OKLAHOMA COUNTY, OKLA. (KOKH) — In this week’s segment of “Behind the Body Cam”, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III provided an in-depth look at the challenges faced by law enforcement officers during routine stops.
Sheriff Johnson walked viewers through body camera footage from an incident on Aug. 12, where Sgt. Joee Mitchell pulled over a motorcyclist for operating without a tag.
The footage showed Sgt. Mitchell approached the suspect and instructed him to shut down the vehicle to prevent a potential escape.
During the stop, the suspect presented a wallet with an ID, claiming it was his wife’s. “Fun fact that’s not his wife,” Sheriff Johnson said. “The wallet doesn’t even belong to him.”
The suspect attempted to distract Sgt. Mitchell by asking for help with holding the motorcycle, claiming it had no kickstand.
“Joee Mitchell is kindly holding this bike up,” Sheriff Johnson said. “We talked about subtle cues, if you can watch, look at the suspect, and he’ll give a quick hint at where he’s going.”
The suspect fled, prompting a foot pursuit. Sheriff Johnson emphasized the importance of physical fitness for officers, stating, “Things can turn at a moment’s notice, and you have to be able to tap into a different energy system and Sgt. Joee Mitchell is now in a foot pursuit, navigating using the radio, deploying his taser and giving commands.”
Sheriff Johnson noted the suspect trying to divide the officer’s attention by asking him to hold his bike while he’s bending over and looking around for an escape route.
“Law enforcement officer has to be aware of all the possible officer safety things we have to focus on and ways to keep ourselves safe, and weapons and all of that and then we have to see your body cues, what are you up to and what around you are going to do,” Sheriff Johnson said.
For more segments of “Behind the Body Cam,” visit the FOX 25 YouTube page.
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