DEKALB, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- DeKalb police have released dashcam footage from an arrest last month that has gained national attention. Some believe it was racially motivated. Police said it was a traffic stop made after a tip about drugs.
Elonte McDowell was arrested during a traffic stop on Aug. 24 near the Northern Illinois University campus. He did not immediately get out of the car when told to do so by police.
His girlfriend recorded a video of McDowell being put in a headlock by one officer and tased by another.
In the video, McDowell can be heard screaming "I can't breathe" repeatedly.
The girlfriend's video has gone viral, and now police have released 17-minutes of their dashcam video. In addition to the tasing, police can be overheard talking to each other about the situation.
"So right before, right before that happened I found a very small bag of suspected cannabis inside the door...so we have enough to detain him...and he was suspected to run," police can be heard saying on the video.
McDowell said he was not going to run.
DeKalb’s Police Department and Illinois State Police are reviewing the use of force by officers.
Meantime, McDowell is facing drug charges in addition to criminal tresspass and resisting arrest. His next court date is Sept. 9.