Questions about whether proper procedures were being followed are being asked after bodycam video released to the media shows the interaction between the mayor of Mishawaka’s son and the police after Wood was pulled over for allegedly driving at a high rate of speed.
ABC 5 received the video through a Freedom of Information request and reports that the officer who conducted the car stop indicated that Joe Wood was showing signs of intoxication during the traffic stop.
Wood was pulled over at the intersection of East Mishawaka and Indiana Avenue. Below is transcript of the exchange on the video:
“I pulled you over because of the way you were driving. I tried to catch up to you for like ten blocks.”
Joe Wood, Mishawaka mayor Dave Wood’s son, was removed from the vehicle following that interaction.
Officer 1: “You said you haven’t been drinking anything tonight?”
Wood: “No”
Officer 1: “What’s that? Hey man you don’t have to cry, you’re not in any trouble.”
Wood: “I work for the city and my dad’s the BLEEP.”
Officer 1: “What’s your last name?”
Wood: “Wood.”
The officer told his supervisor he observed signs of intoxication.
Officer 1: “That’s Dave Wood’s son, he’s bombed.”
Officer 2: “What?”
Officer 1: “That’s Dave Wood’s son, he’s bombed.”
Officer 2: “God *BLEEP*it”
The officer then told other responding officers about Wood’s condition.
Officer 1: “I pull him over, smells like alcohol, stumbling all over.”
Joe Wood was not given a field sobriety test nor was he asked to provide a breath sample.
When the shift commander responded, he took Wood with him for an off-camera conversation. Then the captain told Wood to lock up his vehicle before telling the officer who initiated the stop.
Officer 1: “I’ll take care of it.”
The Mayor’s office provided the following statement:
“The mayor’s expectations are well known, public safety and law and order are job number one. His expectation is that everyone be treated fairly under the law. The mayor did not find out about the traffic stop involving his adult son until after the fact.”
Joe Wood works in the sewer department and is not currently facing any criminal charges, nor was he arrested on the scene, ABC 57 reported.
Mishawaka’s Police Chief says nobody in the department has been disciplined regarding the incident, which is under review by the administration, ABC 57 reported.
Watch the original report from ABC 57 and see the video here
12 comments
I respect Mayor Wood This is bad bad bad Police violated procedure They did not do a favor to either the Son nor to Mayor Wood by not following protocol Anyone else would have been arrested
And the original article said he had a gun on the seat next to him. Going to be some fallout from this for sure
so much for justice being equal under the law or blind for that matter,I am sorry this young man made this error in judgement but surely he knew all the possibilities
If our mayor wanted to do the right thing, he would correct this but we all know ALL politicians are the same. Had that been our son….. Felony
The police officer wanting to do the right thing was demoted. There was a clear coverup. Beckham is in line to be the next chief. Mayor Dave Wood is not who people think he is or what he portrays himself to be. The corruption starts at the top.
Are state officials better then us
Does state and federal law apply to everyone.
No remember blue color cover there own weather it be state local or federal or even there kids
He even had a gun on front seat drinking.
That complained about guns on a regular basis Evedently the police say it’s OK
To drink and carry a gun.
As I said blue covers all that were afraid to file
Dui,carring a gun while Drunk.
Most of all captain should have done his job
The officers look up to him to do his job
Not pat offender on the hand say it’s OK
How can people respect police if they can’t
The USA
Most of all are officials all excluding family
That think that get a get out of jail free card
Automatically
Weather it be Rich people , Government police that are know better then us
Law applies to all even if they work in public office there are to many friends in office
Ps is it OK to drink in carry a gun
Capt of police fale to do his job Not do nothing
Hopefully Mr woods will get what is coming
Not a $50 fine and a slap on the hand
As fare as captain public aplenty
For disrespecting the USA for not inforcing the law DISRESPECTING His officer by being a bad example of not upholding the law
The officers need to see its not OK to drink and carry but blue protects blue
Had it been me ,,, I would’ve been looking for bond money like most
So would my child be treated the same?
There should be a public outcry!!!!
TOTAL MULARKY! DO THE RIGHT THING. CONTACT STATE POLICE FOR REAL INVESTIGATION (HOPEFULLY)
In June of 1999 the South Bend Chief of Police, Darrell Gunn was driving drunk. Gunn, in his city car hit a pregnant woman in a parked vehicle. Other officers were dispatched to the accident. Chief of Police Darrell Gunn was not given a field sobriety test. The pregnant woman was given a field sobriety test and passed. No DUI arrests were made in this accident involving the chief of police. Sounds like a law enforcement brotherhood club, most of us are not in.
If it was my son he’d be in jail! This is so wrong, hypocrisy at it’s best. Who’s going to trust the police after this? Wrong is wrong, drunk is drunk and against the law if driving. The police need to be reprimanded, their job is to uphold the law! Grrrrrr!