FACT CHECK: Video Doesn’t Provide Full Context To Police Stop

A video shared on X claims to show a police officer throwing a plastic bag into a motorist’s car.

Can’t make this one up pic.twitter.com/w4RpwXUJ19

— CCTV IDIOTS (@cctvidiots) January 26, 2025

Verdict: Unsubstantiated

The video shows the police officer throwing a plastic bag that was taken from one of the passengers, not the police officer throwing his own plastic bag into the vehicle.

Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming that a video shows a police officer throwing a random plastic bag into a motorist’s car, implying he is planting evidence. The person in the video states, “What’s that? What did you just throw in here? I got you on camera, bro.”

The video, though, does not note that the plastic bag belonged to one of the passengers through body camera footage released by the Caledonia Police Department. The officer states that he threw it there “[because it was in his pocket and I don’t feel like holding on to it.”

“The front seat passenger tells the officer that his actions are on video, and the officer replies that he is also recording the incident. The officer acknowledges to the front seat passenger that he (officer) put the item there and explains that it was taken from one of the passengers and the officer did not want to “hold on to it.” Essentially, he appears to be discarding the empty baggie. While we would discourage officers from discarding items into a citizen’s vehicle, the video is clear that the officer is NOT planting evidence or doing anything illegal,” reads part of the police department’s post.

No one was arrested, though the driver got a speeding ticket, according to the New York Post.