(WARNING - attached traffic stop video shows driver being tased)
Candor, NC -- A Candor man is questioning the reputations of two Candor police officers that were fired in December.
Ramon Morales approached the media following the Candor Commissioner meeting Monday night where Commissioners hired a new police chief.
Morales said he had been mistreated by two of the former officers, Jeremy Black and Grantland Jackson, during a traffic stop in December.
"We want the good police officers that will do the right thing," said Morales. "When someone is doing something wrong, yes, we need to get what we deserve. I never did anything wrong."
Immediately following Morales' interview, former officer Jeremy Blake also spoke to the media to give his side of the story. He provided video from a camera on his uniform the night of the stop.
The controversy starts with Morales being cited for a "clear light" on his license plate.
After the police finished giving him the citation, officers said they had to stop him a second time because as he accelerated he kicked up rocks onto the patrol cars.
The video shows the officers asking Morales for his driver's license. Morales refuses. Police tell Morales that he is resisting. Morales says he is not resisting.
At one point, Police ask him to put his hands behind his back. When he doesn't do it, officer Blake uses a taser on Morales.
When Morales is put into the patrol car, he says, "I am going to tell Mr. Wayne and you guys are going to be in trouble."
Monday night, Morales said that Mr. Wayne was a reference to Wayne Holyfield who had just been elected commissioner. He said he had met Holyfield when he was campaigning door-to-door.
Blake says, "At the jail, Mr. Morales said, 'You're on Mr. Wayne's list of officers that will be fired.'"
Morales said he had witnesses to the aggressive nature of the
officers during the stop. He also claimed that the officers said he was going to go back to his "little country."
Blake said Morales' version of the events is simply not true. "He claimed all kinds of stuff. His witnesses that he brought, they saw bits and pieces," Blake said.
WFMY News 2 Reporter Mark Geary asked Blake if he had targeted Morales. Here is the text of the exchange:
Geary: "Were you targeting him in any way? He seems to feel like you had it out for him."
Blake: "No."
Geary: Did you know him previously?
Blake: "Never met him before."
In court on January 17, Morales pleaded not guilty to 2 counts of resisting a public officer. He received a "prayer for judgement" on both counts. He also received a "prayer for judgement" on failure to exhibit/surrender license. He was found "not guilty" on the charge of reckless driving.
YOUR TAKE: We have attached the video from the traffic stop. Take a look at this video given to News 2 from former Officer Blake. Let us know what you think.