Dashcam video released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol has undercut viral claims that a trooper struck a protester during a confrontation on a Memphis roadway, instead showing what appears to be a deliberate attempt by the individual to stage an incident in front of a patrol vehicle.
The footage, posted by the agency itself, shows a trooper attempting to carefully navigate around a group of protesters blocking the road. As the patrol car inches forward, a man wearing a bright orange construction vest and carrying a handheld radio steps into view from behind a white SUV.
He raises his hands and positions himself directly in front of the trooper’s vehicle, prompting the trooper to shout repeatedly, “Move! Get out of my way! Get out of my way! Move!”
Rather than complying, the man shakes his head and raises a single index finger toward the trooper, a gesture commonly used to signal “wait.” He then reaches out, grabs the vehicle’s push bars, and abruptly falls backward, theatrically collapsing onto the pavement in a manner suggesting he had been struck. Moments later, however, he pulls himself back to his feet, again raises his finger at the trooper, and calmly walks away to his vehicle without assistance.
Despite this sequence clearly visible in the footage, the video spread rapidly on social media accompanied by claims that the protester had been hit by the trooper’s car. The Tennessee Highway Patrol moved quickly to rebut those allegations, calling them false and misleading.
In a statement, the agency emphasized its respect for the right to peaceful protest while drawing a firm line around public safety. “That right, however, does not include entering active roadways or placing themselves in danger,” the statement read.
Officials noted that the video shows the individual holding onto the front of the vehicle, lying down voluntarily, then standing up and leaving under his own power. “At no point does the video show the individual being run over or injured, despite the narratives circulating on social media.”
The agency also reiterated that its priority is the safety of everyone involved, including protesters, motorists, and troopers. According to the statement, when someone enters an active roadway, it creates an immediate and serious risk, and troopers are trained to respond in ways designed to prevent injuries or worse outcomes.