PLAINFIELD, Ind. – Recent videos of traffic stops involving black Americans and white police officers have sparked controversy and tension, but a new video captured in Plainfield and posted to social media, isn’t what you’re used to seeing.
Koree Pereira was riding his motorcycle on Sept. 2 when he was pulled over by a police officer in an unmarked vehicle, after speeding on Ronald Reagan Parkway. The entire incident was captured on Pereira’s helmet camera.
The video, edited by the driver to protect the officer’s identity, shows Pereira with his hands in the air as the officer asks. When the officer discovered the driver was armed, Pereira was able to show license and registration for both his motorcycle and the gun.
Pereira admits he was driving a little fast, and said “respect goes a long way.”
“I followed the officer’s instructions. He told me not to reach for my weapon,” Pereira said.
The video was posted to YouTube and received over a million views. It was then shared on Facebook where it gained an additional 5 million views.
“I wasn't originally going to post it,” said Pereira. “I got talked into it by my friend and my girlfriend. I guess they thought it was a positive sight on what's going on in the world today.”
After license and registration were handed over, Pereira and the officer, Aaron Teare, remained friendly.
“The cooperation from both sides, the mutual respect was very overwhelming and very evident,” said Teare. “I want them to see that not only the police, the citizens, in a textbook situation, of how things should play out and did play out.”
Pereira said everyone has their own opinion about the police.
“As long as we unite and forget about the negativity and be positive, we can have a positive outcome on anything,” he said.
