Former Division I Player Says He Was Cooperating Before Arkansas Traffic Stop Turned Violent
An Arkansas State Police traffic stop is drawing renewed scrutiny after dashcam footage showed a trooper breaking an SUV window, grabbing former Division I basketball player Tedrick Washington Jr. by his dreadlocks and punching him in the face as officers arrested the occupants following a high-speed chase.
Washington, a Blytheville, Arkansas, native who was riding in the back seat, was not driving the vehicle during the Aug. 19 pursuit. He was ultimately charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations.
The encounter is the second widely publicized use-of-force incident involving Arkansas State Police this month, adding to questions from Black lawmakers about the agency’s practices.
Dashcam Shows Trooper Breaking Window and Pulling Washington Out
The pursuit began around 11:21 p.m. on Arkansas 18 after Trooper Theodore Henderson reported clocking a 2023 Infiniti QX50 traveling 82 mph in a 60-mph zone near the Big Lake bridge.
According to Henderson’s report, the SUV accelerated after he activated his emergency lights. Speeds during the pursuit eventually reached about 130 mph before officers used spike strips and tactical vehicle intervention maneuvers to stop the SUV in Blytheville.
The driver, identified as Adonerus Johnson, was arrested on charges including felony fleeing, resisting arrest, first-offense DWI and reckless driving.
Video from Henderson’s patrol car shows Washington sitting in the back seat with his hands raised after the vehicle came to a stop.
Henderson then uses a baton to shatter the rear passenger-side window.
The video shows Washington extending an arm through the opening before Henderson grabs him by the arm and his dreadlocks. Henderson then punches Washington in the face and pulls him through the shattered window.
Henderson wrote in his report that Washington pulled his arm away and braced himself against the vehicle. The trooper said Washington later “postured up” as though he might strike him, leading Henderson to deliver the first closed-fist punch.
Henderson also reported striking Washington a second time after the struggle moved to the ground.
Washington has maintained that he was attempting to cooperate and is reportedly preparing to pursue legal action.
No court has determined whether the force used against Washington was unlawful.
Washington Played Division I Basketball
Washington, who recently turned 24, played college basketball at several programs before reaching the Division I level.
The 6-foot-2 guard appeared in 27 games for Texas A&M-Corpus Christi during the 2023-24 season, finishing second on the team with 37 steals. He later transferred to Southeast Missouri State, where he played during the 2024-25 season.
His collegiate career also included stops at Moberly Area Community College, Shawnee Community College and Pensacola State College.
Washington graduated from Blytheville High School, where he earned All-State and All-Conference honors.
Second Arkansas Trooper Incident Draws Scrutiny
Washington’s arrest comes less than three weeks after another Arkansas State Police encounter involving an 18-year-old Black woman generated national attention.
Alisa Hackett filed a federal civil rights lawsuit after dashcam footage from an Aug. 1 traffic stop showed Trooper Moisses Arellano taking her to the ground and striking her in the face.
Hackett’s lawsuit, filed Aug. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, alleges excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment and retaliation in violation of the First Amendment.
The case prompted members of the Arkansas Legislative Black Caucus to seek answers from Arkansas State Police leadership.
State Rep. Jesse McGruder, a former law enforcement officer, criticized the conduct while lawmakers met to discuss the incident.
“Any young man who has played for me knows if you strike a female, you will be suspended that week, and you have to deal with the consequences,” McGruder said.
Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar did not attend a scheduled public discussion with Black lawmakers, citing Hackett’s pending litigation. Hagar said he instead offered to meet privately with caucus members to discuss public safety concerns.
