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Virginia Trooper Off Force After Playing to Camera During Arrest

Nbcwashington · · 479 words
Police accountability legal settlements Racial Tension
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What to know about Police accountability

A white state trooper who was seen on video telling a Black driver “you are going to get your a-- whooped” and yanking him out of the car by his neck is no longer with the Virginia State Police, a spokeswoman said.

Claims checked 8
Techniques found 1
Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left11%
Center78%
Right11%

9 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

A white state trooper who was seen on video telling a Black driver “you are going to get your a-- whooped” and yanking him out of the car by his neck is no longer with the Virginia State Police, a spokeswoman said.

Why it matters

The Washington Post reports that spokeswoman Corinne Geller said state police were prohibited from releasing additional detail about Charles Hewitt, the trooper seen in a viral video of a 2019 traffic stop.

Common ground

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Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-trooper-off-force-after-viral-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 1 propaganda technique in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 5
check_circle Corroborated 3
info
Claim 1: “Hewitt was fired for cause in February”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about King Charles III and Charles Schwab; no evidence regarding Hewitt's firing date or cause was provided.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Charles and Diana divorced in August 1996 after years of estrangement and well-publicised extramarital affairs. Diana died the following year from injuries sustained in a car crash. In 2005, Charles m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_III
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web search NEUTRAL — Charles Schwab offers investment products and services, including brokerage and retirement accounts, online trading and more.
https://www.schwab.com/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Charles is an HTTP proxy / HTTP monitor / Reverse Proxy that enables a developer to view all of the HTTP and SSL / HTTPS traffic between their machine and the Internet.
https://www.charlesproxy.com/
info
Claim 2: “The video, which was filmed by Thompson with his cellphone, begins after Thompson, 29, of Woodbridge, was pulled over in Fairfax County for an expired inspection decal.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While one source confirms the traffic stop involved Derrick Thompson on I-495, the specific details about his age (29), residence (Woodbridge), and the reason (expired inspection decal) are not corroborated by a second independent source in the provided text.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Vincent Deon Butler (born January 4, 1986) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deon_Butler
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of U.S. state senators.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_senators
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Parade All-America Boys Basketball Team was an annual selection by Parade that nationally honored the top high school boys' basketball players in the United States. It was part of the Parade All-A…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parade_All-America_Boys_Basket…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 3: “Thompson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor obstruction of justice last year.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of irrelevant search results about 'Derrick' (machinery and TV shows); no legal records for Derrick Thompson were provided.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — A guy derrick (also known as boom derrick) is a fixed guyed mast derrick that can be rotated and connected to a boom. The mast is in upright position with the base that can make the mast rotate, but n…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Derrick ist eine deutsche Fernsehkrimiserie mit Horst Tappert in der Titelrolle des Münchner Oberinspektors Stephan Derrick und Fritz Wepper in der Rolle seines Partners, Inspektor Harry Klein.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick
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web search NEUTRAL — Derrick has been at the forefront of wet and dry fine separation technology development since 1951. Whether you’re seeking to improve product recovery, increase concentrate grade, reduce waste, or con…
https://derrick.com/
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Claim 4: “A white state trooper who was seen on video telling a Black driver “you are going to get your a-- whooped” and yanking him out of the car by his neck is no longer with the Virginia State Police”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources confirm Charles Hewitt is a 'now-former' trooper, indicating he is no longer with the Virginia State Police.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the governor of Virginia. Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin defeated Democratic former governor Terry McAuliffe. Inc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Virginia_gubernatorial_el…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is an incomplete list of the oil paintings by the American artist Winslow Homer (February 24, 1836 – September 29, 1910).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_paintings_by_Winslow_H…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On April 19, 1995, American anti-government extremist Timothy McVeigh, assisted by Terry Nichols, detonated a makeshift bomb stored in a rental truck parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Bu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oklahoma_City_bombing
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 5: “the lawsuit was settled this month for $20,000, with no admission of wrongdoing by the state.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one specific news source provided in the evidence mentions the $20,000 settlement with no admission of wrongdoing.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1989 All-South Independent football Team consists of American football players chosen by the Associated Press for their All-South independent teams for the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_All-South_Independent_foo…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Jonathan Derrick Evans (born April 2, 1985) is an American politician who served as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates for the 19th district from December 1, 2020, to January 9, 2021. He…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Evans_(politician)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Derrick Lamar Henry Jr. (born January 4, 1994) is an American professional football running back for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "King Henry", he is known for…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Henry
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “Col. Gary Settle, the Virginia State Police superintendent, said after the video became public that Hewitt’s conduct was inappropriate.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources confirm that Col. Gary Settle stated Hewitt's conduct was inappropriate.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Now-former Virginia state trooper Charles Hewitt played to the camera as he arrested driver Derrick Thompson in Northern Virginia.Col. Gary Settle, the Virginia State Police superintendent, said after…
https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/virginia-trooper-of…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Gary Settle, the Virginia State Police superintendent, said through a statement last July that Hewitt’s conduct was inappropriateHe began recording his traffic stop, and the video became viral on soci…
https://checktheleft.com/news/driver-who-refused-to-follow-p…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The Virginia State Police officer involved is on administrative leave after the video of the traffic stop was posted on social media July 13, 2020.Superintendent Col. Gary Settle said in a statement, …
https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/vsp-investigating-after-v…
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Claim 7: “Charles Hewitt, the trooper seen in a viral video of a 2019 traffic stop.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent news sources identify Charles Hewitt as the trooper in the viral video of a 2019 traffic stop.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duk…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_III
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Henry Charles Hewitt (28 December 1885 – 23 August 1968) was an English stage, film and television actor. He made his stage debut in 1905.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Charles_Hewitt
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Hugh Hewitt (born February 22, 1956) is an American conservative political commentator, radio talk show host with the Salem Radio Network, attorney, academic, and author. He writes about law, society,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Hewitt
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 8: “The Virginia Attorney General’s Office confirmed a settlement”
SINGLE SOURCE
Only one source explicitly states that the Virginia Attorney General's Office confirmed the settlement.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The attorney general of West Virginia is the chief legal advisor to the West Virginia state government and is the state's chief law enforcement officer. The office was created by Article VII, Section …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_West_Virginia_attorney…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shannon Leigh Taylor (born November 17, 1967) is an American attorney and prosecutor serving as the Commonwealth's Attorney for Henrico County, Virginia since 2012. She is a graduate of the University…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_Taylor_(attorney)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The attorney general of Virginia is an elected constitutional position that holds an executive office in the government of Virginia. Attorneys general are elected for a four-year term in the year foll…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Attorney_General
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.