Bodycam video shows Edgewater officer arrest ‘sovereign citizen’
By: An Edgewater police officer took a “sovereign citizen” into custody on Tuesday night after a local traffic stop went awry, according to the police department.
In a release, police said that a motorcycle driver — Andre Narcisse, 45 — was spotted running a stop sign and riding with flashing blue lights.
After an officer stopped Narcisse, he “immediately displayed sovereign beliefs and lack of acceptance of authority, believing laws did not apply to him,” the release reads.
The officer repeatedly told Narcisse that he would need to provide his information or go to jail, though Narcisse instead escalated the situation, police added.
Bodycam video released by police shows the conversation as follows:
Narcisse: “I study law, and I’m not a dummy, and I know everybody down at that office.”
Officer: “You’ve got two seconds to give me your information, or you’re gonna go to jail. It’s as simple as that.”
Narcisse: “Oh wait — hold on, hold on, I want you to repeat that.”
Officer: “Two seconds.”
Narcisse: “I’ve got two seconds, or I’m gonna go to jail.”
Officer: “Yep. I need your driver’s license, registration and proof of insurance, or you’re gonna go in handcuffs, and you’re gonna go to jail.”
Narcisse: “You know that’s illegal?”
Officer: “It is not.”
Narcisse: “It actually is. It actually is. Can you call your supervisor? Call your supervisor down here.”
Officer: “Nope.”
Narcisse: “No, you will call your supervisor down here.”
Officer: “Nope.”
Narcisse: “I know my law. I know my rights. You cannot touch me.”
Investigators said that when the officer tried to arrest Narcisse, he “resisted the officer’s efforts,” leading to a scuffle on the ground.
“Why are you cuffing me? What the hell are you doing? What are you doing to me, bro!?” Narcisse can be heard yelling as the officer throws him to the ground. “What the (expletive)! I’ve had neck surgery!”
“I don’t care, dude,” the officer responds.
Narcisse was ultimately taken into custody, and he faces a charge of resisting arrest without violence. He was released early Wednesday morning on bond of $500.