Tampa Police Release Body Cam Video To Quell Rumors Of Brutality

Editor's note: Tampa Police subsequently removed the body camera footage it previously released to the media.

TAMPA, FL — Tampa Police have issued a statement and released body camera video footage to quell social media rumors that an officer used excessive force on a Black woman while investigating a report of a stolen car.

On Thursday at 4:52 p.m., a Tampa police officer was traveling south on North 40th Street, approaching Hanna Avenue, when he saw a 2020 black Nissan Altima with a license plate that matched a car stolen out of Pinellas County.

The officer pulled over the car containing two people and waited for backup before approaching it. When backup officers arrived, they approached the car.

The driver, Joneshia Wilkerson, 23, and the passenger, Zephanesha Dillard, 19, were both taken into custody.

Wilkerson told police that she had just arrived home on leave from the U.S. Army and borrowed the car from an acquaintance. Police said she and Dillard were both cooperative.

Upon completing the investigation, they were released and "appeared to understand the explanation provided by the officers," said Tampa Police public information officer Eddy Durkin.

The stolen vehicle was impounded.

According to Durkin, "at no time was the driver ever smashed into the car nor was a gun pointed to the driver's head, regardless of the false narrative presented on social media."