A routine traffic stop for a missing license plate light in Fresno, California, has escalated into a viral controversy after a Black motorist accused police of racial profiling and harassment. Ryan Coley, a registered gun owner, recorded the 40-minute encounter, during which officers searched for contraband, threatened to break his window, and ordered him out of his car, citing his gun ownership as justification for their actions. The incident, which took place on Nov. 8, has drawn scrutiny after Coley posted the video online.
The traffic stop began after an officer allegedly saw Coley in the parking lot of a smoke shop and later pulled him over. Despite initially citing the license plate light as the reason for the stop, the officer quickly pivoted to accusing Coley of hiding marijuana in his 7-year-old daughter’s backpack, which was in the car but did not contain any illegal substances. Coley refused to consent to the search, repeatedly asking the officer to issue a citation and let him leave. The officer instead extended the stop, insisting on inspecting the bag.
As the confrontation escalated, Coley complied with orders to exit his vehicle after officers threatened to arrest him and claimed they needed no further reason to forcibly remove him. Even as Coley stepped out, officers stopped him from exiting on his own, reportedly treating him as a potential threat due to his status as a registered gun owner. He was frisked and questioned, despite California law requiring thorough background checks for gun registrations, effectively ruling out any criminal history on Coley’s part.
The video, which has been widely shared on platforms like YouTube and social media, has fueled accusations of racial profiling and misuse of police authority. Coley said the experience left him shaken and wary of driving his car, citing the officer’s conduct as emblematic of broader issues within Fresno’s police department. “Fresno has bad cops,” Coley remarked. “I may have dreads in my hair, but I’m not a gangbanger.”
Coley, who received only a citation for the broken license plate light, has expressed his intention to fight the ticket in court and pursue legal action over the prolonged detention. However, he has yet to secure legal representation. The incident has sparked renewed calls for police accountability and an end to racially biased policing practices in California and beyond.
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