Body cam footage of Bay Minette shooting that killed Otis French Jr. leaked online
BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WKRG) — Leaked body cam footage of a deadly police shooting in Bay Minette is now posted online. has requested this video since the in August 2022. Bay Minette Police Officer Brandon Thompson was cleared of any criminal charges, but a federal lawsuit is still pending.
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It's still a mystery who leaked the video.
WKRG News 5 is not airing the shooting of French, but some of the footage in the video portion of this story could be disturbing.
The footage begins with a traffic stop on August 20, 2022, when Bay Minette Police Officer Brandon Thompson pulls over Otis French Jr.
'What is the issue?' asks French as the officer opens his passenger door.
'Well, you didn't use your signal, and I see why now,' the officer says. 'You have a light out on that left side.'
Thompson says he will give French a warning, then goes back to his patrol unit, runs the driver's license, and returns to French's vehicle.
Thompson asks French to get out of the vehicle so he can show him what he is talking about, and for his protection, Thompson says he is going to pat French down.
'I'm not comfortable with people touching me,' French said.
'I hate it for you, but my safety is paramount, okay?' responds Thompson.
Three and a half minutes after the video begins, French refuses to submit to the pat-down, and there is a struggle as Thompson tries to handcuff French.
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Thompson threatens to tase French, who then pushes Thompson to the ground and takes off running.
'I got one running,' Thompson radios as he runs from one side of a house to the other.
They meet at the other side of the house, where the two men collide. French is tased, and the struggle continues.
French wrestles the taser from Thompson and uses it on the officer. Thompson pulls out his firearm and fires. According to court documents, seven shots were fired, five of them hitting French.
While other units respond to the scene, lifesaving measures begin on French. Thompson applies pressure to the wounds and later does chest compressions.
Thompson's body camera later captured his description of the final moments before the gunfire to another officer who had arrived on the scene.
'He grabbed my hands and turned it, powering my taser out of my hands and turned it back on me and tased me once, and then I tried to get back up. He pointed it back at me, and I shot him.'
The video has been kept from public view since the shooting. The French family, law enforcement, and attorneys had already seen the footage before the criminal investigation was complete.
Andrew Rutens, who represents Thompson and the City of Bay Minette, released the following statement to News 5. (Editor's note: Paragraph breaks have been added for ease of reading.)
'On Friday evening the City became aware of a leak of the body camera footage involving a Bay Minette Officer and Otis French Jr. Prior to the leak, only appropriate law enforcement officials, court officials and the French family as well as their attorneys had access to it.
'This was done in acknowledgment of the sensitive nature of the video and to protect the investigation and related court proceedings. It was also done to protect the officer involved from further threats to him and his family.
'The City sought to keep the video sealed with the US District Court. That motion was heard by the court, and it is still pending.
'While it is unfortunate that the video was released by an anonymous source, the City will continue to respect the process and proceedings in the federal court, and we will continue to defend the claims made against the City in the lawsuit.
'The City has no further comment on this issue at this time.'
A 10-count civil lawsuit has been filed in federal court on behalf of the French family that includes claims of an illegal traffic stop, excessive force, and wrongful death.
A motion to dismiss the lawsuit has not been ruled on yet.
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Attorneys representing the French family have not responded to our request for comment.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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