Who is Charles Hewitt? Virginia trooper who told Black driver 'get your a** whooped' in viral video is fired
Virginia State Police trooper, Charles Hewitt, who was last seen in a viral video telling Derrick Thompson, a Black driver, "you are going to get your a** whooped" before violently pulling him from his car, is no longer with the agency, a spokesperson reportedly said.
VSP Communications Director Corinne Geller said that while her agency was prohibited from releasing additional details about the 2019 incident or the trooper, an attorney for the driver said that Trooper Charles Hewitt was reportedly fired from Virginia State Police in February 2021. According to the latest local reports, Virginia State Police confirmed that Hewitt's last day was February 25, 2021.
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Joshua Erlich, the attorney for Derrick Thompson in a statement said that the federal lawsuit claiming Thompson had been assaulted and had his constitutional rights violated by the trooper was settled earlier this month for $20,000, with no admission of wrongdoing by the state.
"Mr Thompson filed this case because Trooper Hewitt's behavior was unconscionable, and Mr Thompson is happy with the outcome," Erlich said in a statement. "He thought he deserved - and received - monetary compensation. And although the VSP did not admit to any wrongdoing, Mr Thompson is heartened Trooper Hewitt is no longer on the street and thinks Virginia is safer for it."
What had happened?
i will forever keep this video in my camera roll to remind me that, say it with me, ACAB!! the officer’s name is Charles Hewitt, attacking Derrick Thompson, both from VA. not only that, but FAIRFAX COUNTY. absolutely disgusting, and his actions need repercussions. fuck this guy pic.twitter.com/GPAnQQPH5Z
— maxxy (@MaxBranciforte) July 15, 2020
Erlich had first posted the video on Twitter in the summer of 2020, and it quickly blew up - with thousands of tweets and retweets.
The 29-year-old Thompson of Woodbridge was pulled over on the Beltway in Fairfax County in April 2019 for an expired inspection decal. He filmed his own traffic stop on his phone camera. According to reports, a trooper who initiated the stop said that he could smell marijuana from Thompson's car, but his attorney said that no drugs were found in the vehicle.
Hewitt was one of three troopers at the scene and was the one who did all of the talking in the video.
In the video, Thompson can be seen sitting behind the wheel of his car claiming that he was not a threat. He also told the camera that Hewitt was unlocking his car without his permission. For much of the video, one can see his hands raised in the air.
At one point, Hewitt leans toward Thompson and yelled, "Take a look at me. I am a f****ng specimen right here, buddy. You have gotten on my last nerve, all right?"
Thompson then tells Hewitt that he has his hands up. Hewitt looked at the camera and said, "You're going to get your ass whooped in front of f*****g Lord and all creation."
He then goes on to say: "I’m going to give you one more chance. You can bring that with you - I’ll let you film the whole thing."
Following some more discussion, Hewitt tells Thompson he is being placed under arrest. He then looked into the camera and said, "Watch the show, folks."
Hewitt proceeded to forcefully remove Thompson from the car, take him to the ground and arrest him. According to reports, last year, Thompson pleaded guilty to misdemeanour obstruction of justice in Fairfax County General District Court.
Who is Charles Hewitt?
Online reports say that contact for Hewitt for a statement is unavailable. Virginia State Police superintendent Colonel Gary T Settle, had deemed Hewitt's conduct inappropriate shortly after the video became public.
There was a previous internal investigation into Hewitt's use of force that had cleared him of any wrongdoing. Fairfax County prosecutors declined to press charges against him.
"The conduct displayed by Trooper Hewitt during the course of the traffic stop is not in agreement with the established standards of conduct required of a Virginia trooper," Settle said in a July statement. "Nor is it characteristic of the service provided daily across the Commonwealth of Virginia by Virginia State Police personnel."