Bodycam Footage: Memphis Police Officer pepper sprays handcuffed suspect in police cruiser

Bodycam footage of former Memphis Police Department Officer William Skelton arriving on scene at a convenience store in Memphis, TN near Lamar and Airways on January 10, 2019. According to the police report, Skelton was responding to a call about a suspect in the store had causing a disruption and knocking over items. The suspect's name was Drew Thomas. Thomas had been banned from the store previously because of prior incidents.
Internal Affairs charged Officer Skelton with Excessive Force. He resigned from the department just a week before his hearing. Full Story: www.localmemph...

[@jaystrid3446]

If this coward would have done this to a dog, he would be put under the jail. But since its a handcuffed black man, he got 1 year probation....

[@vincentpatterson6824]

And the officer standing around listening to that b******* needs to be re-evaluated also not even trying to correct him

[@strider8933]

THESE are the "Professionals" that WE employ. Take back our lives by forcing these thugs out!

[@jerrybledsoe8135]

All of them are guilty by association. Hold them accountable.

[@donaldsperrazza1074]

Just standing there like a pole while the one officer commits assault

[@arzellgooden3710]

I live in Memphis TN. and I came across this video and the name Officer Skelton caught my eye. In 1999 an Officer Skelton did the same thing to me almost . He approached me in midtown and he decided to make up a totally false arrest report . He attempted to pepper spray me that night but change his mind . I will never forget the name Skelton and I am 66 now . 2 of his false charges was DUI and public intoxication and I have never been the type of person that drink beer nor alcohol . When I went to court they dropped all of the charges right away and stated to my attorney that they knew that nothing was in my system on that night of the false arrest . Don't know if it 's the same Skelton but if it is the same crooked cop , I am so glad to see that he finally got caught .

[@843youngin3]

The cop obviously used to be bullied in high school that why he’s acting like that

[@BobSmith-ui4qu]

What a proud individual, how brave he is because he has a gun and his buddies around.

[@tove236]

The worst thing is how proud he is about it. Like he's committed some great deed.

[@unknownprofile2830]

Who the cop?

[@seer1]

"The most dangerous thing in life is an incompetent that has been given a gun and a law enforcement badge." - Steven Magee

[@invisiblehands2780]

💯

[@tontoace7]

Totally unprofessional cop with a chip on his shoulder.

[@geraldnewsome4456]

They are so evil laughing about this evil act!

[@RickJohnson-vn5ys]

Shows just how sick and demented these cops are, like truly sick disgusting human beings. This is why so many hate cops now, I don’t remember coos acting this bad growing up, we used to look up to them and they were nice (most of them) but now it’s a 50/50 chance we will end up with a cop like this guy and that’s very sad for Americans

[@Kangaruworld1]

See how officers talk disrespectful to people, but you can't talk that way to them.

[@andreatate6702]

Disgusting!

[@Triple316]

This cop is horrible!

[@TeresaAMonda]

I pray this cop was fired

[@RickJohnson-vn5ys]

Probably a Sargent now

[@JoshChampionshipWrestling23]

@@RickJohnson-vn5ys no he resigned. And charged

[@RickJohnson-vn5ys]

@@JoshChampionshipWrestling23 reigned is bs, now he gets all his benefits and can go be a cop somewhere else. This is what the chiefs tell them to do when they know it’s a loosing case. Basically this cops and the ones watch8ng and cheering will not have to pay out of pocket or see jail

[@astroproductionsllc4917]

@@RickJohnson-vn5ys he was arrested

[@reginaeiland3604]

@Teresa A. Monda • I hope so too. He’s so full of hatred he doesn’t even care he’s recording himself! He is worse than an animal!!Are these the only types that apply for police officer positions?🤷🏽‍♀️

[@brendawarden7892]

Ya let’s worry about the car not the guy dying in the back seat. These are some mean cowards

[@bophadeeznutz]

😂

[@bhall4996]

Somebody here should NOT be a cop. Anywhere

[@allenm1974]

I’m grateful for body cameras and camera phones. Now, imagine how this would have gone if it wasn’t for this footage. And people wonder why so many people have such a great disdain for cops. Not all cops, but those that even keep silent when wrong is being done. They are just as guilty as their partner. Then have the audacity to say he tried to be nice... 🤦🏾‍♂️ And they are joking about it. Wow!

[@yvonnegreen8692]

He need to be let go for talking to him like that

[@cynthiagonzalez5893]

He needs to be fired for a lot of things he could have died in that car with that spray he was calling for help

[@jhmarrio2972]

Wow this cop sets a really good example... ...of how to act like douchbag. I understand that it must be difficult to maintain demeanor with difficult suspects but this is unacceptable imo. Police are supposed to be the prescedent of good behavior in society. This "cop" is doing the exact opposite. This kind of conduct gives the great cops a bad name.

[@shogunofsorrow787]

That suspect was far from difficult. So I can't imagine how difficult it is to not act this violent and foul against someone who for the most part has been compliant

[@gaylongraham077]

Not a bad apple, part of a system of abuse and criminal injustice.

[@biggie8169]

im from memphis and trust me you have to talk to people like that ......thats how people talk down here

[@jeremiahmitchell1984]

yes bro

[@Iwillfartinyourmouth]

Straight up lol

[@ab.3800]

memphis as fuck

[@vitohov8824]

Hell nah bro a police officer saying dickhead? Cmon on bro. Y’all let them do that ain’t no way that shit going down in Chicago. We would most definitely get them back trust me

[@micai.j8920]

Memphis sux hard and it’s a cursed city. Bye.

[@cynthiagonzalez5893]

Unfortunately I live in Memphis and I’m ashamed to tell people that’s where I’m from because of this right here they should be ashamed of themselves and fired

[@raqks1]

He’s literally screaming help! I’ve literally sprayed pepper spray in the air before and it hit me only just a little bit and my breathe was taken away and coughing like crazy. Being peppered sprayed is NO JOKE and this officer pretty much “gassed” him full of pepper spray.

[@believer4445]

The way they agree to make up charges and laugh at his pain..sad world if there isn't justice..they love that it's a felony..

[@williamllyod2321]

He only acts like that because he has a badge and a gun

[@invisiblehands2780]

Bet he’s coward punk

[@jasonsmitty.1057]

The cops smiling at his belittling the black guy should be fired as well.

[@KellyBirmingham-ij5qs]

He used foam for no legal reason. Just a self entitled lying law enforcement making excuses to justify his own sorry excuse for existence

[@cynthiagonzalez5893]

Everyone that is watching this should contact MPD and complain on behalf of this poor gentleman our voices should be heard from everywhere for his actions

[@Comecomenow]

This is how it is for BLACK PROPLE😢😢😢

[@bigshot9557]

It’s like these guys love to give people felonies it’s crazy then to talk the way he did

[@johnwatkins7412]

That cop needs to be charged. He's a punk

[@RickJohnson-vn5ys]

He will never get charged, won’t even get a slap on the hands. Hopefully a local will take care him and show him that he is not above the law and that there are consequences for acting in such a sadistic manner

[@JoshChampionshipWrestling23]

@@RickJohnson-vn5ys He Has Been.. And He Also Resigned From Being A Cop.

[@JoshChampionshipWrestling23]

THE COP HAS RESIGNED! AND BEEN ARRESTED!

[@Kangaruworld1]

Good

[@unknownprofile2830]

Cuz of tyre Nicolas

[@there_is_nothing_here]

jesus. that cop has anger issues. ****

[@charlesdrennon163]

What an embarrassment to a great department. It doesn't take a psychiatrist to see this officer has serious issues. Treat people as you would want to be treated. Period. Thank you to the vast majority of GREAT Memphis police officers.

[@bronz9371]

I would have the same issues too if I had to deal with thugs like this.

[@TheTntwo]

Nice language officer very professional

[@philiphazelton6655]

bad cop

[@astroproductionsllc4917]

Just want to point out. This is half of not more of the department. Mpd is one of the most unprofessional departments in the area. It takes them over 45 minutes to get to any kind of call. They don’t like writing reports. They don’t do their job. Some of them are good. But a lot of them act like this

[@drondyc4267]

I’m confused… who has the mental health issue here the officer or the suspect?

[@isa_ibn_Muhammed]

The officers. All of them in this video

[@mikrettop6501]

Mr Arresting cop needs another job! Blatant anger. Cop had an attitude b4 the stop. Look i know these guys have a hard job, but there is a time to calm down instead of continuing to be a JeRk. I pity this cops family, hes a abuser!!!!

[@gotham61]

The only job this asshole should have is in prison stamping out license plates.

[@donaldsperrazza1074]

I hope he doesn’t have kids

[@bartholomewjones5450]

This is appalling.

[@brendawarden7892]

What a bunch of cowardly vultures. I never seen this guy he disrespectful or heard him kick the door but all these cowards are sticking together with their vicious, lies and the cowards I’d never trust a cop because we can see there crooks that have no conscious. They’re going to cause me to have a heart attack

[@VAHOSS]

Why block out public information? Such as police officers numbers and names

[@donaldsperrazza1074]

The cop in the yellow jacket is just as guilty

[@victorianmelody46]

Who raises their son to talk like that anytime to anybody? Disgraceful! He's a hothead who I'm sure talks to his wife and children the same way. That behavior seemed very comfortable to him and he was even proud of it. This officer desperately needs mental help, and another line of work. He was even laughing and bragging that it was on his body camera. The other cops were getting a big laugh out of all this also. I fail to see anything humorous about any of this.

[@ab.3800]

You're obv not from memphis

[@KellyBirmingham-ij5qs]

How unprofessional. This officer should be done away with.

[@BobSmith-ui4qu]

How do the thugs in charge look at themselves in the mirror every morning.

[@donaldsperrazza1074]

They get people (mainly old people who watch the news all day) tell them how great they are every day.

[@wemcal]

MPD said Skelton - as well as two other officers at the gas station that night - were on the Crisis Intervention Team. Two officers received three-day suspensions for their actions that night. Skelton was facing a number of charges including excessive force. He resigned before his administrative hearing. Skelton told the Institute for Public Service Reporting he doesn’t want to comment on what happened. He is “happily working in the private sector.” The case was never turned over to the District attorney’s office for review.

[@donnierenfro1489]

That's why it's high crime police force is not right.

[@Kangaruworld1]

And those other. Cops that allowed this should also be fired.

[@wanderlustendumado5396]

Right, duty to intervene.

[@unknownprofile2830]

@@wanderlustendumado5396 could be question to CJ Davis

[@wanderlustendumado5396]

@@unknownprofile2830 Memphis is corrupt as can be.

[@seer1]

"Most middle-class whites have no idea what it feels like to be subjected to police who are routinely suspicious, rude, belligerent, and brutal.” ― Dr. Benjamin Spock

[@ledwallet1944]

3 1/2 years and this copper still hasn't been tried.

[@BB..........]

What heroes! Thanks for keeping us safe!

[@nicholkennedy5037]

Heard not one of them read him his rights

[@ranger1429]

Please tell me that sadist is dismissed

[@MH27353]

Look at the other police officer just sit there and watch what happened to protect and serve

[@nicholasnorliffe46]

great language from a cop i dont think arrogant as well real poster boy for dumb cops

[@Leepbby]

This man was CLEARLY in distress after being UNLAWFULLY pepper sprayed and needed water flushed to his face and ALL of the cops just ignored his cries for water which is supposed to be done quickly after being pepper sprayed. Unbelievable all of these cops and especially the TIRANT one...They finally give him help by the fire dept. and THEN they decie to air the car out when they Never should have had this man in that closed environment to begin with. Not to ment the Clear disrespect of any human compassion from this Tirant who is so verbally abuse toward him from the start. I hope he is found guilty....

[@brendawarden7892]

Boy was that coward happy when the cop that said charge him with a felony because he knew he had nothing till then. Shame

[@brendawarden7892]

I can’t even wait till the end to go crazy this guy is so out of control. I’ll be surprised if this guy makes to the station alive

[@MPB059]

This cop is horrible.

[@jackielewis5214]

How can you solve a problem when you are part of the problem 😔

[@essataabit6385]

Well clansmen one o one

[@VAHOSS]

I've never seen a black clansman before. Hmmmmm, and was actually the head clansman on scene.

[@KellyBirmingham-ij5qs]

Makes me sick.

[@kena1476]

I grew up here. This is why I left in1995 Absolutely deplorable

[@D-Major_Beats]

Same here nothing changed with Tough guy cops

[@wanderlustendumado5396]

He was indicted, and charged but was he found guilty?

[@invisiblehands2780]

I am searching but I can’t find anything on the case

[@ny_wonders]

as a police officer of mixed race this makes me so sad. he doesn't need to be a cop and those other two didn't even check him

[@iam4740]

Even Elvis went bad. Memphis water is the reason.

[@davidnunya6296]

this cop is exactly like all other cops there's nothing shocking here except it was caught on his own camera they usually shut their camera off it should lead to insant charges when they turn their camera off every single one of those "public servants " is a scumbag

[@cynthiagonzalez5893]

Every single officer needs to be brought up to charges there standing around laughing about this and eating while the gentleman is suffering from the spray he’s screaming for help

[@BethlynnGreen12]

It's just like our young people the cops seem to have no impulse control either when actually that's a pretty important part of their job this guy here wow he's pretty lucky anybody complies with what he's demanding

[@alda20mante]

Why police insult the black guy?

[@unknownprofile2830]

He keeps kicking the door like that

[@BoostedHenry8]

Lucky it wasn’t Bartlett I thought Memphis was bad Bartlett gave me a ticket bc my car broke down on the side of the road and I was fixing it said I was doing 60 in a 45 when my car can’t even start and said “maybe u shouldn’t be driving the car “did answer my questions nothing

[@BoostedHenry8]

Not including he almost clipped a old woman van speeding tryna get behind my car traveling 10mph without battery voltage 😂

[@MH27353]

Then he turns the camera and let us all know cops can do whatever they want...

[@ff443100]

Look at his picture he probably been punked all his life even on the force just he had back up that night so he was brave.

[@lilwen3]

Where is the good cop ?

[@charlesyates6687]

Not in America. No such thing as a good cop they are all scumbags.

[@jerryallman]

According to the code of ethics these foreign agents actions or criminal

[@mikrettop6501]

And why isnt the police commissioner doing something about this, ignoring this is the start to further abuse! Now they have to call emergency personnel to deal with something that shouldnt have happened in the first place. Oh poor kittle boy got his seat kicked…. BIG DEAL!

[@invisiblehands2780]

He’s the same

[@cynthiagonzalez5893]

There’s a lot of times they don’t see these footage unless it’s brought to there attention and also you know on the street they snitch on each other that’s why I was saying everyone watching this live send in complaints no matter where you are be his voice 😢❤

[@brendawarden7892]

I didn’t know if a dumb F tells you I going to do it that makes it right

[@Theironbodysensei]

Wow

[@LaNeeCollard]

Major Farva vibes

[@D-Major_Beats]

Here this cop talk wreckers. I'm born and raised Memphis TN. I left Memphis in 1994 and police all powered up behind badge then. So people ask why Memphis so Fckd up with community and police. Mane pls

[@RedWaveGraphics]

Did you seriously just spell out "mane"?

[@bophadeeznutz]

Huh?

[@nickday1627]

I lived in and worked all over Memphis and it's a dangerous city and I know officers have to be tough but this is uncalled for from the start the officer was way out of line talking to him the way he did and just keeps getting worse by the minute

[@chipsdad5861]

Cops take it personal because they see the city as their TERRITORY. Cops seem to have alot of trouble keeping emotions in check. Cops are not usually a welcome sight for anyone. Cops would do well to accept that they are not usually popular. Cops like this don't help the situation. It is just a job.

[@brendawarden7892]

This isn’t tough this is cowardly

[@brendawarden7892]

He just can’t stand it he’s trying his best to have a reason to beat this guy. This coward’s mother sure did teach him how to be respective. Are they training that language in the boys school for cowards

[@ff443100]

All you can say is wow

[@charlesdavis5237]

This is what's going on in my city wtf, wow#TYT

[@way2kul4any1]

Back the Blue till it happens to you

[@MichaelSmith-mm9de]

Got to love this cops language. I bet he knows the N word and uses it regularly.

[@hombreduro369]

That cat they arrested is called “heavy” he’s crazy. Like legit crazy. He and his mom have a inappropriate relationship. Hence the incest comment.

[@reginaconaser5972]

They act hard as cops because they got those badges,stick, pepper spray and cuffs very wrong bet when they outta that uniform they totally different ppl that cop was putting on a show because of the other officers that was present..

[@ricladouceur6202]

Look at the unprofessional way this guy speaks to him. The guy deserved to be arrested but seriously whose the gang member here. It's a minor offence. This is ridiculous. Pepperspraying is not authorized for this. They all did knowing it was recorded and laughed about it. All these officers should be charged.

[@aydennligus2227]

@donutoperator do a review on this vid lmao

[@edwardmathis9546]

EVIL

[@tydeProductions]

If the a few bad apples mantra was true, at least 1 cop woulda said sum, that’s only 33% which is not a few that’s majority

[@brendawarden7892]

Tax payers money at work

[@charlesdavis5237]

#Indisputabletyt

[@normansky2372]

Crazy

[@danielboone8435]

Wow. What a completely sad excuse for a human being. Mr. And Mrs. Skelton should be deeply ashamed.

[@RickJohnson-vn5ys]

This video is so disheartening, that cop and his gang members became cops for only one reason and that’s so they can act like this and get away with it. The unprofessionalism right from the get the go all the way to the end. The guy didn’t say or do anything to the cop to warrant that type of behavior from a cop. He came up, he complied all while being treated like s**t, put in the car and should of then been taken to jail and done deal. This was a fun game to these sick cops, sad excuse for human beings. Good cops out there that see this video should take these guys Outback and teach them a lesson on humanity and maybe d**k head coward cops like these guys start to learn but normally when anyone acts as these cops did that means they are complete cowards and couldn’t handle one on one with anyone without that badge or gang members behind them

[@MrLakeshow11]

Ive never been more Proud of U. 8:02 I'm fixing to have my pay on .📹 8:30

[@Marcssj3]

Should have been a good ol boi and did what masta says!

[@aydennligus2227]

incident report wreg.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2020/10/Skelton-ISB-interview.pdf