NYPD defends 'legal and professional' traffic stop of 'Central Park 5' council member, releases bodycam video

The NYPD defended an officer's traffic stop on NY City Council member Yusef Salaam, who claimed he was pulled over without an explanation.

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"At approximately 6:20 p.m. yesterday evening in the 26th precinct, an officer pulled over a blue sedan with a Georgia license plate for driving with dark tint beyond legal limits, a violation of New York State law. The officer approached the vehicle, identified himself, and asked the driver to roll down his windows," the NYPD wrote, also sharing 41 seconds of video of the stop. 

"The driver complied and identified himself as New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, performing official duties, at which point the officer advised him to have a good night. This entire account is corroborated by body-worn camera footage and the vehicle report," the department said. "As the video shows, throughout this interaction, the officer conducted himself professionally and respectfully. He followed all proper procedures, including procedures that were put in place after Detective Russel Timoshenko was shot and killed through tinted windows in 2007. This officer should be commended for his discretion appropriately so the councilmember could complete his official duties."