Selma Policeman fired | The ending comes after a controversial traffic stop that went viral

SELMA, N.C. (WTVD) — The Selma Police Department fired one of its officers after a controversial traffic stop that went viral on social media.

On September 19, Selma police arrested local mechanic Matthew Sanders, who recorded the conversation on his personal phone. This led to a fight, which resulted in Sanders filing a complaint against SPD, alleging that police turned off his phone and deleted the video. SPD said Officer Joseph Atkinson was fired by the department on Oct. 21 following an internal investigation into the incident.

“When it comes to our ability to serve our citizens, we hold all Selma residents to high standards,” Mayor Byron McAllister said of the decision to fire Atkinson.

McAllister defended the encounter, saying it did not violate any department policies and that the arrest was justified. Ultimately, he said SPD leadership believed Atkinson’s actions did not meet the city’s high standards for the department.

“This was a justified arrest of our police officers,” McAllister said. “The charges against Mr. Sanders are substantiated.”

In the video, police asked Sanders to leave the car several times, claiming he could smell marijuana. After the arrest, Sanders was charged with driving with an invalid registration certificate, possession of marijuana and resisting officers – charges he denies.

McAllister stated that investigators could not confirm the claim that Atkinson deleted the video.

“The claim was investigated not only by the Selma Police Department, but also by two independent police agencies. And this claim was not supported by any grounds,” he said.

ABC11 spoke with Sanders on Thursday, who said he doesn’t buy the proposal.

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“I think they didn’t have the right information because the technology just doesn’t provide it. But somewhere they felt comfortable firing the officer,” he said.

He said he supported the city’s decision to release Atkinson.

“I’m happy about this because I believe it can save some other citizens from having to deal with what I had to deal with,” Sanders said.

Sanders expressed hope that police will introduce body-worn cameras to assist in future encounters – technology that is already on its way to Selma. Funding for dash and dash cameras has recently been allocated, with an implementation date yet to be set.

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