TULSA, Okla. — “Y’all just ran me over, bro,” were the words 24-year-old Kemonte Hampton cried out after a Tulsa police cruiser reversed and proceeded to run over his body during a jaywalking arrest in April.
New body and dash cam footage, obtained by KJRH Channel 2’s Erin Christy, shows the aftermath of a scene that started with a minor infraction and ended with a man pinned under a patrol car. The video is disturbing. It shows officers pulling Hampton from beneath the vehicle, cuffing him, and offering no immediate medical reassurance as he cries in pain.
Tulsa Police later claimed Hampton’s injuries were “minor,” but the footage tells a more complicated story.
Video shows Tulsa police run over jaywalking suspect
The footage begins in the QuikTrip parking lot near 11th and South Garnett. Hampton had reportedly fled from officers earlier, who sought to detain him simply for jaywalking. Police say they chased him through a nearby hotel parking lot before returning to QT. As he kneels to surrender, a second officer approaches from behind and shoves him to the ground.
Next, that’s when things escalate. A backup officer who arrived on scene had left a patrol vehicle in reverse. While officers wrestle Hampton to the pavement, the car silently rolls backward and strikes him. Officers pull him out from underneath the car. Meanwhile, they continue to handcuff the injured man without saying a word to him.
“The video is hard to watch, and we are not showing all of it, Christy wrote in her report, which stops short of showing the impact itself. “But we took serious concerns to the Tulsa Police Department.”
Police response: jaywalking, “community pressure,” and policy gaps
Tulsa Police Capt. Richard Meulenberg told KJRH the increased police presence in the area was due to a rise in violent crime. “Is jaywalking a minor infraction? Yes,” he admitted. “But it comes on the demands of the community saying, ‘Hey, we have major crimes out here—do something.’”
It’s unclear how violently arresting someone for evading a jaywalking arrest addresses violent crime in the community.
According to police, Hampton’s decision to run contributed to how officers responded. But when asked if any part of the takedown—especially the shove or the failure to secure the patrol vehicle—violated department policy or used excessive force, Meulenberg declined to comment.
“For me to say, is it excessive or not, I’d be remiss,” he told KJRH. “I’d hate to take one snippet and make a judgment call.”
The officer who failed to park the vehicle is reportedly under departmental review this month. TPD did not give an update on whether that review will result in disciplinary action.
Charges, context, and what’s next
Hampton faces charges of jaywalking, resisting arrest, and obstruction. His court hearing is scheduled for June 12. Aside from a single 2024 theft charge involving a jacket from Target, no prior criminal history could be found.
KJRH’s report notes that Hampton was taken to the hospital by paramedics after the incident, but the extent of his injuries remains unclear. Officers reportedly sustained only minor scratches.
The Black Wall Street Times has reached out to Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols’ office for a response. Follow for updates.
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