On a November afternoon in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, local police officers conducted a stop. But what should have taken a few minutes and ended there ultimately took a turn no legal textbook could prepare for. Months later, an attorney sat at his desk, reviewing police dashcam footage for what he thought was a routine traffic case. He suddenly realized something unusual had happened between the officers on scene, without the driver noticing. He froze the frame and replayed it. Once, twice, then again, to make sure he was actually seeing what he thought he was seeing.

There, on the side of Oak Ridge Highway, an officer appeared to angle his phone toward the interior of a stopped car. Oddly, in the direction of a woman’s bare feet rested on her steering wheel.

Attorney Donald Christmas said that woman was his client

She was one of two drivers pulled over on November 2, 2024, after officers accused them of drag racing.

She was in one car, her fiancé in another. Christmas had been hired partly because the man held a commercial driver’s license, making a simple ticket far more complicated.

While preparing for the hearing, he requested the police dashcam footage. That’s when the traffic stop morphed from a speeding citation into something the Oak Ridge Police Department is now investigating.

The footage shows three police officers at the scene

One wraps up the stop with a white car, while another approaches a green car with its door open…and feet visible on the steering wheel.

The officer makes an “entertained” expression, raises his phone, and appears to take a photo. Audio captures the officers making remarks about the woman’s feet and discussing sending the photo to a supervisor.

One commented that their sergeant “hates feet,” adding that they “always try to take pictures of gross situations” for him. Another mentioned seeing people with missing toes.

Christmas said his client’s heart was racing from anxiety, which is why she had her feet up

Officers even asked if she needed an ambulance. She was mortified when she learned about the photo, he said, and immediately wondered how many other drivers might have had similar experiences.

What bothers the attorney most is the delay

He said he notified city officials about the video months before it surfaced on TikTok, yet the department didn’t open an internal investigation until just this month.

A city spokesperson said Police Chief Robin Smith only became aware of the situation that week.

In a public statement, Smith said the department “does not condone this type of behavior” and is “committed to a thorough review.” He emphasized that no formal complaint had been filed but invited anyone with concerns to contact the department.

Christmas said the video’s circulation has prompted other people to contact his office with similar stories.

By the way, the tickets issued to his clients have since been dismissed. Oak Ridge investigators are now reviewing digital evidence and conducting interviews, though the police department has not announced any disciplinary actions.