Bodycam video shows Cam Payne’s arrest after giving a false name to Scottsdale police
By: The Scottsdale Police Department released on Thursday a new body-cam video of officers talking to and then arresting former Phoenix Suns player Cameron Payne last June for refusing to give his real name to police.
The video starts with two officers at his home in the area of 68th Street and Chaparral Road, north of Old Town Scottsdale on June 14.
Payne called 911 after a fight with his girlfriend. According to the police report, Payne identified himself as Terry Johnson to the 911 dispatcher.
“We just had a disagreement, going back and forth,” Payne said in the video.
He denied the fight turned violent, and one police officer asked for Payne’s name.
“I’m OK,” he replied. “I don’t have to tell you my name. I’m OK.”
The officer explained how, since they responded to a domestic violence call, they needed the real names of both people involved.
“I just rather not. I’m OK,” Payne said.
“You can do that, but you're rather not doing that would mean I would have to place you under arrest,” the officer responded.
His girlfriend then called him Cameron and then said to say the name “Terry Johnson.”
Payne told officers his name was Terry Johnson, but he refused to give his date of birth.
Payne then said his birthday was Jan. 1, 1998.
“I’m going to check this because it kind of looks like you just made up a birthday,” the officer said.
Payne then began arguing with the officers for being inside his home.
He then said his real name three times with his real date of birth.
“Arrest me for giving a fake name? Congratulations,” Payne said.
“All right, you’re under arrest for giving a fake name,” the officer replied as the other officer put Payne in handcuffs. “That was dumb.”
“That was the dumbest way to get arrested, man,” said the second officer. “I’ve had people get arrested for dumb stuff, and this is the top of the list.”
The officers then escorted him to the police car.
“Dude, you realize you could have told us your real name, and we would have been gone five minutes ago, and now you’re going to jail,” the second officer said.
His girlfriend later defended Payne, saying Terry Johnson was an alias for him when he went out or booked hotels because he was an NBA player.
Payne was booked on two charges of refusing to provide a truthful name and giving a false report to law enforcement. He was then given a ticket and released.
Payne played for the Suns for four seasons until he was traded last year to the San Antonio Spurs. He then played for the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers before landing with the New York Knicks for the 2024-25 season.