White Dayton cop pulls over black driver for making eye contact
John Felton was driving to a birthday party at his mother’s house with his brother in Dayton, Ohio on August 15 when he was pulled over by police officer after being tailed for two miles.
When he asked why he was being pulled over, the officer replied, “because you made direct eye contact,” The Dayton Daily News reports.
Felton recorded his interaction with the officer. In the video, first broadcast on The David Pakman Show, Felton, who is black, asks why he’s been pulled over and the officer, who is white, tells him that he did not turn on his turn signal soon enough before turning. After taking Felton’s license and going back to his squad car, the officer returns and gives another reason for pulling Felton over.
Felton: No disrespect, I don’t have nothing against police officers, but all the shit that’s going on, that’s some scary shit. To have a police officer just trail you..
Officer: Well…
Felton: And then you just pull me to re-, because you said I didn’t signal? What? Do you know how it looks?
Officer: I..
Felton: You drive without being in a cop car, right? You know how it is when a police pull you over. It’s like “I’m not doing nothing, why is he? Every move I make, why is he making it? I’m not doing nothing.” Because I have a Michigan plate? Other than that, why was you trailing me?
Officer: Because you made direct eye contact with me and held onto it while I was passing you on Salem.
After expressing incredulousness, the officer tells Felton that they can keep arguing and the officer can give Felton a citation and take it to court—or Felton can have his license back and have a safe day.