WARNER ROBINS, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — A traffic stop in Warner Robins during the
Thunder Task Force operation Thursday led to a
viral dashcam video and a now-dismissed citation for a driver.
The footage, shared nearly 5,000 times from Lawrence Dixon’s Facebook account as of 4 p.m. on Friday, showed Dixon being ticketed for holding a phone, despite the video not showing one in his hand. The City of Warner Robins released a statement Thursday night saying the stop involved an “outside agency with independent arrest powers” and directed further inquiries to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
On Thursday, the Georgia Department of Public Safety released the following statement:
“When a matter regarding one of our Troopers is brought to our attention, we take it seriously. Mr. Dixon was contacted directly yesterday by Georgia State Patrol personnel. After further investigation into the incident, the charge against Mr. Dixon was dismissed.”
Georgia State Patrol also contacted Dixon after reviewing the viral footage. Dixon said he was using his phone’s GPS, which was mounted, while working as an Uber driver. His dashcam recorded all angles of his ride, capturing the entire interaction with the trooper.
The stop happened at Watson Boulevard and Houston Road. Dixon, who had just picked up a passenger, said he was in full compliance with traffic laws and was surprised when officers pulled him over.
“I just thought to myself, like, ‘Hey, I’m under compliance. I have my license, I have my insurance,'” Dixon said. “As long as I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing, I don’t feel like I should be pulled over.”
His initial reaction was shock.
“Unbelievable,” he said. “I figured they must have been trying to stop someone else other than me. We were at a red light, and we were the first to go. I knew we weren’t speeding, I knew I didn’t commit any crimes, so it was unbelievable.”