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'It was very frightening': Father of driver reacts to high risk traffic stop with MCSO deputies

Posted at 6:28 PM, Aug 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-20 19:28:31-04

Sunday afternoon there was a tense showdown near 6th and Walnut. A driver was pulled over for speeding with MCSO deputies pointed their guns towards him.

The driver's father, James Ivery arrived on the scene moments after guns were drawn and a racial comment was made.

His son, 26-year-old Skyler Ivery was pulled over for speeding clocked at 85 mph in a 30 mph zone.

In the video, you can hear Skyler ask, "Why you got your guns pointed at me though?"

After he asked, someone said, "Because you're not White."

Sunday night acting sheriff Richard Schmidt explained the actions of his deputies, after a thorough investigation he says none of the deputies made the racial comment. He added it came from a nearby bystander.

"It was sort of tense," James said.

James says he isn’t sure who made the comments.

“…it was very frightening," he said.

He tells me he's just appreciative things didn't escalate.

"Absolutely, I’m glad he wasn't shot," James said.

Schmidt says guns were drawn because Ivery was speeding, running through a red light. After being pulled over they say he didn't comply when officers asked him to turn his car off.

“Here’s the end. Dad is chewing his kid out. Good for dad. He comes up to the sergeant in the room, the deputies in the room. He shakes their hands. Did you catch that? He shook their hands," Sheriff Schmidt said.

"No, I never chewed my son out. I was just happy that he got those handcuffs off of him and he could leave the scene. Not go to jail," James said.

Skyler Ivery was given multiple citations for speeding, not having a license and not having insurance.

His car was also towed. His dad says the family is thinking about getting a lawyer. He said they did discuss his son’s driving habits.