In a shocking revelation, Chief Deputy Michael Yarbrough from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was pulled over last month for driving at nearly triple the speed limit in a 35 mph zone.
Footage from dash and body cameras provides an unparalleled glimpse into the surprising exchange that took place on June 20 between Deputy Yarbrough and the officer from the Henry County Police Department (HCPD) who stopped him.
According to The Police Tribune, the HCPD officer, during routine patrol, clocked a Dodge Charger tearing down the road at a jaw-dropping 96 mph. To his surprise, the driver of the unmarked sheriff’s office vehicle was none other than Chief Deputy Yarbrough. In a video recording, the officer is heard saying, “Really?” to Yarbrough, clearly taken aback by the deputy’s excessive speed.
HCSO later confirmed that Yarbrough was on duty at the time of the incident, but he was not using any emergency lights or sirens. According to CNN and Atlanta News First, Yarbrough’s unmarked cruiser was also carrying another deputy in the passenger seat.
The sequence of events subsequently unfolded to reveal the officer’s decision to issue a citation to the chief deputy. The video footage shows him calling an unknown individual to discuss the unexpected traffic stop, stating, “Guess who I just pulled over?” The person on the other line inquired why Yarbrough was going at such high speed. “No reason,” the officer responded, “He’s in an unmarked car. He’s just got a high-horse-power car and decided he wanted to play.”
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Following the unusual episode, Sheriff Reginald Scandrett announced that Yarbrough was handed a 40 hour suspension without pay due to the severity of his actions. In a statement, Scandrett acknowledged, “Chief Deputy Michael Yarbrough reported to me that he was issued a citation for speeding immediately after the traffic stop occurred.”
The recent event highlights the ever-important role of accountability in law enforcement and the need for those in authority to uphold the rules they are sworn to enforce. Despite the initial traffic citation being reduced to a warning, the incident has triggered public discourse on the standards to which law enforcement officers are held.
This news article was partially created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and edited and fact-checked by a human editor.
