College Athlete Wins $100K+ Settlement After False Arrest

[00:00:00]Hi there.

[00:00:00]>> How you doing, sir?

[00:00:01]>> Good. How are you?

[00:00:02]>> Good.

[00:00:02]>> My name's Officer Winners with the Newton Police Department. Reason I pulled you over is cuz you have your bright lights on.

[00:00:06]>> Yeah, I have a I have a headlight out, so I just keep my brights on.

[00:00:09]>> Okay. Well, that's not legal.

[00:00:11]>> Oh, is it?

[00:00:11]>> No.

[00:00:12]>> We have an update stemming from this video.

[00:00:16]>> All right, that'll work. I'm going to have you hop out with me. Okay, >> cool.

[00:00:21]Car on or off?

[00:00:23]>> Uh, you could probably leave the car off. Do me a favor. Put your gum on the on your dash there. Put my gum on my dash.

[00:00:28]>> Yeah.

[00:00:30]Perfect. We're going to go back here.

[00:00:32]Okay, cool.

[00:00:33]>> You don't have anything on you? No bombs, guns, drugs?

[00:00:36]>> No bombs or no drugs?

[00:00:37]>> Okay, let's go back here.

[00:00:38]>> How much have you had to drink tonight?

[00:00:40]>> None.

[00:00:42]>> What do you mean none?

[00:00:44]>> I had nothing to drink.

[00:00:45]>> Okay.

[00:00:47]>> Why would you uh Why would your eyes be watery and bloodshot? I just noticed you have Adid Air County plates.

[00:00:52]>> Yeah, I got from my grandpa. Okay.

[00:00:54]>> Do you want to blow me real quick? No, >> I don't want to blow you. Pause.

[00:00:59]We'll probably get there. So, your movements in the car with you fumbling over the registration.

[00:01:06]>> Yep.

[00:01:06]>> Um, kind of say otherwise.

[00:01:10]>> All right.

[00:01:11]>> And so does the odor of alcohol coming from your person.

[00:01:15]>> Great. Let's let's do a test and we we'll get to the test.

[00:01:18]>> I can't wait.

[00:01:20]>> So, what happens if you know nothing pops up?

[00:01:24]>> Do you get in trouble?

[00:01:26]>> No. Why would I get in trouble?

[00:01:28]>> Because you think I'm drinking, but I'm not drinking.

[00:01:31]>> I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.

[00:01:34]>> All right, let's let's find out real quick.

[00:01:35]>> I'm not going to get in trouble for doing what I'm supposed to do.

[00:01:37]>> Where officer Wyinners with the Newton Police Department is going to try an old trick.

[00:01:44]>> Walking 13 steps proper turn.

[00:01:51]Heel toe.

[00:02:00]Do you have any questions? Nope.

[00:02:01]>> All right. During this, keep your arms down to your side. Why are you shaking so much?

[00:02:04]>> It's freezing, man. Look at you. You got all these clothes on and I got shorts on and it's raining and you false me. So, of course, I'm going be a little nervous.

[00:02:14]>> Yeah. You got nothing to say.

[00:02:17]>> Except look you in pants. I'm in shorts and it's raining out. I wear shorts when it's 30 below. Congratulations.

[00:02:26]>> Why do you assume?

[00:02:29]>> Because you're showing some very strong signs of impairment.

[00:02:33]>> Hammer a little bit on the back.

[00:02:39]You're not smooth.

[00:02:40]>> You mean I was kind of nervous?

[00:02:43]That's a tail sign.

[00:02:46]>> All right. What I want you to do is make a tight seal around this and blow outwards like you're blowing up a balloon. Okay. Cool. All right. You ready?

[00:02:52]>> Yep.

[00:02:55]>> Okay. You can relax. Um, so I'm going to read you, Miranda. Okay. When's the Right now, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney if you can on a 41 will be appointed to you before any question. Okay.

[00:03:07]>> Is there >> When's the last time we smoked weed?

[00:03:10]>> I do not remember that.

[00:03:11]>> Tonight.

[00:03:12]>> Who?

[00:03:13]>> Okay. Well, I would I think it's tonight.

[00:03:15]>> I've had no weed tonight.

[00:03:17]>> Just from 6:30 on 16th.

[00:03:19]>> What? Why do you think it's tonight? You think I smoke? I blew zero. So now you're trying to think I smoke weed.

[00:03:23]That's what's going on. You can't do that, man. You really can't do that.

[00:03:26]>> Absolutely I can.

[00:03:27]>> Is he allowed to do that?

[00:03:27]>> Yes, he is.

[00:03:28]>> So I blew zero and you smoke drugs, man.

[00:03:32]>> That's what we on.

[00:03:34]>> I zero. You think I'm on drugs? That's ridiculous.

[00:03:38]>> I would uh during my field sobriety, I it is indicative of impairment. So let's let's let's be honest.

[00:03:48]>> I'm being honest. You smell some weed at your friend's house?

[00:03:50]>> No.

[00:03:51]>> You hit a pin?

[00:03:52]>> Nope.

[00:03:52]>> Okay. Otherwise, >> all right.

[00:03:54]>> Then so does the odor of alcohol coming from your person.

[00:03:58]>> Great. Let's Let's do it.

[00:03:59]>> Why is your field Why is your field sobbriety so poor?

[00:04:03]>> What?

[00:04:03]>> Why is your field sobbriety so poor? And why are you so lethargic and slowm moving and speaking with a slur speech and your eyes are watery and your eyes are bloodshot?

[00:04:12]>> You know why they're watery? Parkers rain, dumb ass.

[00:04:15]>> Uh, it doesn't affect them in the car or in my car. Well, I don't know what you're seeing cuz I can't see my eyes.

[00:04:23]No weed. I don't smoke weed. I play college football. I told you that. We get tested every Friday.

[00:04:29]>> Okay.

[00:04:29]>> Don't smoke weed.

[00:04:30]>> Today's Saturday.

[00:04:32]>> Okay. It's 30 Weed stays on your [ __ ] for 30 days. So, if I did a test next week, I'll be off the football team, dumbass.

[00:04:39]>> So, he he says he'll do an evaluation, but he's kind of a smartass.

[00:04:47]Um, would you want to talk to him or All right, that's what we'll do then.

[00:04:55]>> Okay, but I obviously have enough for to charge him with the sobriety. So, even after blowing zeros, officer winners feel he has enough to bring in Taven Galanakis, a football player who says he did not drink. He does not smoke weed.

[00:05:16]>> So, um I spoke with the drug recognition expert and he said that he's willing to do an a drug influence evaluation on you. Um we would have to go up to the PD right now.

[00:05:27]>> Yep.

[00:05:28]>> I don't want to do that right now.

[00:05:29]>> You don't want to do it right now?

[00:05:31]>> Why not?

[00:05:32]>> Because you have me out in this damn rain for >> We would go to the PD where it's >> Well, I don't want to do that. I don't want to do that now. I want to go home.

[00:05:38]You wasting my time. Turn your hands behind your back.

[00:05:46]Sir, >> right now you're being placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated.

[00:05:49]Okay.

[00:05:50]>> I'm not intoxicated, sir.

[00:05:53]>> I'm not intoxicated. I blew zero. You can be on under the influence of a narcotic.

[00:06:04]>> No.

[00:06:06]Having a hard time breathing.

[00:06:07]>> It sounds like you're breathing just fine. So, when's when when did we use weed last?

[00:06:14]It's always been so long I can't remember. I've done it's been a really long time.

[00:06:19]Definitely definitely over a year.

[00:06:24]>> Why wouldn't you tell me that in the in the in the field?

[00:06:28]>> Cuz I stopped doing that. There's nothing good for him.

[00:06:32]>> And why is your field sobriety so bad?

[00:06:36]It >> wasn't even bad. I was doing good.

[00:06:38]>> He's following through his registration.

[00:06:40]looks at me says I say so he reaches like very lethargic he's got young mouth and I said just got to relax your elbow After Galanakis is put through rigorous testing, I mean rigorous testing, he wants to have a word with officer wyinners.

[00:07:21]>> Hey buddy, what's going on?

[00:07:22]>> So, uh, I just want to know like how does it feel?

[00:07:28]>> How does it feel for Remember I told you when you first pulled me over? I have nothing to drink. He's going to look stupid.

[00:07:35]>> You're like, "You're impaired. You're on drugs. You drink alcohol." Turns out I'm not on any of that.

[00:07:42]>> Okay.

[00:07:44]>> Really dumb decision, buddy. Today, I'm really disappointed in how you can't bite your truck.

[00:07:48]>> I based my decision on your field sobriety test.

[00:07:52]>> Was it really a fail though? I was It was pouring outside. It was terrible cement.

[00:07:56]Okay. But like I said, I blow right away. I do. But there's also steps that I have to go through.

[00:08:02]>> Did you really thought I was drunk?

[00:08:04]>> The way I first spoke with you and your movements, I believe some.

[00:08:08]>> Yeah, I can tell. Terrible, man. So terrible.

[00:08:11]>> I hope you do better than that.

[00:08:12]>> Next time I would recommend asking for clarification. If you don't understand something, ask.

[00:08:18]>> But I didn't need to do all this extra [ __ ] >> Okay. Well, that's why we offer the test to you is >> like I you wasted my night 3 hours. Was it 3 or 2 hours?

[00:08:28]>> I don't know. We can't we can't have this happen in Newton, man. I love Newton.

[00:08:31]>> Okay.

[00:08:32]>> I want you to do a better job than that.

[00:08:33]>> Okay.

[00:08:34]>> Okay. As I'm a citizen here, I love Newton cops. You like you're probably a good guy, right? You're probably a great guy.

[00:08:41]>> And I'm a good guy. I don't have any record and you do that to me. Like there's other guys probably out in Newton right now breaking the law.

[00:08:47]Actually breaking the law. Like not >> saying there's not.

[00:08:50]>> And you waste your time with me. And there could someone's mom could be getting killed right now. We don't know.

[00:08:55]But you got >> unlikely, but >> yeah, >> possible.

[00:08:58]>> And it was unlikely I was drunk.

[00:09:02]>> All of your indications from the time of stopped.

[00:09:05]>> My breath didn't smell like weed. Didn't smell like alcohol. [snorts] This doesn't smell like alcohol for sure. So, I couldn't find any other way to want to arrest me.

[00:09:15]>> And thus, Galanakus gave winners a piece of his mind. Now, I know I promised you all that update, and let me tell you, it is one that we should all treasure.

[00:09:27]Officer Wyinners, pictured here in the middle, would be named in a lawsuit brought by Tav along with police chief Rob Berdus being named that is Wyinners would countersuit for defamation. That wouldn't work out. Wyinners's partner is Christopher Wing, seen here. Wing at one point was laughing at Galanakis in the body cam video that we just saw via his YouTube channel. Lo and behold, Galanakis would win his lawsuit against the department.

[00:10:01]We're clapping. The Iowa Capital Dispatch would write, "Late last week, a jury entered a $10,000 judgment in favor of Galanakis against Officer Wyinners and Officer Christopher Wing on the civil rights claim, plus 10,000 against Wyinners. weighing in the city of Newton on the false arrest claim, plus $55,000 against winners for punitive damages, plus $30,000 against Wing for punitive damages. Because what this shows is that there can be accountability.

[00:10:41]There can be some semblance of justice.

[00:10:45]I'm glad that Taven is okay. I'm glad that he is getting a payout. My only issue, as always, is that it comes from the taxpayers and that it doesn't come from the police department's budget. It doesn't come from officer winners's budget. It doesn't come budget uh salary. It doesn't come from officer wings salary. Nope. It comes from us, the hardworking taxpayer who has to fund this malfeasance. We have to fund the settlements.

[00:11:18]That is a red line. That is a no-go.

[00:11:21]Said it a million times. I'll say it again. If you want to see systemic change, you must penalize the officers by going into their pockets. Oh my goodness, you will see a world of change, drastic shifts with the way that they approach the electorate. But until then, you're just going to see more of this. Again, glad that we're seeing this. But sadly, it shouldn't come from us. It should come from the officers.

[00:11:54]Hey, I appreciate you watching. Now, if you can, please do become a channel member by going to youtube.com/tytports and clicking the join button. If that's too much for you, you can just go to tyt.com/join to become a member. It helps all of us out here at the Young Turks and keeps our network afloat. In addition, you can follow me on my socials on Twitter, Instagram, and Tik Tok. Appreciate the love. Have a great day.