A former San Francisco Bay Area police officer was charged with assault for using excessive force on an unarmed Black man he arrested last July during a traffic stop over a missing license plate.
Matthew Nutt was fired from his job in April of this year for violating several of the Antioch Police Department’s use of force policies after police officials investigated his part in a traffic stop on July 1, 2022. Now, he’s facing a criminal misdemeanor assault charge for his actions at that stop.
Antioch Police recently released body camera footage of the incident.
It shows Nutt stopping a driver for not having any license plates on his vehicle. After approaching the car on the passenger side, he speaks to the person in the front passenger seat, who authorities identified as Terry Robinson. Robinson explains that he and the driver were heading to the DMV and Nutt asks for the driver and Robinson’s identification.
After reviewing their IDs, Nutt discovered that Robinson had a felony warrant out for his arrest. Nutt approaches the car again, opens the passenger door, and asks Robinson to step out and hold his hands up, then cuffs him. Another officer is also present at the scene.
Nutt walks Robinson to his police vehicle and explains that Robinson is wanted for the warrant. Robinson stops in the middle of the walk to try to explain himself. Robinson nervously tells Nutt that he can’t sit in the back of the vehicle, and says he’s starting to have a panic attack.
The moments that ensue next show the encounter escalating dramatically.
Nutt forces Robinson against the side of his police vehicle and another officer approaches. Both officers force Robinson to the ground.
During these moments, Robinson repeats himself multiple times, continuing to insist that he’s having a panic attack, to which one officer responds by saying, “Get in the car,” and “Stop resisting.”
Both Nutt and the other officer with him tell Robinson…
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