the way he done me well what i saw is you want to keep a six foot distance well he should have stepped back away from me because i couldn't go anywhere sir you seen it like i said i might be lucky that you can look good for what i mean see i watched the video adam and he decided through his investigation [Music] how did that that might be part of the problem okay you need to listen through his investigation and if that watch you're gonna listen to me you're gonna make gestures i'm listening because i'm here trying to help you okay now through his investigation when i was watching the video he felt like you had got up on him too many times at that point he felt like you were obstructing his investigation and when you pull somebody over as a law enforcement officer that is an investigation i just got a prosecuting attorney i explained him exactly what happened in this situation and he advised me to write you have you written a citation vote for obstructing a governmental operation and refusal to submit to arrest so you will be written citations right now this will be taken into account you right now you'll be going to court [Applause] oh okay okay so this will be taken into account there'll be an internal investigation but from what was seen on camera and i talked to the prosecuting attorney just back out the phone with it he told me to have you written those citations okay driver's license so i'm getting a ticket for something yeah exactly yeah what what does that mean you probably can't answer anything i mean seriously what does that mean a refusal to arrest okay just a few months later adam was acquitted of all charges and let that sink in adam was not issued a citation during the traffic stop the citations were issued only after he attempted to file a complaint had there been no body cam adam would have likely been prosecuted for these charges this should serve as a reminder to record all interactions with state officials adam went on to file a lawsuit against mayor snap chief kirksey former officer mercado and officer cook in their individual and official capacities for assault and battery harassment false arrest and imprisonment it took over two years but walnut ridge finally settled for just over fifty seven thousand dollars officer mercado and chief kirksey no longer work for the walnut ridge police department but it's unclear if they just hopped into another agency lawsuits like this are important not just to compensate the victims of government overreach but to flush out the tyrants embedded within most useful is the potential for policy changes cases like this across the country are responsible for more thorough training and the implementation of body-worn cameras even if the department in your area uses body or dash cams please remember to film all interactions you have as the records are immediately available and may show the story from a different angle thanks for watching if you have a video you'd like me to review email it or send it in via facebook messenger you can also view this and other content on my website if you're new here subscribe for future content if you've been around for a while remember to like share and comment down below of what you think of this interaction shirts and other goodies are available at the teespring store linked below channel membership start at just a buck if you'd like to further support the channel and get a slick lack logo next to your name i'll see you in the next video all links are down below you