PHOENIX — In 2022, then 44-year-old Jeffery Henderson moved to Arizona from Texas looking for a fresh start in life.
“I moved to Arizona for the opportunities as an electrician and I thought this was a place that I could call home for years to come,” Henderson said.
In June 2022, the Army veteran says he received an unpleasant greeting from Phoenix Police while out for an afternoon drive near 19th and Dunlap avenues. The experience is one his attorney shared with the United States Department of Justice, and as a 34-month investigation into the conduct of the Phoenix Police Department found, not an uncommon experience.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Era nuevo en Arizona y había salido a dar un paseo por la tarde, pero poco tiempo después la policía de Phoenix lo arrestó
Henderson said he was driving east on Dunlap Avenue when a Phoenix officer pulled up beside him.
“He approached me at a very high rate of speed," Henderson said.
Officers started looking through their windows at him, Henderson explained. Thinking officers were looking for someone else and he was in the way, Henderson said he moved into the lane nearest to the curb and waved at the officers to go by.
He said he wasn’t speeding or driving erratically.
“I didn’t know what I had done wrong,” Henderson said.
As the officer activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, Henderson started recording from inside his car.
In the recording obtained by 12News, he is heard saying officers are following him.
Henderson said he didn’t immediately stop and drove a few blocks to find a shopping center to pull into. In the video, Henderson appears to pull into a parking lot and begins searching for his driver’s license, insurance and registration before he has his first interaction with the officer.
"He approached me calmly at first,” Henderson said.
But the situation would quickly escalate in a matter of seconds.
The officer questioned Henderson about not stopping immediately and then ordered Henderson to turn off his car.
In the video Henderson is heard asking about why he’s being stopped, and then asking for the officer’s name and badge number. Immediately, the officer appears to open Henderson’s door and orders him to get out of the car.
“As I was getting out of the car I wanted to give them my driver’s license, insurance and registration. They never asked for it,” Henderson said.
In the video, Henderson asks if he’s being detained as he gets out of the car.
The officer said "yes," removed Henderson from the car and handcuffed him.
During the arrest, Henderson can be heard yelling to officers about his arm that officers had twisted behind his back and that he was in pain. In the video, officers tell Henderson not to resist, and he tells them his is not.
In their report obtained by 12News, Phoenix Police say they stopped Henderson for an “unsafe movement.”
Here’s a portion of the police report in the case:
"The Camry began slowing below the speed limit then made a quick lane change to the number 3 lane of eastbound traffic. I then observed the Camry brake again and pull towards the curb line almost striking the curbline. After observing the unsafe movements on the roadway, I pulled behind the Camry in lane 3 to conduct a traffic stop. After getting behind the vehicle, I activated my emergency lights and sirens in the area of n 16th Ave and W Dunlap Ave. The Camry did not have any window tint and I was able to observe the driver, Jeffery Henderson, [waving] his right hand in a [forward] motion as in he was trying to tell me to follow him. The driver continued eastbound at a low speed of approximately 35-40 mph and was not trying to flee from the traffic stop. While behind the Camry, I continued to use my siren to get the attention of Jeffery and Jeffery would respond by continuing to use hand gestures telling me to follow him. After approximately seven to 10 blocks, Jeffery would eventually pull into a commercial parking lot."
Officers would arrest Henderson for refusing to stop and driving under the influence.
Phoenix police body camera video obtained by 12News from the scene shows officers commenting on a strong odor of marijuana coming from Henderson at the time of the traffic stop.
Henderson told officers he had smoked marijuana the day before and that there was marijuana in the car. Officers found a sealed package of marijuana in his car along with rolling papers and a marijuana joint.
Henderson submitted to a breathalyzer and passed. He also later submitted to a blood draw.
The charges would later be dismissed by the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
“What happened to Jeffery shouldn’t happen to anyone,” said Henderson's attorney Ashley Adams.
She shared the case with the Department of Justice as part of its civil rights investigation into the department.
Thursday, after a 34-month investigation, the report found Phoenix Police routinely used excessive force and violated the rights of minority and disadvantaged communities.
The report also found Black Phoenix drivers are likely to be cited or arrested 144% more often than white drivers for low-level moving violations.
The report also found that officers often unreasonably escalate situations in the first few minutes or even seconds of an encounter.
“You don’t get better, unless you look at the criticism that we have, and... this report is very critical of our police department, “ says Phoenix Police Interim Chief Michael Sullivan shortly after the report was released.
Friday, dozens of families who say loved ones were the victims of brutality and excessive force at the hands of Phoenix Police called on city leaders to enter into a consent decree, requiring federal oversight of the department to implement reforms.
"All of these families and their attorney and their supporters were telling the absolute truth about what was happening with the Phoenix Police" activist Jarrett Maupin said.
It’s something city leaders say they’re not on board with as of now. The City of Phoenix said "taking all allegations seriously and are planning to review this lengthy (DOJ) report with an open mind."
Henderson knows that something has to be done to prevent his story from happening to others.
"They're here to protect and to serve and to help out in the community," Henderson said. "Not to be terrorists and make people afraid of them."
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.