New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore said police officers were “unprofessional,” and he experienced “racism” during a traffic stop early Wednesday morning.
The Providence Police Department, however, stated it was a “routine traffic stop” that found violations and a “belligerent” driver.
“I just experienced for the first time 5 Providence cops being very unprofessional racism at its finest,” Barmore posted to X, formerly Twitter.
NEWS: #Patriots star Christian Barmore accused local police of RACISM after his car was towed.
“I just experienced for the first time 5 Providence cops being very unprofessional racism at its (sic) finest,” Barmore wrote on social media. pic.twitter.com/yS854afnMR
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) October 16, 2024
The Providence Police Department decided to release the body cam footage to ensure everything was well.
In the video, Christian Barmore asked why he was being pulled over before he told the officers, “Don’t touch me. Y’all crazy. I dare you to touch me. I’ll sue all of you.”
Barmore was on the phone with a woman who is believed to be his mother. She informed officers Barmore is on blood thinners and they “need to be extremely careful with him.”
Officers would instruct the defensive tackle to step out of the car, and his mother told him to roll his windows up.
The responding officer opens Barmore’s door, and he starts to lose his temper as he yells at the police around the vehicle, saying, “I ain’t do (expletive) to y’all.”
Christian Barmore would get out of the vehicle while still yelling.
Colonel Oscar Perez issued a statement after the body cam footage was released:
The Providence Police Department takes all concerns from the public very seriously and with the utmost professionalism. In this particular case, the vehicle in question was found to be unregistered during a routine traffic stop, which is a violation of the law. The officer acted in full compliance with department protocols and state regulations. We understand that any encounter with law enforcement can be stressful, however, it’s important to note that officers are required to enforce all applicable laws, including those related to vehicle registration. We will continue to review the situation to ensure that proper procedures were followed and to maintain transparency with the public.
Christian Barmore Has Yet To Play A Game During The 2024 NFL Season
New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore hasn’t been talked about much this year because he hasn’t played a game.
Barmore, who the Patriots selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, had a career year last season when he led the team with 8.5 sacks and 16 QB hits.
Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with blood clots in July, and it was believed that the defensive tackle would miss the entire 2024 season for the New England Patriots.
Patriots head coach Jared Mayo stated, “He’s progressing.”
“He still has some checkpoints or hurdles to get over, but he’s progressing.”
