Four Memphis police officers have been suspended with pay after they were caught on camera tipping over a portable toilet with a suspect hiding inside. According to WMC 5 Action News, criminal trespassing suspect Jo Hampton fled from police on foot and hid in a portable toilet in an effort to steal a few moments to call his girlfriend to let her know about his impending arrest. In the above video, captured by a construction crew working at the scene of the incident, officers can be seen tipping over the portable toilet with Hampton inside. After the footage shows Hampton exiting the toilet, an officer appears to kick him from behind.
Hampton told WMC 5 Action News, “I could hear them when they pulled up, so I knew that they were behind the porta potty… I heard them say on three. Three. And it went over…”
The three officers involved in the incident have been identified as Roosevelt Shaw, Jr., Timothy Taylor, Manuel Saldana, and Taylor Ackerman. Manuel Saldana had previously been investigated by internal affairs and cleared after a controversial deadly force incident in which he shot and killed Daniel Brock, whom witnesses say was unarmed, on April 10, 2013. The three other officers had all previously been investigated and cleared after incidents in which they allegedly shot and killed pit bulls while on the job. Ackerman previously faced a complaint alleging that he used excessive force on a suspect. Additionally, Saldana and Shaw were investigated in the past over allegations that they performed searches on citizens without consent. The Memphis Police Department is investigating the toilet-flipping incident to determine whether the officers should face punishment.
Jo Hampton was booked on charges of criminal trespassing and evading arrest. He was released after posting bond, which was set at $250. He claims to have suffered a back injury during the incident. Said Hampton, “Excessive force was used, very much so… I believe they tried to humiliate me, because they knew that water and feces and pee was in there. I believe they did that on purpose.”
The incident began when Hampton fled from police after he was caught visiting a friend at an apartment complex from which he had been banned in the past. He indicated that he regrets running from the officers but feels they should face punishment for their use of excessive force against him.