Illinois State trooper's heated outburst at DeKalb checkpoint caught on video

DeKALB – A local driver recorded an Illinois State trooper’s outburst when he questioned the authority of police to stop him at a roadside safety checkpoint in DeKalb this weekend, and state police officials said they will review the incident.

Illinois State Police, and Northern Illinois University and DeKalb police conducted the check from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at Annie Glidden Road south of Hillcrest Drive, and more than 270 vehicles were stopped without incident, said Monique Bond, Illinois State Police chief of communications in a statement.

One of those drivers was a DeKalb man who identifies himself on Facebook as Ryan Scott, who filmed his trip through the checkpoint with a video recorder on the dashboard of his vehicle.

In it, Scott initially tries to refuse to cooperate, but eventually relents after things become heated.

In the video, an Illinois State trooper approaches his driver's side window, and Scott tells the officer he is being recorded. He asks the officer why he is being pulled over, and an officer informs him they are conducting a roadside safety check.

Scott then asks if he is being detained. An officer responds and says they are just making sure everyone is driving safely, and Scott is told he is not free to leave after he asks. The officer states he is legally able to stop Scott, and Scott said he believes the stop is unconstitutional. Scott said he is not obligated to provide his driver’s license and registration to the officer. Then, a second officer opens Scott’s door and yells, “You are obligated, get out now. Get out now. Driving is a privilege, not a right. I’m telling you to get out right now.”

Scott said he is not resisting, and hands over his license and registration as the officer continues to talk to him with the door open.

Scott eventually tells the second officer he is being recorded, and the officer responds, “good.” After more arguing, Scott said he would like to remain silent and exercise his Fifth Amendment right. The officer then asks if Scott knows what it means, then shuts Scott’s door.

“And that, unbelievable. Unbelievable,” Scott said to the camera as he drives away from the checkpoint.

As of Monday, the video had more than 120,000 views on YouTube. Attempts to reach Scott through Facebook on Monday were unsuccessful. A phone number for him could not be readily obtained.

Bond’s statement said based on the information at this time, “it does not appear that the officer violated any policy, however the matter will be reviewed and the appropriate action will be taken as needed.”

“We conduct roadside safety checks to ensure that motorists and roads are safe and our officers are reasonable and follow the law,” the release states. “However, when there is resistance, a motorist’s noncooperative actions could be interpreted differently.”

Scott got a rise out of police, but his legal claims in the video are not entirely accurate, said local defense attorney and former DeKalb County State’s Attorney Clay Campbell.

Checkpoints such as the one conducted over the weekend in DeKalb have been ruled constitutional.

“The Supreme Court allows checkpoints and road blocks like that as long as they are done randomly and uniformly,” Campbell said.

He said at checkpoints, officers tend to chat with drivers, and look for signs that the driver might be impaired. He said refusing to answer police questions could be considered grounds to take the discussions further.

“You have to cooperate with the officer,” Campbell said. “If they ask to see driver’s license and registration, you need to do that.”

Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect new information regarding the DeKalb driver's identity.