Trooper Drags Passenger Out of Car Before Punching Him

A High-Speed Chase Comes to an End

The incident began late on August 19, 2026, in Blytheville, Arkansas, when Arkansas State Police Trooper Theodore Henderson reported seeing a 2023 Infiniti QX50 traveling 82 mph in a 60-mph zone. After Henderson activated his emergency lights, the driver allegedly accelerated, eventually reaching about 130 mph during the pursuit.

Police eventually used spike strips and tactical vehicle interventions to bring the SUV to a stop.

Officers Take the Driver Into Custody

The driver was identified as 25-year-old Adonerus Johnson. After the SUV stopped, officers took him into custody following a struggle. Reports say Johnson was later charged with felony fleeing, DWI and several other offenses. Breath tests reportedly registered 0.17.

But the situation did not end with the driver.

The Trooper Turns Toward the Passenger

A rear-seat passenger, identified as 23-year-old Tedrick Washington Jr., remained inside the SUV. Washington was not the driver involved in the high-speed pursuit.

Video released from the incident shows Henderson ordering Washington to exit the vehicle. When Washington did not immediately come out, Henderson used a baton to break the rear driver's-side window.

Washington Is Pulled Through the Broken Window

The footage shows Henderson reaching through the broken window and grabbing Washington by the arm and his dreadlocks. He then pulls the passenger toward the opening.

According to Henderson's report, Washington said he could not get out through the opening and did not comply with repeated commands. Henderson reported that Washington pulled his arm away and appeared to “posture up” as though he might strike him.

The Trooper Punches the Passenger

Henderson acknowledged striking Washington in the face while Washington was still partly inside the vehicle. After Washington was pulled onto the ground, Henderson reported striking him again during the effort to handcuff him.

Washington was subsequently charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations.

The video and the officer's account have drawn different interpretations. Washington's reported position is that he was cooperating, while Henderson's report describes resistance and a perceived threat. Those competing accounts are important when assessing what occurred during the arrest.

The Video Draws Public Attention

The footage became widely circulated in late August, showing the window being broken, Washington being pulled toward the opening, and the subsequent strikes. Local and national coverage has focused on the fact that Washington was a passenger rather than the person who was driving the vehicle.

Arkansas State Police has said that use-of-force incidents are reviewed, while reporting indicates there was no publicly announced administrative finding concerning Henderson's actions at the time of those reports.

A Controversial Arrest Captured on Camera

The incident combines a high-speed pursuit with a separate and highly visible use-of-force encounter involving a passenger. The body-camera and dash-camera footage provides an important record of the arrest, while the officer's report provides additional context about why force was used.

Washington has since retained civil-rights attorney Ben Crump, according to a September 2026 announcement. The case remains subject to further investigation and potential legal proceedings.