It was 2 degrees on Tuesday night when Gary Steele pulled over the woman and impounded her car.
A Detroit cop who posted racially insensitive Snapchat videos during a traffic stop has demoted as police investigate the incident.
The officer, identified as Gary Steele, has also been reassigned to another precinct after video surfaced of him recording a woman he pulled over and saying things like “Bye Felicia” while titling the posts “This is what Black girl magic looks like” and “Celebrate Black History Month.”
It was 2 degrees on Tuesday night when Steele, who has worked for the department for 18 years, stopped the woman for having an expired license plate. Authorities said he then informed her she would not be able to drive home as the car would have to be towed.
Police reportedly said she was offered a ride to her home a block away but declined.
Police Chief James Craig said he didn’t have any problem with how Steele handled the stop until he was made aware of the Snapchat videos.
“Then to put this insensitive post that does not reflect this department makes me angry,” Craig said during a press conference. “To make the reference to Black History Month is problematic in a city that’s still 82 percent African-American.”
Craig added that he has since called the woman to apologize.
Steele has what Craig called a “troubling history” and said he is concerned and will be looking at that during their investigation.
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