Patriots’ Christian Barmore accuses police of racism after traffic stop
Aug 19, 2022; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore (90) on the sidelines during the second half of a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
New England Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore claims he was a victim of racism when he had a run-in with police on Wednesday.
According to police records that were obtained by FOX 25 in Boston, Barmore was pulled over just before 1:00 a.m. Wednesday morning in Providence, R.I. Two officers said they stopped Barmore after seeing his Grey Jeep Grand Cherokee with tinted windows and a plate cover over a temporary license plate. The officers said they could not read the car’s info and noticed a temporary registration from an unknown state.
After police turned their overhead lights on to pull the vehicle over, they said the driver began to do a “slow stop,” which is often a sign that the driver is hiding contraband or weapons before officers approach. When the officers eventually approached Barmore, they say he had an “attitude” and behaved aggressively.
The police report states that Barmore continued to be combative when asked why he had an expired registration. He allegedly asked the officers to just give him a ticket before being informed that the car would need to be searched and towed. At that point, police said they witnessed Barmore trying to conceal something under his seat.
Barmore then exited the car and began “pushing away” from police and stating that he did not want to be touched, according to the report. When police searched the vehicle, they found an ash cup with a blunt and several tubes filled with marijuana.
Barmore was not arrested. He was picked up by someone in another vehicle and left the scene. A summons was left in his Jeep for operation of an unregistered vehicle, display of plates, and driving with expired registration.
Shortly after the stop, Barmore took to social media and alleged that the traffic stop was racially motivated.
“I just experienced for the first time 5 Providence cops being very unprofessional racism at it’s finest,” Barmore wrote on X.
I just experienced for the first time 5 Providence cops being very unprofessional racism at it’s finest
— Christian Barmore (@chris_barmore) October 16, 2024
The Providence Police Department issued a statement supporting the officers who pulled Barmore over.
“In this particular case, the vehicle in question was found to be unregistered during a routine traffic stop, which is a violation of the law. The officer acted in full compliance with department protocols and state regulations,” the statement read. “We understand that any encounter with law enforcement can be stressful, however, it’s important to note that officers are required to enforce all applicable laws, including those related to vehicle registration. We will continue to review the situation to ensure that proper procedures were followed and to maintain transparency with the public.”
Barmore is one of New England’s best defensive players. He signed a 4-year, $83 million extension this offseason. He has not played this year due to a frightening health issue.