Posted on 03/05/2025 3:01:23 PM PST by simpson96
SURPRISE, Ariz. — A viral video has surfaced showing a woman being forcibly thrown to the ground by a Surprise police officer after she was seen waving a Trump flag in traffic near an anti-Trump protest. The incident, which occurred on Monday afternoon near Bell Road and Civic Center Plaza, has sparked controversy, with the woman involved speaking out about what she describes as excessive use of force.
The woman, Camellia Gocan, explained that she was driving around the Surprise area when she saw a group of anti-Trump protesters at the intersection. In response, she decided to wave a pro-Trump flag from her red convertible as she drove past them in both directions.
Moments later, Gocan was stopped by Surprise police on westbound Bell Road in the right-most lane. The video posted to TikTok shows Gocan getting out of her car as the police officer stood near his driver's side door.
"I just wanted to understand why I was being stopped," Gocan said. "I hadn’t committed any traffic violations."
Surprise Police Department officials said the officer had "probable cause" to believe that Gocan was obstructing traffic. Gocan pushed back on this and said she did nothing wrong to prompt the officer to initiate a traffic stop.
She said that she was expressing her First Amendment rights similarly to the anti-Trump protestors on the sidewalks.
"We have the constitutional right to express our point of view, what we believe, and what we stand for—not just for Democrats, but for Republicans as well," she said.
Gocan is particularly critical of the amount of force used by the officer. As she walked to the spot where the altercation took place, she showed visible signs of injury, including a cut on her right arm and bruises along her left arm, all of which she claims were the result of being thrown to the ground by the officer.
"There were so many options for him to manage this without escalating it to that point," she said.
Valley civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor says that how Gocan handled the situation may have contributed to the escalation. Taylor emphasized that during a traffic stop, individuals should remain in their vehicle unless instructed otherwise.
“If you do get out, you're assuming the risk, and the officer might think you're a threat,” Taylor explained.
He added that someone's First Amendment rights do not give them the ability to not follow the law, including traffic laws.
"She has a legal right to wave her flag," Taylor said. "However, if she's interfering with an investigation and she's doing anything illegal and she's not obeying police commands, then that's when it goes past your First Amendment right to doing something illegal.
In the wake of the incident, Gocan is calling on the Surprise Police Department to release the body camera footage, which she believes will demonstrate that she did not pose a threat to the officer.
Real easy to resolve, release the bodycam. If the blue thugs refuse to release the footage they are lying and used the color of law to violate her rights.
If so sue them into the ground.
Surprise is about to be surprised with a surprisingly yuge lawsuit.
I’ll back the blue when respect is earned.
In the meantime leave me alone and I will defend myself and my family.
imagine if she was black and flying a harris flag?
Absolutely
Well said
Enough of this dem bs
She got out of her vehicle after being pulled over and started waiving a stick/weapon.
Lawyer in story says maybe they got physical because she got out of her car.
They used to instruct you to always get out of the vehicle in a traffic stop. ( first DL 1966 ) Years went by, a lady cop stopped me, I got out, and she freaked out ( apparently afraid). Fortunately for me my wife was in the vehicle and reassured her.
surprise...
“Valley civil rights attorney Benjamin Taylor says that how Gocan handled the situation may have contributed to the escalation.”
You notice they only use that excuse for white perps?
"She has a legal right to wave her flag," Taylor said. "However, if she's interfering with an investigation and she's doing anything illegal and she's not obeying police commands, then that's when it goes past your First Amendment right to doing something illegal.
So it's a law that one has to obey the orders of a police officer? Or that you can't get out of your car yourself?
The cop was wrong. Must have been a democrat.
I have gotten out when stopped by police to ask why I was stopped.
At no time was I thrown to the ground.
Easy to explain, AZ police are unfortunately not the best in the US.
Watch the video- the black “civil rights” attorney is actually defending the cop...gee- i wonder why
So the cop was afraid of a middle-aged woman with a flag and had to break all bad to show her who was boss? It’s getting harder all the time to “back the blue” after instances like this and the the Capital Police in DC on J6.
Scrappy Young Lady...
.
When I get stopped PoPo Is
My New Best Buddy.
Driver License in Hand and
Hands On Top of Wheel.
Surprise!!
“I have gotten out when stopped by police to ask why I was stopped.
At no time was I thrown to the ground.”
Did you dare to wear a Trump hat or carry a Trump flag? Crazy racist, Jan 6er, insurrectionist, fascist, Hitlerian woman deserved it!!! (Sarcasm)
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