THREAD: I have obtained previously unreleased footage from two bodycams of a July 7, 2020 incident in which ATF Agent James Burk was arrested at gunpoint and tased by two Columbus, Ohio police officers after a community member called 911 unclear if he was truly law enforcement.
This footage thread is compiled by me synchronizing bodycams of Columbus Officers Joseph Fihe and Kevin Winchell.
Officer Fihe arrived first, and pulled his handgun on ATF Agent Burk when he didn't comply with commands to show ID or "get on the ground."
Officer Fihe arrived first, and pulled his handgun on ATF Agent Burk when he didn't comply with commands to show ID or "get on the ground."
Officer Winchell arrived and immediately drew on Agent Burk.
"I'm not resisting!" he said while being cuffed. "I've got a medical condition!"
"I'm hyperventilating!"
He begged for officers to check his fed ID as he was cuffed.
"I'm begging you!" he said. "My wife's pregnant!"
"I'm not resisting!" he said while being cuffed. "I've got a medical condition!"
"I'm hyperventilating!"
He begged for officers to check his fed ID as he was cuffed.
"I'm begging you!" he said. "My wife's pregnant!"
With only one one of ATF Agent Burk's wrists handcuffed, Columbus Officer Joseph Fihe pulled out his taser.
"Put your right arm behind your back!"
"I'm gonna, let me breathe!"
Officer Fihe then tased Agent Burk, which enabled them to finish cuffing him and take away his gun.
"Put your right arm behind your back!"
"I'm gonna, let me breathe!"
Officer Fihe then tased Agent Burk, which enabled them to finish cuffing him and take away his gun.
"You're the one that's in the wrong," Officer Winchell told the handcuffed Agent Burk. They then looked at his ATF badge.
"I'm a fucking federal agent," said Burk.
"You aught to be ashamed of yourself," said Fihe before they took him to the police cruiser.
"I'm a fucking federal agent," said Burk.
"You aught to be ashamed of yourself," said Fihe before they took him to the police cruiser.
"I can't breathe!" ATF Agent Burk told the Columbus PD officers as they forced him into their car.
Burk demanded an ambulance but then took it back. He continued yelling once the car doors were closed.
Burk demanded an ambulance but then took it back. He continued yelling once the car doors were closed.
Agent Burk continued to argue from the backseat of the police car as Officer Fihe secured Burk's handgun and put it on the front dash.
Burk asked for his supervisor, Fihe said his supervisor was coming.
"When you get a gun pointed in your face by a cop, you don't get to argue!"
Burk asked for his supervisor, Fihe said his supervisor was coming.
"When you get a gun pointed in your face by a cop, you don't get to argue!"
Agent Burk kept yelling from in the car.
"Don't even argue," said Officer Winchell. "Just let him yell."
As other officers arrived, they explained the situation.
"He might even be a real police officer. He's got a badge."
"Don't even argue," said Officer Winchell. "Just let him yell."
As other officers arrived, they explained the situation.
"He might even be a real police officer. He's got a badge."
Officer Fihe spoke to the woman who originally called 911 on ATF agent Burk who showed up at her home alone to apparently follow up on a shotgun purchase and demanded entry.
I've listened to her 911 call, and her explanation matches that call.
I've listened to her 911 call, and her explanation matches that call.
I've put the full video here, where I sync and cut between the two bodycams to the most relevant angle at any given moment.
Otherwise, this is unedited except one point of dead time I cross-dissolve through.
Otherwise, this is unedited except one point of dead time I cross-dissolve through.
This is not ATF agent Burk's first run-in with the law. In 2015, he was charged for allegedly being caught on video shoplifting $200 of wine from a Landen, Ohio Kroger store. https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/hamilton-county/delhi-township/james-burk-atf-agent-charged-with-stealing-wine-from-kroger
Agent Burk is now suing the Columbus police for excessive force over the incident. https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2020/12/10/atf-agent-accuses-columbus-police-officers-excessive-force/6505667002/
ATF Agent Burk is suing the Columbus Police for brutality in the case.
These are the photos of his injuries.
These are the photos of his injuries.
They also documented Officer Fihe's injuries, including some hand and knee irritation following the arrest.