Video shows Shelby Co. deputy climb into Jarveon Hudspeth car, fall out driver's side

The Shelby County District Attorney's Office released a segment of body and car camera footage that shows a Shelby County Sheriff's Office deputy jumping into 21-year-old Jarveon Hudspeth's car during a traffic stop as Hudspeth appears to take off.

The video was released two days after Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said his office would be expediting the release of similar footage for all fatal law enforcement shootings that the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and his office investigate.

"For transparency, our office is incorporating a new practice where we try to release videos in a timely manner as long as it does not compromise the integrity of the investigation," Mulroy said in a press release before the video was uploaded. "In the past, video has not been released until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has completed its investigation. Our goal is to speed up that process by showing video as soon as possible when we are sure that it won't compromise the investigation. The release of the Jarveon Hudspeth video is evidence of our office's new practice."

The video includes footage from three different cameras — the deputy's dashboard camera, the deputy's body camera and a neighbor's Ring doorbell camera — and begins with the SCSO vehicle and Hudspeth's car driving down a road.

The two cars pull into a subdivision, and Hudspeth ― driving a white Mustang ― stops for the deputy. In the deputy's body camera footage, he can be heard asking for Hudspeth's license and insurance. Hudspeth hands the deputy his license, but it is not clear what he said in response to the insurance.

Although audio is unclear at certain parts, it sounds like the deputy asked Hudspeth if he "had anything in his car" to which Hudspeth said no. The deputy asks Hudspeth to get out of the car, telling him not to "reach for anything" as he starts to get out.

After Hudspeth is out of the car, he tells the deputy, "the only thing I have in there is my firearm."

The audio is not clear as to whether the deputy acknowledged what Hudspeth said about the firearm, and the deputy can next be heard asking, "Anything in your pockets?"

Hudspeth responded with, "No, sir."

The deputy then begins to search Hudspeth's pockets and waistline. The deputy takes something from Hudspeth's front pocket during the search. After a pat-down, the deputy tells Hudspeth he will have to stay "in the back" while his car is searched.

In Tennessee, officers may only search vehicles without permission if they have "probable cause" to believe contraband or evidence of a crime is present in the vehicle.

The deputy then hands something to Hudspeth who goes to the driver's side and sits down, despite the deputy saying not to. At one point, Hudspeth can be heard saying, "just let me go," to the deputy.

It's unclear why Hudspeth got in the car, but the deputy then grabs Hudspeth, who appears to put the car into drive and begins to drive away. The deputy holds on, and in the deputy's dashboard camera footage, he can be seen jumping into the car as it drives away.

As the car seems to accelerate, the deputy can be heard saying "before you kill the both of us."

After about 12 seconds of driving, Hudspeth appears to push the deputy out of the driver's side with his foot. The body camera rolls along the ground for a bit and ends with the lens facing upward. An engine can be heard revving in the background, and it is not immediately clear what happens next.

The moment when shots were fired is unclear in the released body camera footage.

The entire duration of the released body camera footage was just under two minutes long, about a minute and a half of that time elapsing before Hudspeth and the deputy drive away from the first scene.

Previous information

Hudspeth was shot and killed by an unnamed deputy during a June 24 traffic stop earlier this year. Details about the shooting have been scarce, but Shelby County Sheriff Floyd Bonner said the deputy was dragged about 100 feet. The deputy was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Earlier Thursday, Bonner told members of the media that the video would not provide clarity about why the traffic stop occurred. Additionally, the deputy who made the stop does not remember why he did so, Bonner said. In the released video, the deputy cannot be heard saying why he was stopping Hudspeth.

Initially, the deputy was so seriously injured doctors would not allow sheriff's office personnel to speak with him, Bonner said. When they did, the officer "couldn't answer" when asked the reason for the stop.

"He does not remember," Bonner said. "He does not remember it. When you see the video, you'll understand why he possibly couldn't remember."

Bonner said the district attorney called him a few days ago, but that he did not know what the timeframe for the release would be.

"I think the video speaks for itself," Bonner said. "I mean, we're all about transparency. Everybody likes to use that word. The video is the video. Everybody will get a chance to see it."

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump was retained by the family in the days following Hudspeth's death. Crump is currently representing four families in Shelby County, including the family of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols who died days after being beaten by five Memphis police officers in January.

Charlotte Haggett, Hudspeth's mother, has said SCSO and TBI have not kept her apprised about the investigation at a July 10 press conference with Crump. Mulroy told reporters Tuesday that she, and other family members, had seen the footage prior to its release.

Friday morning, at 8 a.m., Crump will host a press conference at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church according to a press release from his law firm. In that press release, Crump said, "the public is finally seeing video of the unnecessary and senseless actions by law enforcement that lead to his death," two months later.

"From the initial stop to the shot that killed Jarveon, every single choice made by this officer was reckless, and ultimately, deadly. The video clearly shows that the officer voluntarily climbed into the vehicle, potentially putting himself into harm's way. And for what?" Crump said in a press release. "Jarveon's mother was informed by officials that the officer ran his license and registration, which came back clean. To this day — more than 60 days later — we do not know the initial reason for this deadly stop. Enough with the secrecy. Enough with the evasion. Enough with the silence. This family, and this community, deserve answers."

A vigil, honoring Hudspeth and others who have died at the jail or in law enforcement custody, will take place Friday at noon outside of the Shelby County Criminal Justice Center at 201 Poplar Ave.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

Katherine Burgess covers government and religion. She can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Shelby County DA releases video in Jarveon Hudspeth shooting