Mississippi lawmaker calls for investigation after video of traffic stop goes viral

A Mississippi lawmaker is calling for an investigation into a July traffic stop arrest after video of a highway patrol trooper slamming the head of a man against a car went viral on social media.

Robert Morton was pulled over for speeding on a Clay County Road on July 12, according to a statement from the highway patrol, and video of his arrest racked up millions of views on Twitter and Facebook.

A 4-minute video provided to the Clarion Ledger by Morton's attorney shows a tense scene between Morton, the driver, and Brandon Berry, a white highway patrolman. Berry repeatedly attempts to handcuff Morton in the video, but Morton ignores his orders, pulls away or holds his hands away from the trooper.

“You wanna get tased? You better get on the f---ing ground," Berry says in the video. "Get on the ground. Get on the ground. You are resisting right now.”

After Berry tries to handcuff Morton again, Morton pushes away and the trooper pulls out what appears to be a stun gun.

“I ain’t about to fight with you, sir," Berry says.

Then, a second trooper, James Scott, arrives. 

Video shows Scott walking up to Morton and grabbing him around the neck, causing Morton's head to slam against the roof the car. The two troopers then wrestle Morton to the ground.

The person filming the arrest — Morton's fiancee — yells at the troopers: "Oh my goodness. Y'all gotta do all that? ... Sir, you ain't gotta do all that ... y'all supposed to be out here protecting us."

Rep. Jeramey Anderson, D-Moss Point, sent a letter to Marshal Fisher, commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, which oversees the Mississippi Highway Patrol, asking for the incident to be reviewed.

"I am not assigning blame or innocence to anyone involved," the letter read. "I support law enforcement. The majority of law enforcement officers honorably and capably serve and protect the public." 

According to the letter, the video appeared to show excessive force by the officers and warrants an investigation.

"To do less only invites the spread of rumors and misinformation, which could damage the reputation of your department and further damage the reputation of this state," the letter reads.

MORE ON DPS:DPS spends $18,000 and counting to fight $200 ethics fine over records flap with lawmaker

What led to the arrest? 

The video shows Berry explaining to Morton that he was initially pulled over for speeding. Morton repeatedly questions Berry.

“You were speeding at 101 in a 65, then you would not give me your driver’s license, which is failure to identify, so you best give me your hands right now," Berry says.

Morton continues to ignore Berry's orders to give the trooper his hands, the video shows.

“Really?" Morton says. "You asked for my license before you even told me what you were pulling me over for ... Why am I being arrested?”

“You’re being arrested for speeding," Berry replies. "Now you’re getting resisting arrest.”

According to records from the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Morton was booked into jail shortly before 7 p.m. on July 12 on the following charges: speeding (more than 20 mph over limit), seat belt violation, child restraint law, disorderly conduct, possession and display of a license upon demand, resisting arrest and malicious mischief.

The records say Morton was released later that night on a $1,754 bond.

Videos go viral

A 2-minute video posted to Twitter in July (which misidentified the incident as taking place in Texas) was viewed more than 12 million times. A 3-minute video posted to Facebook has been viewed more than 74,000 times. NBC News, the Huffington Post and the Atlanta Black Star have written about Morton's arrest.

But the highway patrol says the real story has not been told.

The statement from the highway patrol called the videos "selective" and said there is a 12-minute long video that will eventually be shown in court.

According to the statement, that video shows Morton ignoring Berry's orders 60 times. 

"When any officer simply asks for a driver's license, the law requires the driver display that license," the statement said. "The Mississippi Highway Patrol will continue to work to keep the highways and roads of Mississippi safe for all drivers." 

The Clarion Ledger has requested the incident report from the arrest.

Lawsuit planned

Morton is represented by attorney Carlos Moore, who said his client was afraid and trying to understand why he was being detained.

Moore said he intends to file a lawsuit on behalf of Morton.

“It’s not unlawful to ask questions," Moore said. "This is America.”

What stood out to Moore, he said, were the actions of the second trooper, Scott, who grabbed Morton by the neck.

"(Scott) seemed to have escalated the situation instead of deescalating," Moore said.

He said Morton has been replaying the arrest over and over in his head.

"He is not doing well at all," Moore said.

Kenneth Holloway, chief of staff to Anderson, said the Department of Public Safety responded to the state lawmaker with the same statement provided to the Clarion Ledger.

Holloway reiterated that Anderson supports law enforcement and said that a review of the troopers' actions would help relations between the Mississippians and the highway patrol.

"We just feel an investigation is warranted," Holloway said.

Contact Giacomo "Jack" Bologna at 601-961-7282 or gbologna@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @gbolognaCL.