Imagine being told to leave a shopping mall, not really understanding why, and the next thing you know, you're face down, handcuffed, and listening to an officer call you racial slurs on camera. That's exactly what happened at San Antonio's River Center Mall when a simple trespass warning spiraled into a viral example of police [music] misconduct. This case didn't just spark outrage, it launched an internal affairs investigation into Officer Tim Garcia, a 10-year veteran of the force. They told me to walk off. I told them, "All right." And I already been walked off. I walked off right when they told me. I said, "Look, all right." I grabbed my stuff and I walked off. >> Walked off where? >> Right when he was over here. They said, "Look, all right, we already we don't want you over here. You keep walking back over there in the hallway." I was like, "Look, I wasn't even in the hallway." >> And so they were like, and then I was like, they was like, "Uh, >> we want you to move." And I was like, "All right." So he started walking back that way. I wasn't even over there. He I was like he was like we want some news. So I thought it was because the hotel or something. >> So I was like all right. I was like everybody want me to move. So then he kept walking over there and he was like all right we'll see right now. And I was like all right. He said something else. So then we went over there. He came back and he was like all right we need you to move. So I was like all right I guess whatever it's not the hotel and whatever. So he came over here. I picked up my stuff and I start I said all right. You know what I'm saying? I started walking off and I already told him all right. So then they was like they was like, "Do you understand that? We don't want y we don't want you back over here." And I was like, "What do you mean I can use I can use all that right there?" So hell yeah, I probably go back later or something. I was like, "I'm not over there." They said, "I can be over there." So why y'all kick me out of the spot? I'm not even doing anything. >> Yeah. >> But anyway, so I walked off and I probably would have go went back later cuz it's cool to be over there. >> And like they were like, "You understand?" I said, "Look, man." I went like that. I said, "Look, y'all already told me what it was." I was like, "I'm already walking off." >> Okay. Did they tell you they don't want you in the mall? >> Well, no. Like after that, after after I told him that, I said, "Look," I said, "Look, y'all ain't got to tell me nothing. I'm already walking off." >> They was like, the black dude was like, >> the black uh security guard was like, "Look, man, we don't want you giving us no attitude. You going to have to leave the mall now." >> I said, "Man, I ain't even did." >> So, now we came over here. I was like, "Look, man." So, I I tried to go back that way. I was like, I thought there was an exit and they grabbed my bag. I said, "Look, man. Don't grab my bag like that." All they had to tell me was like, "Look, sir, there's not an exit over here." >> Yeah. >> And so, >> look, man. So, anyways, I was like, "All right, I'll go this way." >> And they was like, "All right, we want you to exit the mall." I was like, "Look, man. I'm not about to exit the mall, bro." I said, "Look, I want the cops to come here to let y'all know that >> cuz look, I ain't even did nothing." >> Okay? >> I ain't even did nothing. I said, "Look, >> I said, "Look, man. All I did was tell y'all that I'm walking off and now y trying to make me move. Trying to make me leave the mall and I'm trying to enjoy my time here today. >> Okay. >> So, what what what does I got to do? >> I have no idea. I just got here, man. So, I'm trying to figure it out myself. >> In Texas, once security gives a criminal trespass warning, refusing to go is already breaking the law. [music] At this point, the officer's job is basically to enforce that trespass, not to argue philosophy with the suspect. All right. So, >> Okay. Well, cool. My question to you is if they they tell you to leave the ball, are you going to leave the ball? >> No, I don't want to. That's >> okay. I understand you don't want to, but if they tell you, are you going to leave the mall? >> I'm asking for what? >> Okay. If they they don't they don't have to tell you for what? Just so you know. >> What do you mean? >> They >> I don't I don't know how much easier to make it. They don't have to tell you. If they don't want you here, you're not here. Okay. So, this is my job. >> Does that make any sense? Well, it might not make any sense, but that's what it is. >> That makes no sense. >> Okay, here's the deal. Now, you're going to get argumentative with me. They won't put you in jail. I'll put you in jail. >> All right. So, why would All right, so why would they just randomly tell me? >> For security guards, this isn't about law at all. It's about liability. If someone lingers after being told to leave, it's their job to get police involved. Their goal is to keep paying customers happy, not referee arguments in the food court. >> Have no idea. But if they don't want you here, if you're not here to you're not here as a patron, you're not spending money, you're not shopping in the mall, if they don't want they don't want any loitering, they have the right to to protect their their uh customers here. And their customers are the people that pay rent here, the shops. So, if you're not spending any money here, they don't want you here. They have the right to tell you they don't want you here. Now, understand this. If they tell you they don't want you here and you have to leave, then you have to leave. If you don't leave, then you're breaking the law. But you're not breaking the law by being here. >> But if they tell you to leave and you don't leave, then you're breaking the law. That's when I get involved. >> All right. >> We cool on that. >> Yeah. Cool. >> Okay, cool. You have your ID. Let me just get your information. I get their information. >> Y'all take my information. So like they talking about they want to give me for criminal trespass. >> Yeah, they might give you a criminal trespass. >> I ain't even did. Why y'all give me criminal trespass? >> What you mean? What you mean they can't? >> No. Hold up. What you mean? >> No. No. Okay, here's the deal. I'm going to ask you to do something. I'm going to tell you that I'm going to make you >> want to let you go. Go ahead and let >> go ahead and let you go. >> Stop tensing up. >> Yes, sir. >> You know what? Now you're under arrest. >> From the suspect's angle, this is harassment. He thought he complied, but now he's being told again and again to move. Confusion can look like resistance, and resistance is exactly what police interpret as a reason to arrest. From the officer's side, it looks like stonewalling, the guy circling back, not leaving the property, and refusing to clearly say he'll comply. That gives the officer legal grounds to escalate. But the way Garcia communicates insults and slurs wipes out the legitimacy of the arrest in the public's eyes. >> What? Look, bro. >> Stop. >> You are up. You're tensing up. Stop. Stop. No. Yeah. Put your back. Put your behind your back. Put your back. >> Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. >> Now you're under arrest for criminal trespass. >> Did I do? >> Just do what you said right there. Listen. Listen. >> You got my arm. You mean >> listen. >> What? Hey, bro. >> We're okay. >> What did I just do? >> You're under arrest for going trespassing. >> What you mean? They didn't even tell me that yet. >> Argumentally, we're not going to go through this whole story. >> I said, "Look, man. I was about to I'm about to give you my ID right now." What you mean, bro? >> Ain't that some bull? >> It You know what? I agree. It is bull. You know what, >> man? I'm about to give YOU ALL MY ID. I SAID, "Tell me this." And you said, "Look, give me ID." So, I was about to give it to you. Grab >> it. But you did. No, no, no. You took it back. >> What do you mean, bro? >> It's all on camera. >> Fast, bro. I need to do next. >> Dude, look how old I am. You think I act back? I listen to all your stupid for like 5 minutes. >> Look, bro. And I said, you said I said, "Look, I said look, before I give y'all my ID, can y'all tell me like why would I get a criminal trespass?" >> And I told you they if you're not shopping here, they don't want you. >> All right. Look, and they didn't even tell I don't even have criminal trespass. >> You do now. Now you're going to jail. >> Tensing up like that. >> Who had my arm? Some officers act less like peacekeepers and more like kings of the block, issuing commands because they can, not because it solves anything. Garcia's orders weren't about safety. They were about dominance. That's when policing crosses into tyranny. When the badge becomes a license to flex, not protect. When this hits a courtroom, the legal side is simple. The suspect trespassed. But defense attorneys will play that body cam footage frame [music] by frame. Garcia's words become leverage not to erase the trespass but to undermine the state's credibility. >> First of all, I'm not your fool. >> I'm an officer. Listen, listen to me for a second. >> Ain't your bro either. >> Giving you nothing but respect. >> Look, and I'm trying to get all I not your fool. I'm nothing like that. I'm an officer. All I did was ask you questions, >> right? And we asked for your ID. You give it to us. >> Hey, look. I said, look, can y'all tell me you for disturbing the peace? >> Disturbing the peace? >> Yeah. This is peaceful. Don't want to give us your arms. >> That's just the way it is. >> The way you were raised. >> That's hella bull. >> The way you were raised is >> tell me how >> I'm telling you how you raised. >> You're acting a fool. >> You got me. >> Yeah, you are. >> You got meed up. >> Yes, you are up. >> You got me. >> No, you got yourself to keep the damn surveillance, bro. Unless y'all know what the You're going to be banned and deaf. You're no longer welcome ever again. >> The power dynamics here are complex. The officer is a veteran, but his words show bias and frustration. Experienced officers are supposed to set the standard, not break it. Even the best officers can lose their cool. Professional training is meant to prevent that. Departments invest heavily in training. The question is, are they investing in the right kind of training? >> All right, watch watch this. >> What are you going to do? >> Who you going to hire? You got you understand what the alag matter of fact you're going to have to get it out. Well, as long as you pay to get it out, you're good. >> Yeah. We're not going to store your >> Well, then you're not going to get your stuff back. >> You're not You're not going to get your stuff back, though. >> This ain't free. Got me. >> This ain't free, man. >> Cops. >> Yep. With a >> what? >> With a job. >> Why would I do that, >> man? What What would a job? >> This job. >> What a job. >> What does what with a job mean? >> What am I waiting for now? >> What would I be waiting for? >> Officer Garcia responds with profanity, mocking the suspect's upbringing. That's not policing. That's playground banter with a badge. SAPD's own rules ban verbal abuse for a reason. It makes cops look like they're fighting egos instead of enforcing laws. And Garcia, he walked right into that trap on camera. >> No, you're not about to do anything. >> And you can get out of the property room when you're done. >> You're not going to get it. >> That's all it takes, dude. >> Just wait. Wait till I see >> Wait till you see us stealing. Y'all better not steal my >> Why would I want your stuff? >> Okay. >> Hey, here. Here. Look. This the police. This the police. You How do you like that? Police said it right back to you. >> I I obviously I don't >> I don't on camera. I'll say it. >> Look, man. You got me tensed up. You talking about stop tensing up. I said, "Look, man. You got my arm like this." Come on. Stop tensing up. And I'm trying to put my arm back. >> Trying to break and you >> do I look like >> I don't look Well, I'm only 3.4% African. >> What's wrong with >> 3.4% subsaharan African? >> There you go. Say it right. Put a R at the end. >> If you're going to say it, don't don't call me >> What is What is What is it? What is a R? >> What is an R? It's a letter in the alphabet. >> You have no idea, do you? >> You just have no idea. >> You don't know. >> I'm sorry, man. >> I am so sorry. >> This is where everything goes from unprofessional to career suicidal. Whether Garcia thought he was mirroring the suspect or just mocking him, the body cam doesn't care about context. When a veteran officer feels comfortable throwing slurs on camera, it tells you this wasn't a slip. It was culture. And culture doesn't change with one reprimand. >> Hell yeah, man. >> That's what I would do. I would defeat it. >> Yeah, I'm about to defeat this. >> I would do that. >> Do me a favor. Spell defeat. >> Going to jail. Why am I going to jail? >> For what? For what? for for being >> y'all trying to speak. >> No, man. >> I'm just trying to get it right. I'm trying to get it right. >> You just said that's what you were. >> I am not dumb. I'm blind. I can barely read. >> One man is cuffed, cornered, and still being mocked. That's not about law enforcement anymore. That's about humiliation. And humiliation has no place in professional policing. your badge number. Give me both badge numbers. >> 74 >> 296 Garcia report written in English. >> What's phone number here? I want my wallet. Hey, look. I want my wallet. >> Where's Junior from? >> Look, bro. Hey, say sir. Sir, I want my wallet in my mother. Look, bro. Hey, can you can you ask your mother? >> Hold on. You just called me a boy. You got him. >> Yeah. We could bring that down for real. >> Where you want me to go, man? >> That way. >> All right. Is this just one officer? Maybe. But the fact that Garcia kept his badge after this shows how systems protect their own. If the slurs and baton twist only earn a written reprimand, the system is basically saying racism in uniform isn't a deal breakaker. >> Man, everything was going good. We had a you and I had a good rapport. >> Yes, we did. Y >> your life. I think you I think you your life up. You didn't do that. >> I think you will. >> I'm trying to tell y again. I'm about to get out of jail like let's wait in the shade. Easy right there. Thanks, sir. Are you guys good? You understand the criminal trespass I gave you? >> Look, man. I need my Thank you. >> Hey, look. When I defeat this case, I'm going to be back. >> Get aggressive again. >> I just got >> Oh, yeah. I'll call you back. There's something almost absurd about a grown man in uniform, armed and backed by the state, bickering with a handcuffed mall trespasser like it's Twitter beef. If cops can't rise above the petty insults, what separates them from the people they're arresting? >> What are you doing? Stop. I'm trying to take your shoes off. Okay, stop. Just stop. Quit acting. Why are you trying to take my shoes off? because I have to search you. All you got to do is behave. Why can't you just behave, dude? See, that's all you can say is up. Just behave. That's all you got to do. That's all you got to do. This is the reason why you're in handcuffs. You just can't behave. Why you taking off my shoes? >> We got to make sure you got nothing in them, dude. >> I don't know your life. Dude, you keep tensing up. You keep getting it. >> There you go. >> Because we got to make sure you ain't got nothing in there. >> It's called search and food to arrest, sir. >> Officer Garcia's language wasn't just unprofessional. It was a violation of department rules, and internal affairs called it out. But the bigger question remains, what does it take to change the culture that lets a veteran cop feel comfortable talking like this on camera? Until departments prioritize accountability over appearances, we'll keep seeing cases where body cams expose the ugly side of policing. >> All right, sit. >> You good? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> Are No. Are you really good? >> Yeah, I'm good. >> You relax? >> I relax, bro. I can't, man. >> I know you can't. That's a reason I did this. >> That's not control. That's salt in the wound. SAPD policy says you don't use unnecessary force on compliant suspects. And internal affairs called him out for exactly that. He didn't lose his badge, but his file sure got thicker. Words aren't harmless when they're coming from the government. A racial slur from a random stranger is offensive. A racial slur from an officer in uniform. That state power turned into a weapon of humiliation. It's not just ugly. It's abuse dressed in a badge. >> A minute ago, you said you were going to slap me. And you keep tensing up, dude. I can't trust you. I don't know you. >> You're good. I'm good. >> Yeah. >> You react. I react. >> Oh, cool. >> Understand? >> Yeah. Whatever. >> I'm sorry. >> Yes. Yes. Whatever. >> Yes. Whatever >> fool. Goddamn >> man. I ain't even doing nothing. >> You react, I react. >> Look what y'all do. >> Oh, we are going to do what we got to do. >> Well, I ain't even do nothing. You'll see. You'll see. I ain't even do anything. >> She just took a picture. I'm sure this was the perfect chance to deescalate, shut up, and let the arrest speak for itself. Instead, Garcia keeps yapping, digging himself deeper. Every word here wasn't just hot air. It was evidence. >> Hey, bro. Can you stop harassing me? >> Dude, this all would have been over if you would have just handed me your ID. >> You had you pulled it out of your wallet. >> You were fixing fixing to hand it to me and then you pulled it back and you just didn't want to cooperate, man. You had it. You were there. >> All you had to do is give me your ID. We're going to get you up. >> We're going to stand up. Ready? Yeah. One, two, three. >> Hey, look, man. Y not going to put my back in my mother. >> They're going to go with you. Watch your head. Watch your head. Watch your head. The suspect, Dwaxne Robinson, gets booked on one charge, criminal trespass. That part was simple, but for officer Tim Garcia, the fallout was bigger. Internal affairs nailed him for two violations: conduct and behavior and treatment of prisoners. The end result, a formal reprimand, not termination, not suspension, just a slap on the wrist that now lives forever in his personnel file. If you think this footage shows more than just bad language, hit that like button. Drop a comment with your take. Should Garcia have faced suspension, firing, or was a reprimand enough? And don't forget to subscribe. We've got more coming your way. [music]