Wife filmed as cop yelled 'shut up' at her husband during a traffic stop. Their video got him fired from 2 police departments
'And that’s just when he became ballistic, just yellin, spit flying out of his mouth and landing on us.'
A Sunday night motorcycle ride home from a friend’s house in Crossville, Alabama, was supposed to end quietly. Instead, it turned into a scary police encounter for one couple. On October 28, 2026, news channel WAFF 48 published a story about how a normal traffic stop quickly became hostile. A frightened wife pulled out her phone camera as a police officer yelled at her husband to "shut up" and as her husband was handcuffed. As of writing, the report’s original YouTube post at @48news has over 443,000 views and 3,400 likes.
Unnecessary handcuffs
The whole incident started when Jackson and Trista Chaviers were riding home on Jackson's motorcycle. Officer Logan Harrelson was facing them head-on before pulling them over in front of the Crossville Water Board. He claimed their rear license plate tag was not visible enough. Things got tense fast, as Jackson explained that Harrelson's partner handcuffed him twice and pushed him against a wall. Harrelson grew more and more aggressive. "I was really just in shock; I had never experienced a simple traffic stop go that way," Trista said. "That’s when I looked at him, and I was like, we’re gonna record this cause I was kinda scared. And I even called my mom; I had her sit across the street cause after they put him in handcuffs that second time I was like I could be next."
Cop on a 'massive power trip'
Jackson tried to defend his wife and asked the officer to calm down, but Jackson said Harrelson became increasingly angry. "And that’s just when he became ballistic, just yellin, spit flying out of his mouth and landing on us," Jackson recalled. "We told him, 'You need to de-escalate right here. You’re a public servant; you need to calm down.' He said, 'You don’t tell me what to do; I tell you what to do, and I’m telling you you’re getting a ticket.'" Trista later described the officer as being on a "massive power trip" as he repeatedly yelled at them to "shut up" while detaining her husband.
But filming the encounter changed everything. Harrelson worked full-time for Crossville and part-time for neighboring Geraldine. After video of the encounter circulated online, both departments ended Harrelson’s employment. Crossville Mayor Roger Richards called the behavior "unprofessional and unacceptable," while Geraldine officials stated his conduct did not meet their standards. The couple's traffic tickets were dismissed, and they are now considering hiring a civil rights lawyer.
A national pattern
Incidents like this reflect wider issues across the United States. According to official data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, about 19% of U.S. residents age 16 or older (over 49 million people) had contact with police in 2022. A 2025 NYU-led study of more than 5,000 adults in the eastern United States found that 80% said they would be willing to call police in an emergency.
The public reacts
Online viewers flooded the comments section, expressing deep frustration over police behavior and calling for systemic reforms. @L8again902 wrote, "Have to start a national registry for corrupt cops." Other viewers emphasized the crucial role citizen recordings play when official body cameras are missing or turned off. @EZP33ZEE noted, "This is why you should always record encounters with law enforcement regardless of their demeanor."
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