Memphis, Tennessee – Dashcam video released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol shows a trooper carefully maneuvering around a protester who stepped in front of a patrol vehicle and appeared to fake being struck, prompting officials to reject viral claims that the man was actually hit during the encounter.
Dashcam Captures Protester Stepping Into Patrol Vehicle’s Path
The video, shared by the Tennessee Highway Patrol, shows a trooper attempting to drive around a group of protesters blocking a roadway in Memphis. As the patrol car moves slowly forward, a man wearing a bright orange construction vest and holding a handheld radio walks into view from behind a white SUV.
The man raises his hands and positions himself directly in front of the patrol vehicle.
Trooper Issues Repeated Verbal Commands
Audio from the dashcam captures the trooper repeatedly yelling for the man to move out of the way.
“Move! Get out of my way! Get out of my way! Move!” the trooper can be heard shouting.
Instead of complying, the protester shakes his head and raises his index finger, appearing to signal the trooper to wait.
Protester Appears to Stage Contact With Vehicle
Moments later, the man grabs the patrol vehicle’s push bars and deliberately falls backward, creating the appearance that he had been struck. The dashcam video shows him lying briefly in front of the vehicle before pulling himself back up.
He then raises his index finger again toward the trooper and calmly walks back to his own vehicle.
Viral Claims Disputed by Highway Patrol
Footage of the incident quickly spread across social media, with posts claiming the protester had been hit by the trooper’s vehicle. The Tennessee Highway Patrol said those claims are false.
“We respect and protect the right of people to protest peacefully,” the agency said in a statement. “That right, however, does not include entering active roadways or placing themselves in danger.”
Agency Says Video Shows No Impact or Injury
The Highway Patrol said the dashcam footage clearly contradicts the viral narrative.
“In this case, video clearly shows the individual holding onto the front of the trooper’s vehicle, lying down, then standing back up afterward and leaving the scene under his own power,” the statement said. “At no point does the video show the individual being run over or injured.”
Public Safety Remains the Priority, Officials Say
The agency emphasized that roadway protests pose serious risks to everyone involved.
“When someone enters the roadway, it creates a serious and immediate risk,” the Highway Patrol said. “Troopers are trained to respond to prevent injuries or worse outcomes.”
Officials said their priority remains the safety of protesters, motorists, and law enforcement officers during demonstrations and traffic incidents.
