Black driver pulled over because he made ‘direct eye contact’ with Ohio police officer

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday

Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

John Felton, a black man from Michigan was pulled over in Ohio, for making “direct eye contact” with a Dayton police officer. The incident was captured by Felton who recorded the exchange because he felt the officer “just needed a reason” to pull him over.

The officer initially claims the reason for stopping Felton was because he failed to signal within 100 feet of a turn.

As the officer steps away from the car, the driver says to the camera “he followed me for about two miles and when I got to my mum’s house he wants to put on his lights… He ain’t about to Sandra Bland me”.

In July, Sandra Bland, was found dead in a Texas jail three days after being stopped for a minor traffic offence.

At the end of the video, the officer tells Felton he was stopped because “you made direct eye contact with me and held onto it when I was passing you”.

Felton posted his anger on Facebook: ‘What kind of s*** is that? #DaytonPolice this cop needs to be on desk duty. Fake ass white collar thugs eager to meet their quota’.

The footage immediately captured people’s attention with police brutality becoming an increasingly important issue in the United States.

The city of Dayton has acknowledged the video and issued a statement saying: “A Dayton Police Officer pulled John Felton over on August 15 for not signalling within 100 feet of a turn. During the stop the Officer additionally acknowledged that Felton made sustained direct eye contact prior to being stopped. The traffic infraction was verified by the video; however making direct eye contact with an officer is not a basis for a traffic stop.”

“The Dayton Police Department is a true partner in the community and enjoys a positive community-police relationship. The Dayton Police Department is in contact with Mr. Felton. He has agreed to a conversation with the officer, facilitated by the Dayton Mediation Center. This will allow Mr. Felton and the Officer to discuss the specifics of the incident.”

The officer's race and identity are not known.