Police officer runs red light, crashes as YouTube video plays on work laptop
An Albuquerque police officer is at the center of a $40,000 legal settlement after he ran a red light and crashed his patrol car into another driver. Lapel video of the incident obtained by KOB 4 Investigates revealed that a YouTube video was playing on a department-issued laptop inside the patrol car moments before the crash.
On the night of Dec. 7, 2017 APD Officer Bryce Willsey was on duty when he drove his patrol car through uptown Albuquerque. Investigators say Officer Willsey blew through a red light at the intersection of Louisiana and Americas Parkway.
The lapel video captured a YouTube video playing on the officer’s work-issued laptop. After the airbag deployed, the officer quickly closes the laptop before exiting his patrol car.
Witnesses told traffic investigators:
“We were behind [the officer’s patrol car.] We thought he was going to turn his lights on because the light was already red – and he kept going,” said witness Melissa Cordova.m“That’s just crazy. He’s too busy watching YouTube to pay attention to the road and the safety of people,” Cordova said.
https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/police-officer-runs-red-light-crashes-as-youtube-video-plays-on-work-laptop/5559239/?cat=500