Police Trooper Criticised for Punching and Pulling Former Basketball Player by His Dreadlocks in Brutal Arrest

Dashcam footage has sparked widespread criticism after an Arkansas State Police trooper was filmed punching and pulling a former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball player by his dreadlocks following a high-speed police pursuit.

Tedrick Washington Jr., 24, was a back-seat passenger during the multi-agency pursuit in Blytheville, Arkansas, on the night of 19 August, according to police records obtained by NEA Report and shared with Local 3 News.

The pursuit began after Arkansas State Police Trooper Theodore Henderson reportedly clocked a 2023 Infiniti QX50 travelling at 82mph (132 km/h) in a 60mph (96 km/h) zone. The driver allegedly accelerated after Henderson activated his emergency lights, with officers later reporting speeds of more than 130mph (209.2 km/h).

Blytheville officers eventually deployed spike strips and used a PIT manoeuvre to stop the vehicle, which came to rest on a kerb in a residential area.

In the footage, Henderson was ordering Washington to crawl through a baton-smashed rear window. As Washington appeared to struggle with the door, the trooper grabbed his dreadlocks and forcefully pulled him towards the opening.

Henderson then punched Washington on the left side of his face with a closed fist. In his report, the trooper said Washington appeared to have 'postured up' as though preparing to strike him.

The trooper continued to pull Washington by his arm and hair while a Gosnell Police Department officer approaches and eventually pulls him through the partially opened door.

Video Triggers Backlash From Viewers

Police said Washington continued to tense up and pull away, with Henderson reporting that he struck him a second time because he was not complying with the other officer. The footage quickly went viral, prompting viewers to question whether the force used against Washington was justified.

'By reading the headlines my first response was same as most here...then just pull over do what you are asked. After watching the video, the cop was definitely in the wrong! The guy was trying to cooperate,' one viewer said.

'Door was open, he still wanted him to crawl through the window,' another commented.

'Regardless the cop shouldn't have been pulling him out the broken window by his hair when it's clearly he trying to get out and hands up - the cop doesn't need to have this job,' another person reacted.

Washington's Basketball Career

The incident has drawn additional attention because Washington is a former Division I basketball player from Blytheville. He transferred to Chattanooga for the 2025-26 season after previously playing at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Southeast Missouri State.

Washington was subsequently charged with obstruction of governmental operations and resisting arrest.

The driver, Adonerus Johnson, allegedly attempted to escape through the back seat and was arrested after officers drew their weapons and used a Taser. He faces multiple charges, including driving under the influence, reckless driving, felony fleeing, resisting arrest and unauthorised use of another person's property.

The Gosnell Police Department reportedly determined that its officer's display of a firearm and use of hands-on force against Johnson were justified under departmental policy. However, while Henderson provided a detailed narrative about his interaction with Washington, there was reportedly no similar paperwork documenting the trooper's use of force.

Washington has since bonded out of the Mississippi County Detention Center.