Forest Park, Georgia – A routine break in a quiet parking lot turned into a viral controversy after a Forest Park police officer confronted an Uber driver, demanded his ID, and even pulled out a taser—despite no evidence of a crime being committed.
The incident, captured on cellphone footage, shows a driver who says he frequently parks in the same lot every day while taking breaks between rides. On this particular day, however, Officer Wise from the Forest Park Police Department approached his vehicle and accused him of being “suspicious” simply for sitting in the lot of a closed business.
“I wasn’t driving. I wasn’t breaking any law. I was just parked,” the driver said. “She came up asking me for ID, but I don’t have to hand over my license just because she demanded it. That’s not how the law works.”
When the driver refused, tensions escalated quickly. Video evidence shows Officer Wise not only blocking his car door but also forcefully opening it, grabbing his arm, and pulling out her taser in a threatening manner.
The Escalation
The driver remained adamant that he had not committed any crime. He emphasized that he was simply meditating, listening to music, and resting—a normal routine for rideshare drivers who spend long hours behind the wheel.
Instead of explaining a clear legal reason for the stop, Officer Wise repeatedly labeled his presence as “suspicious activity.” The driver pushed back:
“How is parking in a parking lot suspicious? How is rolling up my window suspicious? None of that is illegal.”
According to the footage, Officer Wise became visibly agitated when the driver continued to assert his rights. Her refusal to let him close his car door or drive away only heightened the tension.
Backup Arrives
The situation took a turn when a supervising officer arrived on the scene. Unlike Officer Wise, he approached the driver calmly and acknowledged the man’s explanation. After checking the vehicle registration and confirming the driver’s identity, the supervisor told him:
“You’re free to go. We’ve identified you.”
This defused the confrontation immediately. However, the video clearly shows the stark contrast between Officer Wise’s aggressive behavior and her colleague’s professional demeanor.
Public Reaction
The video quickly spread online, sparking widespread criticism of Officer Wise’s actions. Viewers accused her of being on a “power trip,” letting her emotions dictate her response instead of following proper police protocol.
Many pointed out that running the license plate alone should have been sufficient for identification, and that pulling a taser over a non-criminal situation was a dangerous escalation. Others highlighted the broader issue: how often officers cross the line from legitimate law enforcement into intimidation tactics.
One viewer commented:
“She wasn’t enforcing the law. She was enforcing her ego. That’s not policing—that’s harassment.”
Rights vs. Authority
The central question this incident raises is simple: When are citizens legally required to show ID? In most U.S. states, an officer must have reasonable suspicion of a crime or violation before demanding identification. Merely sitting in a parked car at a closed business, without signs of trespassing or other illegal activity, typically does not meet that threshold.
Legal analysts argue that the officer’s actions may not only have been unnecessary but also potentially unconstitutional. The driver himself expressed it plainly:
“I wasn’t committing a crime. I have no reason to show my license just because she got upset.”
The Bigger Picture
Cases like this fuel ongoing debates about police accountability, training, and community trust. Critics say that officers who cannot regulate their emotions or distinguish between actual crime and innocent behavior should not be on the force.
At the end of the day, the driver went home without charges—but the video remains as evidence of how quickly a calm situation can spiral when authority is misused.
The Forest Park Police Department has not yet released an official statement regarding Officer Wise’s behavior, but the public’s reaction makes one thing clear: demanding ID from someone who has done nothing wrong is not just bad policing—it’s a violation of rights.
