protect and serve;

Cody, WY — The disquieting reality of overzealous policing was recently displayed in Wyoming when a traffic stop of a local 17-year-old high school student led to a case of police brutality and exposed the arresting officer as a liar. The incident, captured on dash and body cams, was posted to the LackLuster YouTube channel. The video is yet another disturbing reminder of the misuse of power that's all too common within America's security force.

Officer Blake Stinson's nine-minute interaction with the youth left many questioning the validity of the officer's actions, among them state Rep. Clark Stith, an attorney and state representative from Rock Springs, who spoke to Cowboy State Daily about the attack. Stith pointed out the unnecessary aggression shown by Officer Stinson and criticized his behavior and the subsequent implications it has for the Cody Police Department.

The video, headlined "Dash Cam Proves Cop Wrong — Case Dismissed," showcased this officer's blatant disregard for due process and his affinity for dishonesty. Officer Stinson stated that he pulled the young driver over for nearly hitting a pedestrian, a claim clearly refuted by the video evidence.

Stith commented, "First off, you knew right away it was going to be an interesting interaction... This is the first one I’ve seen where the officer really had no reason to be aggressive." The escalation, he said, appeared unwarranted. “In this case, the officer just started fighting with the driver from the get-go, and that just sets the tone for the whole interaction...And, it looks like the kid didn’t even commit the traffic infraction in the first place."........more......