Lawmakers press Highway Patrol on withheld protest video and ICE cooperation

Representative Pearson raised concerns that two protest incidents in Memphis involved Tennessee Highway Patrol conduct and that one recording had not been released publicly. "There were 2 incidents with the Tennessee Highway Patrol that concerned me. 1 that was caught on video, and it looked like a gentleman had gotten bumped," Pearson said, asking when the department would release the second clip.

Colonel Matt Perry said he had reviewed the first clip and disputed the claim that troopers bumped the protester in that recording: "We did not bump that guy... The trooper comes to a stop now... The guy puts himself under the car holding onto the bumper, jumps straight up, walks into his vehicle and drives away. He was not hurt. He was not injured." Perry said he was not familiar with the second incident but would follow up and work to locate and review the unreleased footage. Members also questioned the Patrol's past operations with federal agents; Perry said the Patrol made probable-cause traffic stops during a multi-day operation in Nashville and kept operational control of the stops while an ICE agent rode as an observer.

Lawmakers asked that any unreleased footage be reviewed and, if misconduct is found, that appropriate accountability follow. The committee asked the Patrol to report back with findings about the second incident and to clarify video-release procedures for incidents involving public demonstrations.