You got another cop on the scene? >> Yep. >> For a family, bro? Of four? >> no. That's not what it is for. >> What is it for? >> some help from them. >> Oh, you need help? >> Why you got to ask so many questions? >> You ask questions, I can't ask questions? >> You're under You're detained right now for a traffic stop, all right? >> Yeah, but I'm not doing anything wrong, bro. I can ask all the questions I need to. >> All right, go ahead and >> Is it wrong to ask questions? >> No, it's not wrong. Go ahead and ask, but >> I'm asking. I am. I'm going to keep asking. >> Go ahead, keep asking. >> You're trying to intimidate me here. Intimidate you guys. You got a little You got a little strong demeanor going on. >> I don't have any strong demeanor. >> know if he's like a short man syndrome or something. >> Excuse me? >> If you want to see an officer go from acting confrontational to apologizing before the stop is over, this is a video worth watching. In this video, a routine trip to Duncan turned into a tense traffic stop after a Houston officer pulled over a family because their vehicle had no license plates. Although the stop itself began over an apparent traffic violation, the dispute quickly shifted from the missing plates to the officer's attitude and the way he treated a family that included recovering from a dog attack and a daughter trying to get to work. Throughout the encounter, the driver repeatedly questioned the officer's aggressive demeanor, requested a supervisor, and continued recording the interaction while remaining physically compliant. The conversation raises issues involving the Fourth Amendment during traffic stops, the authority officers have to investigate traffic violations, a citizen's right to question police conduct, and the importance of requesting a supervisor when someone believes an officer is acting unprofessionally. By the end of the stop, the officer's own supervisor stepped in and the encounter concluded with an apology that completely changed the tone. >> Is that your vehicle? >> Yes, my way. >> All right, can you do me a favor? Can you go step out from your vehicle? I just got to verify. >> What do I need to step out for? >> I need to verify something. While you're being in there, I won't be able to. I need to pat you down real quick. Turn around. You got anything on your person you want >> I mean, you Do you have to do all this? >> Yes, I do. >> I can bet you that after I ask you the questions I need to. That's cool. Let me take my sandals off. >> Huh? Say what? >> You want me to take my sandals off? >> Keep that joke to yourself. Stand over there. >> It's not a joke. >> I know you're not You're trying to be funny now. Listen. That's your party driving with a bump. You want to bump it? >> The what? Excuse me? Yeah, but my I got a reason for it. >> What's your reason? >> My wife can't drive. She usually drives the car. >> Is that what you're going to tell the court? >> Is that what I'm going to tell the court? Yeah, I mean, that's the truth. She got attacked by a dog yesterday. She has a sling on her arm. Why are you trying to intimidate me? What's your problem, bro? >> I'm not your bro, and I'm not trying to intimidate you. >> All right, why are you trying to intimidate me? Why are you doing what you're doing? Man, yesterday I dealt with some cops, bro, and they were so much different demeanor. I got them on video and everything, man. You know what I'm saying? Like, you you got this I don't know what's this about you, bro, if you're a rookie or what it is or gang task force unit or is something about the Southwest. You know what I'm saying? Like for real, bro. >> What's the problem? >> I just told you. Like, I don't know what's going on. I don't know what's going on with you, bro. Like, look at your Look at your demeanor. >> My demeanor, I'm doing my job. >> Yeah, but your demeanor is not right. You see a family in the car. >> I have nothing to do with the family. >> Your demeanor is not right. Get in the car. >> Do you understand what's interfering with the public duty is? >> Man, look. >> that? I'm asking you a question. >> I'm telling you what happened, right? >> I'm not I'm That's >> You're not You're not trying to listen to me. >> trying to listen to me. You understand that, right? You know what interfering with the public duty is? >> No. >> Oh, you know, it's a It's an arrestable offense in the state of Texas. >> What What did What did I interfere What did I interfere with? >> You're doing all this. You understand that, right? >> I'm not interfering with anything. >> cool. Have a seat back in the car, sir. >> [laughter] >> Did you see how he was like, all right, let's stop. What's your problem? Did you see that? >> Ma'am. Daughter's late to work. No cop. Baby got a sling on her arm. Show him, babe. She can't drive. I don't know. He just wants to be a I got tickets from yesterday. And from I got tickets right here that I've been getting. So, there's no point. That's why I tried to show them to him so he could know. Like, hey, the car's checks out. You know what I mean? They checked it out three, four times already. I got no choice but to drive it without the plates. The car wash washed it off. I can't get them at court. The car's registered. It's in Maryland. I got the all the paperwork. Got the title and everything, but I don't know. He wants to be a >> Excuse me. >> insurance? Insurance? >> For the car? >> Yeah. >> Yeah, I have a >> Sent it to you yesterday. >> I'm sorry. >> Yeah, I have insurance. >> All right, can I see it? >> Yeah, one second. >> It's in my inventory? >> One second. >> And your license is suspended. Are you listening to me or you want me to talk to the camera right here? You want to talk to me right here? >> to you. >> All right, your license is suspended. You understand that, right? >> I understand. >> You didn't want to listen to me while I'm driving, though. Okay, but you didn't even give me a reason to listen to you. I'm telling you right now, your license is suspended, right? You tell me first the cop took it or I lost it, then all of a sudden you give me paperwork. Now all of a sudden, I checked it right now, it came back suspended. >> Yeah. >> You're not supposed to drive this car. You're not supposed to be driving that car at all. Whatever you got going on, you're not supposed to. You don't have a driver's license. >> Can I speak to a sergeant? >> Excuse me? >> I need to speak to a sergeant. >> right here. But, let me get your insurance first. >> All right, let me get him the insurance. I need to speak to a sergeant, please. >> He can speak to a sergeant. >> All right, call your sergeant. >> All right. >> Is there a sergeant there? >> Well, there's a lot of sergeants. >> We've got another cop on the scene? >> Yep. >> For a family, bro? Of four? >> No, that's that's not what it is for. >> What is it for? Oh, you need help? >> Why you got to ask so many questions? >> You ask questions, I can't ask questions? >> You're under You're detained right now for a traffic stop. >> Yeah, but I'm not doing anything wrong, bro. I can ask all the questions I need to. Is it wrong to ask questions? >> No, it's not wrong. Go ahead and ask, but >> I'm asking. I'm I'm going to keep asking. >> Go ahead, keep asking. >> You're trying to intimidate me here. Intimidate you? Yeah, you're >> You got to get that from your commander. >> You got a little strong demeanor going on, too. I don't know if you got like a short man syndrome or something. >> Excuse me? >> I don't know if it's a little man syndrome, or I don't know what it is. You know what I'm saying? >> I know I know exactly what you're saying. >> a little cocky attitude for no reason, bro. Do your job, and do it just right, bro. There's a family here, bro. >> All right. >> I bet you don't act like that about around big thugs and gangsters. >> Oh, like I'm intimidating? I know what you're talking about. >> You can't handle yourself. I know it. >> I know. You're trying to be tough right now. >> it in you. I can see it in you. Call your sergeant. You're going through my wife's pictures or what? Here, babe. >> Excuse me? I I like that attitude, man. Keep it up. >> I'mma keep it up. >> What do you Well, you know the procedure to stop recording. You know how to delete it from your phone, right? >> Need two of them for a family of four getting breakfast at Duncan Donuts and stuff. Come on, bro. Really? I'm shaking from the I don't know if it's the coffee, the adrenaline, or what. He's trying to intimidate me for no reason. Look at that. >> How are you, sir? >> How are you doing, sir? >> I'm I'm Sergeant Nixon with the Houston Police Department. I am the supervisor of the scene. I just wanted to uh talk with you. You requested a supervisor. >> Yes, sir. >> So, I'm just trying to figure out what you need. >> Well, first of all, I don't know what's going on with this guy. He's trying to intimidate me. You know? >> How's he trying to intimidate you? >> His demeanor. >> What's his demeanor? >> His demeanor came out to me like he's just trying to intimidate me, talking to me like a tough guy. You know, he I don't know if his mom lets him put on his big boy pants today or or what. He's got the short man syndrome. I don't know what it is. >> Yes. >> But, I got pulled over yesterday. I didn't get pulled over. I got hit, and I had these cops pull over. I had Sergeant was there. >> Yeah. >> He was a great guy, and everything went smooth. You know, they checked out my car. I've been pulled over twice, three times. My son was there. >> Yes. >> So, there should be no reason for it to to go the way he's acting. You know what I mean? He's treating me like I'm like like I'm a family of four criminals or something. >> Yeah. The only problem that we have today is one, you don't have a license plate on your vehicle, which is an issue in the state of Texas, right? So, he's doing his job um by you know, running vehicles, pulling traffic stops on vehicles with no license plate. >> I understand all that. I understand all that, sir. The reason I got you here is because I feel intimidated. >> Yes. >> I think you would be more professional with it, which you are. >> Yes. >> You know, your demeanor shows it. >> Yes. >> Um his is very off. >> Yes. >> So, that's the reason I I had you come out here because I know you're you know more probably than your rookies or whatever. >> Okay. >> So, that that's the reason I got you out here. >> Okay. >> And so, we can get this squared away. My daughter gots to go to work. >> Yeah. >> And the car checks out. We just got to go I have an appointment for the plates. >> Okay. >> You know, I had expired plates on there. I'm not going to lie, which I already got a ticket for. >> Okay. >> And the car wash washed them away, you know? >> All right, so he has to go through his protocol. Um you're probably going to get it maybe it's your citation for driving without >> Third one, that would be the third one. >> Yeah. But the thing is you you have to not drive if you don't have plates, right? >> Yeah, I have to at this point though. >> but that's something you can present to the judge whenever you go before them with this and maybe the judge will be lenient. I have no idea, but >> Yes, sir. >> and this is job is to just enforce the law. >> That's the only thing he's Yeah, I understand but um I understand but that's the reason I had you called out here. >> Yeah, so what we'll do is we'll try to expedite this, get this done over fast. Um do you have insurance on the vehicle? Yes, sir. Okay. >> We already showed it to him. >> You showed it to him? Okay. Cool, cool. All right, well he'll take care of that and then we'll go from there, okay? >> Okay. >> All right. >> Sounds good. Thank you. 65 25 >> All right, there's the email. Your license was taken, you know why? Because of the DWI truck, right? So you're technically suspended right now, all right? You're not supposed to drive this car. You you have conviction for DWI, which is driving without a license and all >> DWI? >> DWI and DWI and other things. >> Oh. That's me to driving while license suspended. >> Okay. >> what I mean, right? So technically you can go to jail right now. I'm not going to do you this, you got your family with you. All right? You got a lot of violations more than that. You got your tail lights, you got a lot of things. All right? I'm going to cut you with two right now because I can't just let you go like that with everything that's going on. Just going to give you for the back, the license plate and for driving while license is invalid. However, it could be a lot worse. You can go to jail, too. I'm doing my job, you're doing all this recording by all means. I'm recording too, you can do all that. >> I I see the demeanor changed a lot though. >> That's cool. No, no, no, it's because you're bringing it with me. I will go with you and I'm going to come down with you. I'm doing my job, man. >> No, it wasn't like that. The initiative >> your question. Do you work? >> Yes, of course I work. >> How do you do your job? >> Perfect. >> Exactly. And I'm trying to do my job, but you're doing all this. I'm trying to verify the car and the VIN number. It doesn't come back to anything. >> I mean, I tried to tell you off the bat that I had I like I tried to I tried to reason with you, bro. >> Yeah, it's all good. If we start off wrong and I'm trying to clear it with my supervisor in here. If I said something wrong to you, that pissed you off. I'm sorry about that. I apologize. I'll be a man about it. But at the end of the day, I'm doing my job. Do you understand that? >> I would just love to interject for a moment because I would handle the situation differently and I wouldn't have to commend him for handling the way that he did because I would have taken you out of the car because that would be the best way to >> Yeah, I understand, but >> you got your son. >> Yeah. >> So, that's why I say like he's trying to be as best he could do in his job. So, if you can, I mean, what he's trying to say to you is like he he has compassion, right? For the situation. So, I just want you know that he has a job. >> Those are your words. That's not what I saw at first. >> Talking to him, right? Like I talked to him when he came >> He he didn't want me to talk. >> No, but what I'm saying is like everyone has a job, right? To do. They try to do it as their best. >> But man, look, bro. Look, at the end of the day, I understand what's going on. I'm doing what I got to do. It is not my first time I've been pulled over by a rookie cop or by somebody having a bad day or somebody, you know what I'm saying? That their boyfriend let them put on their big boy pants on and [ __ ] You know what I mean? >> But if you would if he's got the citation, you can issue it if you sign it, it would be great and then we can all go about our business. >> I'm just saying, sometimes you got to check yourself in the morning if if you're you know, if if daddy lets you or your boyfriend lets you put on your big boy pants. You should you should definitely check yourself at the door. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah. That's something we got to do daily. >> All right, you're going to be in South Area Sheriff's Court at 7:00 p.m. on December 3rd, okay? >> December the 3rd. >> All right. >> See you there. >> I won't be there. But I could be if I got requested. There you go. That's where you You can't go before that. Take care of it. You can call however you want. That's your ID back. Good luck in your case. Got any questions, just ask me. >> Thank you. >> All right, man. You have a nice day. >> Like the change of demeanor. I'm Too bad we have to waste We had to Yeah. No, but we had to waste his time. You know what I'm saying? >> Nobody's time is wasted cuz we all have a job to do. >> All right. >> You know? >> Thank you. Y'all have a great day. >> All right, man. Take care. >> This encounter demonstrates that a lawful traffic stop and an officer's professionalism are two separate issues. In Texas, officers generally have authority to stop a vehicle for apparent traffic violations, investigate registration issues, verify the vehicle's identity, and cite offenses such as operating without proper plates or driving while a license is suspended. Those enforcement powers do not eliminate an officer's obligation to remain professional or prevent a citizen from calmly questioning an officer's conduct. Likewise, requesting a supervisor during a stop is generally lawful so long as it does not interfere with the officer's ability to complete the investigation. The driver continued recording, asked questions, requested a supervisor, and repeatedly focused on the officer's demeanor instead of escalating the encounter physically. Whether every criticism he made of the officer was fair is open to interpretation, but the officer ultimately acknowledged that the interaction had started poorly and apologized. That apology became the defining moment of the stop because it showed that remaining calm, preserving the encounter on video, and using available channels like a supervisor can sometimes resolve a confrontation more effectively than matching hostility with hostility.