Jeremy Pruitt disparaged Tennessee police officer over arrest: ‘Do your civic duty, man’

Banks was pulled over and cited for making an illegal U-turn in the early morning hours of Sept. 15, several hours after the Vols’ win over Chattanooga. Banks was arrested after University of Tennessee Police learned Banks had a warrant issued Aug. 21 for failure to appear in court on a July misdemeanor citation for driving on a suspended license.

Banks was later released after posting $500 bond, but the video showed some nasty things Banks said during his car ride.

While handcuffed in the back, Banks told a woman who was in the car for a ride along that where he’s from, they shoot cops.

“Ma’am, I don’t think you want to be an intern, because where I’m from, we shoot at cops. I’m from Memphis, Tennessee.”

Banks issued an apology on Tuesday after the video was released.

“I want to sincerely apologize to my family, the University of Tennessee and the law enforcement community,” Banks said in a statement released Tuesday by UT. “I deeply regret my language and attitude in the video. I have great respect for our police men and women, and I am embarrassed by my actions that night. That’s not who I am. I promise to be a better representative for the University of Tennessee moving forward.”

But that’s only half the story; the other half is how Pruitt handled matters.

Video shows Pruitt disparaged a police officer over the arrest of Banks. Banks made a phone call to Pruitt after the arrest, and Pruitt spoke to a campus police officer, asking why the arrest was necessary. The officer said he was legally obligated to arrest Banks because of the warrant.

“This is the silliest s— I’ve ever seen in my life,” Pruitt said during the phone conversation, via the Knoxville News Sentinel. “I’ve got it. I understand. I’ve worked at four places, and I ain’t ever had no crap like this except for here.”

“Go ahead. Do your civic duty, man,” Pruitt said later in the conversation.

That’s an awful look for Pruitt. He’s straight up asking for favorable treatment and disparaging a police officer for following the law. Pruitt also suggested that there is more favorable treatment at other places he’s worked.

Pruitt went 5-7 last season and is off to a 1-3 start this year, which probably made him extra ornery. His comments to the police officer were inexcusable.