An Alabama police officer lost two law enforcement positions following an October 2026 traffic stop in Crossville, Alabama, where video footage captured him aggressively instructing a local couple to shut up repeatedly.
Officers shout at couple and handcuff husband in viral video
The incident drew widespread attention after Trista Marie Chaviers published videos of the encounter on Facebook. According to the footage, the officer began shouting at Trista and her husband, Jackson Chaviers, telling them both to “shut up” immediately after walking up to their vehicle.
When Jackson Chaviers stood up to defend his wife against the verbal commands, a second responding officer placed him in handcuffs. Trista Chaviers described the encounter bluntly in subsequent interviews, stating that the officer was on a “massive power trip” and acted completely hateful, ugly, and aggressive without justification. AL.com reported these details on October 27, 2026.
Immediate Disciplinary Actions from Two Municipalities
Town leaders moved swiftly to strip the officer of his credentials across both agencies where he worked. Crossville Mayor Roger Richards identified the officer as Officer Harrelson in a Facebook update shared on Monday, October 26, 2026, announcing his immediate termination from the Crossville Police Department.
Richards clarified that Harrelson served as a full-time officer for Crossville but was working on duty as a part-time officer for the Geraldine Police Department when the traffic stop occurred.
The Town of Geraldine released a separate statement on Tuesday, October 27, confirming that Harrelson’s conduct failed to meet departmental standards and expectations, resulting in his firing from that agency as well.
Town dismisses traffic tickets while couple considers legal action
Despite receiving traffic citations during the roadside encounter, the Chaviers family will not have to contest them in court. Trista Chaviers noted that the Town of Crossville is dismissing the issued tickets while the couple evaluates options for retaining a civil rights attorney.
