Shenendoah – Since KPRC 2 first published body camera video showing a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy arresting a Conroe woman during a traffic stop, the video has gone viral on social media.
Many viewers asked the same questions: Did the deputy have reason to believe he was in danger? Should the driver have complied? And did the deputy handle the stop the way Texas officers are trained?
KPRC 2 reviewed the arrest report, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) training materials and spoke with a retired Houston police captain to answer those questions.
The stop happened on May 21 in Shenandoah.
40-year-old Elizabeth Kim said she was driving to the gym when a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputy pulled her over after failing to use her turn signal and for having dim license plate lights.
Body camera video shows the deputy immediately giving commands from behind his patrol vehicle instead of first approaching Kim’s truck.
Kim was ultimately arrested and charged with interfering with public duties and resisting arrest.
According to the deputy’s arrest report, he asked Kim to step out of the truck so he could explain the reason for the stop and discuss the license plate lights. The report states Kim was instructed 19 times to exit the vehicle before she complied. It also states she resisted being placed into the patrol vehicle after she was arrested.
Did the deputy have reason to believe he was in danger?
One of the most common questions from viewers was whether the deputy stayed back because he believed the situation was dangerous.
KPRC 2 reviewed the patrol vehicle’s fleet camera video showing the moments before the deputy exited his vehicle.
The video shows the deputy activating his emergency lights on Interstate 45. Kim then activated her hazard lights before pulling over.
KPRC 2 also showed the video to Dr. Greg Fremin, a retired Houston police captain and policing expert.
“I looked at that also,” Fremin said. “Traffic stops are very, very unpredictable, but there was nothing that jumped out at me that showed there was an imminent threat or some type of potential threat from this traffic stop.”
The deputy’s arrest report states he asked Kim to exit the vehicle “in order to explain to her the reason for the stop and speak to her about her license plate lights,” rather than citing concerns about officer safety or suspicion of another crime.
Should the driver have complied?
Another question raised repeatedly online centered on Kim’s decision not to immediately exit her vehicle.
Fremin acknowledged many people will question whether she should have followed the deputy’s commands sooner.
“But I have to say she was scared,” Fremin said. “I’m putting myself in her shoes. Why is this person asking me to come out of the car? It’s dark. It’s nighttime.”
What does Texas training teach officers during traffic stops?
While KPRC 2 is still waiting on Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office policies and training records related to traffic stops, KPRC 2 reviewed statewide training required by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
The Civilian Interaction Training Program is mandatory for Texas peace officers and reviews the “Seven Step Violator Contact Method” taught in Texas police academies. The training says the first step of a traffic stop is “Greeting and Identification of the Police Agency.” It states officers should identify themselves and the agency they represent and use a courteous greeting to help put motorists at ease.
The same training also states officers should “treat motorists with dignity and respect,” noting that most traffic stops are routine interactions where citizens have a reasonable expectation of courtesy.
The training further explains that Texas drivers are taught to remain inside their vehicles, keep their hands visible and wait for an officer’s instructions. If an officer orders a driver out of the vehicle, drivers are instructed to comply safely.
The curriculum also recognizes that misunderstandings during traffic stops often stem from officer uncertainty and driver confusion, which can escalate encounters if both sides do not understand each other’s expectations.
KPRC 2 has requested the deputy’s personnel records, including any disciplinary history. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office referred that request to the Texas Attorney General’s Office for a ruling on whether the records can be released.
KPRC 2 has also asked the sheriff’s office whether the deputy is the subject of an internal investigation.
A spokesperson told us:
“The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office is aware of recent media reports concerning a traffic stop involving a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy and Elizabeth Kim on May 21.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has not received a formal complaint regarding this incident.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has a specific, established avenue for citizens to report a complaint about deputy behavior. That formal process was never initiated by Ms. Kim or anyone else. We take all concerns seriously and encourage anyone who wishes to file an official Internal Affairs complaint to do so by calling 936-538-5900 or by visiting our website www.mctxsheriff.org.
Under established constitutional and Texas law, a law enforcement officer has the legal authority to command a driver to exit their vehicle during a traffic stop for officer safety and investigative purposes. Montgomery Sheriff’s Office encourages all citizens to cooperate with law enforcement during all interactions for both the individual’s and the officer’s safety. Any concerns regarding an interaction with a deputy can be brought up at a more appropriate time, through the proper channels.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the safety of both our deputies and the community we serve."