The DeKalb Texas Police Department is in the spotlight for all of the wrong reasons following public outcry over a traffic stop involving a paraplegic man and his blind passenger. The incident, captured on body camera footage and released online, has drawn widespread criticism from across the country.
The stop occurred on April 8, 2025, when DeKalb officers pulled over a Cadillac reportedly due to a broken taillight. The vehicle was driven by a man who is paraplegic, with a blind man riding in the passenger seat. According to police, an officer claimed to smell marijuana, leading to both men being ordered out of the vehicle.
The situation quickly escalated. Despite the driver informing officers he could not walk, he was ordered to exit the car without the aid of a wheelchair or physical assistance. The passenger, who later identified himself as legally blind and removed prosthetic eyes to demonstrate it, was also removed from the vehicle. No drugs or contraband were found during the search.
The footage sparked national attention after being shared by civil rights attorney John Bryan on his website and YouTube channel, The Civil Rights Lawyer. In the post, Bryan described the incident as “one of the most disturbing traffic stops [he’s] ever seen.”
The public response has been overwhelmingly critical. On Reddit, Facebook, and other platforms, users condemned the officers’ actions. One viral comment read, “The man had to pull his prosthetic eyes out to convince the cop he was blind — this was not policing, it was abuse.” So far, there have been no public statements defending the officers’ conduct from either the department or the community.
In the weeks following the release of the footage, DeKalb Police Chief Chris Atkinson and Lt. Alexander Norman submitted their resignations, both effective June 18. This left only two full-time officers remaining in the department, which typically staffs six.
City officials quickly moved to stabilize the department. On July 9, Mayor Lowell Walker announced that former Texarkana Texas Police Department officer Christopher Phelps will serve as DeKalb’s new police chief beginning August 1. Phelps is a 29-year law enforcement veteran, 25 of those years with our TTPD and is a certified law enforcement instructor.
As of now, we have not been able to confirm if formal lawsuits have been filed, but legal experts say the incident could potentially lead to civil rights litigation based on violations of the Fourth Amendment and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Key Dates:
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April 8, 2025: Traffic stop occurred
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June 18, 2025: Police chief and lieutenant resign
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July 9, 2025: New chief announced
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August 1, 2025: Chief Phelps begins duty
