Bodycam released of ex-deputy being tased and arrested by Buhl police officers
By: Buhl, ID - The church member, Eli Johnson, was taken to the county jail for a night after a routine traffic stop took a turn for the worse, and included an altercation with police officers.
But days later, all charges, including three felonies, a misdemeanor and a traffic ticket, were dismissed by the Twin Falls County prosecuting attorney.
Johnson, who was pulled over by a Buhl police officer as he drove near his home, was struck twice by a stun gun during a confrontation that was sparked by his refusal to stay near his vehicle during the traffic stop.
He instead went into his house because he felt uncomfortable with the situation and the officer’s questions about whether drugs were in the car, he said.
“I thought it was not a safe place for me to remain,” he said, and maintained the police officer wasn’t acting appropriately and could have left the citation at the house.
Johnson refused to immediately come back outside after multiple requests by officers, who later told Johnson he was under arrest as they forced their way into the house as Johnson tried to stop them.
In addition to a misdemeanor count of obstruction of justice, Johnson was charged with three felonies of battery to a police officer.
Johnson, 38, who bought his house on Sawtooth Avenue in Buhl last year, has served in the military and law enforcement. He doesn’t have a criminal record.
The way Thompson tells it, the Dec. 21 encounter between Johnson and law enforcement was a series of unfortunate events.
Johnson’s side of the story has been broadcast on a local radio station, and Johnson was at a Buhl church Tuesday evening talking to about 80 citizens telling his perspective and answering questions. In addition, Thompson showed a portion of the police body cam footage of the incident and played an audio recording of Johnson’s initial court appearance.