Traffic violations—specifically an allegation that he failed to stop at a stop sign and refused to stop for officers—ended with 25-year-old Brandon Calloway in the hospital and needing stitches. Calloway’s attorney, Andre Wharton, told reporters including Action News 5 his client suffered “head injuries, hospitalization, and significant pain and suffering,” all for what was alleged to be a traffic violation. Wharton said it ended in an “animalistic assault” while his client was trying to complete a DoorDash delivery order.
“Nothing unlawful about doing a DoorDash in a nice vehicle,” Wharton said during a news conference. “This happened in a very short time period but obviously for Brandon, it seemed like an eternity when you have batons and tasers in your face and you’re wondering why am I being beaten.”
Warning: Videos in this story contain police violence that may be triggering for some viewers.
RELATED STORY: 'We cannot trust you': 13-year-old activist delivers kind of message police should be listening to
Police alleged in an affidavit Action News 5 obtained that Calloway drove through a stop sign and was driving 32 mph in a 20-mph zone when officers tried to stop him on July 16 in Oakland, a city about 40 miles west of Memphis. Officers said Calloway refused to pull over and ran into his home, at which point officers had to use a Taser and baton to take Calloway into custody. Video circulating on social media showed an officer kick in Calloway's door, after which the officer and a peer followed Calloway into his home and beat him.
Wharton told reporters he has not seen dash camera or squad car video that revealed when officers activated their lights or sirens during the traffic stop, but at some point they were activated. “Brandon obviously was trying to figure out, what’s going on here? Why are you guys following me? I’m not violating any law,” Wharton said. “They commence speaking with Brandon or try to speak with him. He’s clueless as to why they continue to pursue him when he didn’t believe he done anything wrong.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, Fayette County District Attorney Mark Davidson told CBS-affiliated WREG.
Calloway’s father, Ed Calloway, told the news station his son graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2021 and was in town visiting. “I just want the truth to come out about exactly what took place. Whatever that may be,” Ed Calloway said, adding that his son has "never been in trouble a day in his life. Great kid. Impeccable character.”
Wharton told WREG the “conduct exhibited is not reflective of what good officer conduct should be about … It was as if this was a retaliatory vindictive response to a situation that just got out of hand,” the attorney said.
Retired Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. Benny Cobb told WREG after viewing the footage and affidavit of the incident that Calloway should have stopped for the officers, but the way the officers responded was not only “unethical,” but “illegal.”
“Now the officers have to do something, but what they did was totally unnecessary," Cobb said.
“They knew that all they had was traffic charges,” Cobb added. “It’s very very rare to go to this extent on traffic charges only. They knew who he was. They could have went and got a warrant for his arrest.”
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“Nothing unlawful about doing a DoorDash in a nice vehicle,” Wharton said during a news conference. “This happened in a very short time period but obviously for Brandon, it seemed like an eternity when you have batons and tasers in your face and you’re wondering why am I being beaten.”
Warning: Videos in this story contain police violence that may be triggering for some viewers.
RELATED STORY: 'We cannot trust you': 13-year-old activist delivers kind of message police should be listening to
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— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 21, 2022
Police alleged in an affidavit Action News 5 obtained that Calloway drove through a stop sign and was driving 32 mph in a 20-mph zone when officers tried to stop him on July 16 in Oakland, a city about 40 miles west of Memphis. Officers said Calloway refused to pull over and ran into his home, at which point officers had to use a Taser and baton to take Calloway into custody. Video circulating on social media showed an officer kick in Calloway's door, after which the officer and a peer followed Calloway into his home and beat him.
Wharton told reporters he has not seen dash camera or squad car video that revealed when officers activated their lights or sirens during the traffic stop, but at some point they were activated. “Brandon obviously was trying to figure out, what’s going on here? Why are you guys following me? I’m not violating any law,” Wharton said. “They commence speaking with Brandon or try to speak with him. He’s clueless as to why they continue to pursue him when he didn’t believe he done anything wrong.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, Fayette County District Attorney Mark Davidson told CBS-affiliated WREG.
Calloway’s father, Ed Calloway, told the news station his son graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2021 and was in town visiting. “I just want the truth to come out about exactly what took place. Whatever that may be,” Ed Calloway said, adding that his son has "never been in trouble a day in his life. Great kid. Impeccable character.”
Wharton told WREG the “conduct exhibited is not reflective of what good officer conduct should be about … It was as if this was a retaliatory vindictive response to a situation that just got out of hand,” the attorney said.
Retired Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. Benny Cobb told WREG after viewing the footage and affidavit of the incident that Calloway should have stopped for the officers, but the way the officers responded was not only “unethical,” but “illegal.”
“Now the officers have to do something, but what they did was totally unnecessary," Cobb said.
“They knew that all they had was traffic charges,” Cobb added. “It’s very very rare to go to this extent on traffic charges only. They knew who he was. They could have went and got a warrant for his arrest.”
YouTube Video