West Virginia Cop Fired After Viral Traffic Stop Showdown
A West Virginia police officer is now unemployed following the release of disturbing footage showing him threatening to shoot a woman during a traffic stop.
The Mayor of Monongah, JohnBoy Palmer, confirmed that Nathan Lanham is no longer employed by the town. This decision came after public outrage over Lanham pointing a gun at a local woman, Beth Delloma.
According to TMZ, Delloma was arrested and charged with a felony for fleeing recklessly in a vehicle. She was in jail from Thursday to Monday before a judge dismissed the charge.
In a criminal complaint, Lanham showed no regret and described his side of the story. He claimed that the incident began when he pulled Delloma over and requested her vehicle registration, driver’s license, and proof of insurance. When Delloma said the documents were at her house, Lanham reportedly told her that he would be towing the car and she could not leave. The situation then escalated, as seen in the dramatic footage, culminating in Lanham body-slamming Delloma to the ground and handcuffing her as she screamed for help.
Delloma stated she was unsure if Lanham was a real officer, and when she asked to see his badge, the situation quickly escalated.
The incident, caught on camera, led to local outrage and strong support for Delloma. Lanham, who had been Monongah’s chief of police, is no longer with the department.