A Tulsa Cop Ran Over a Black Man During a Jaywalking Arrest. And They Still Cuffed Him.

I’ve covered Tulsa PD for years. This is how policing still looks in one of the nation’s deadliest departments — even with a new Black mayor.

Tulsa Police ran over a man. Then kept arresting him.
There’s body cam. There’s dash cam. There’s a man pinned under a squad car crying out, “Y’all just ran me over, bro.”

His name is Kemonte Hampton. He’s 24. And if you’re wondering how we got here, the answer isn’t new. I’ve been covering Tulsa police for years. Tulsa has ranked as one of the deadliest police departments in the nation, according to data from Mapping Police Violence. This is part of the pattern.

The footage—first aired by KJRH’s Erin Christy—doesn’t show the exact moment of impact. But it shows enough: a man kneeling, surrendering, then getting shoved to the pavement by one officer while a second police cruiser silently rolls in reverse and hits him.

They pull him out from under the car. Then they cuff him.

No immediate check on his injuries. No urgency. Just pain and procedure.

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A “minor infraction” with major consequences

Police say Hampton was being arrested for jaywalking. Let me repeat that.

Jaywalking.

According to officers, he ran from police after they tried to detain him for jaywalking, which led to the chase that ended in the QuikTrip parking lot near 11th and South Garnett in Tulsa. That’s where the body cam picks up. As Hampton kneels, a backup officer approaches from behind and slams him to the ground.

Then a cruiser in reverse—left unsecured—runs over his body.

Tulsa PD later described his injuries as “minor.”
The video doesn’t look minor. His screams don’t sound minor.

But let’s talk about what’s always minor in these stories: accountability.

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TPD says the neighborhood asked for this

When pressed for comment, Captain Richard Meulenberg told KJRH the increased presence in the area was a response to “community concerns” about rising crime.

“Is jaywalking a minor infraction? Yes,” he said. “But it comes on the demands of the community saying, ‘Hey, we have major crimes out here—do something.’”

So this is what “do something” looks like now?
Run over a man and cuff him while he’s still hurt?

Meulenberg wouldn't say whether the shove, the car, or the general approach to this arrest violated department policy. He told Christy, “I’d be remiss” to make a judgment.

If you're wondering why people stop trusting the process, look no further.

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The officer who left the car in reverse? Under “review.”

We’re told that officer is being reviewed this month. No word yet on disciplinary action. No public acknowledgment of policy failure. Just vague process language.

Meanwhile, Hampton now faces charges: jaywalking, resisting arrest, and obstruction.

He’s got a court date set for June 12.
One prior charge on record: a petty theft from Target. That’s it.

He was sent to the hospital after the arrest.

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A new mayor doesn’t mean the old system’s gone

Yes, Tulsa has a new mayor — Monroe Nichols, the city’s first Black mayor. He’s been in office since December.

But let’s be clear: symbolism doesn’t erase structure. Nichols didn’t create this police culture — but now, it’s on his watch. And it’s time to see how, or if, he’ll respond.

Because this isn’t just about one officer or one car. It’s about what Tulsa police are allowed to do and how often they do it. And how many Black people are expected to just absorb it.

This city has a history. I’ve reported on it for years.
A history of officers who shoot first, run over later, and rarely answer for it.
A history of brutal policing that exists side by side with commemorations of Black Wall Street.
Two cities. One badge.

Mayor Nichols has dedicated June 1 as Tulsa Race Massacre Observance Day. He’s announced a $105 million reparations trust for Greenwood. Those moves matter.

But this happened in April. This happened under his watch. And a real commitment to justice means not just remembering 1921 — but facing 2024.

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What now?

I reached out to the Mayor’s office for a statement to include in my report for The Black Wall Street Times. We’ll update with any response.

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