A small-town traffic stop in Monongah, West Virginia, has become a national flashpoint for law enforcement accountability after video footage revealed the town’s Chief of Police, Nathan Lanham, allegedly threatening to kill a woman during a tense and dangerous encounter.
What Happened During the Traffic Stop?
The incident occurred on Thursday, August 1, when 49-year-old Beth Delloma was pulled over by Chief Lanham due to expired vehicle registration tags. According to her attorney, Joe Shaffer, the situation quickly escalated when Lanham, driving an unmarked white vehicle, refused to provide identification and began shouting profanities at her.
Fearful for her safety, Delloma cracked her window and offered to retrieve her vehicle registration paperwork from her nearby home. The confrontation turned even more intense as shown in the now-viral video, with Lanham allegedly raising a firearm and yelling, “Roll up that window and I swear to god I will f—— shoot you.”
Dramatic Video Footage Goes Viral
The shaky footage, filmed by a family friend, shows Lanham pointing a gun toward Delloma’s head while ordering her to exit the car. When she refused, he smashed the window with a sledgehammer and removed her from the vehicle, handcuffing and pinning her to the ground. As Delloma tried to move, Lanham is seen forcefully restraining her.
The video, which has amassed millions of views on social media, has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for stronger accountability measures for law enforcement officers.
Legal Challenges and Public Reactions
Delloma currently faces charges of felony fleeing in a vehicle with reckless indifference to safety and is being held on a $125,000 bond. Her attorney, Joe Shaffer, has argued that Lanham’s conduct was unjustifiable and that Delloma’s actions were rooted in fear for her safety. He highlighted her past experience working alongside police officers as a contributing factor to her hesitation to trust Lanham’s authority during the encounter.
Lanham’s actions have drawn scrutiny, and while rumors circulated that he was fired from another police department, it has been confirmed that he has not worked elsewhere since April. His current employment status remains unclear, fueling more questions about accountability in local law enforcement.
Calls for Transparency and Accountability
The incident has amplified discussions around citizens’ rights during traffic stops and police accountability in small communities. Monongah residents are demanding an independent investigation and raising concerns about law enforcement’s use of protocol when initiating traffic stops, particularly in unmarked vehicles.
No lawsuits have been filed yet, but legal experts expect this case to set a precedent for how officers conduct themselves in similar scenarios.
The Bigger Picture
This incident shines a stark spotlight on the dangers of traffic stops, which can escalate quickly without mutual trust and respect between police and citizens. Activists and policymakers are urging reforms to ensure both transparency and safety for everyone involved in such encounters.
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