Photo: Tedrick Washington Jr./Facebook
A former Division I basketball player is facing charges after an Arkansas State Police trooper pulled him from an SUV by his dreadlocks and struck him following a high-speed chase in Blytheville, Arkansas.
Tedrick Washington Jr., 23, was a passenger in the SUV on August 19. Dashcam footage shows Trooper Theodore Henderson breaking the SUV's rear driver's-side window with a baton before grabbing Washington by his wrist and dreadlocks. Henderson pulls Washington toward the opening and punches him in the face before aggressively pulling him from the vehicle by his hair.
Photos published by Local 3 News after the incident show Washington with blood and visible injuries on his face.
The encounter followed a pursuit involving the SUV's driver, 25-year-old Adonerus Johnson, according to police reports obtained by Northeast Arkansas (NEA) Report. Henderson reported initially clocking the vehicle at 82 mph in a 60-mph zone before the driver allegedly accelerated to 113 mph and later 130mph. Henderson said his patrol vehicle exceeded 140 mph while attempting to catch the SUV.
Police deployed spike strips, but the SUV continued into Blytheville, where it ran a red light and began losing air from a tire, according to Henderson's report. A second tactical vehicle intervention eventually stopped the SUV.
After the vehicle stopped, police took Johnson into custody. Henderson then attempted to remove Washington from the back seat.
According to Henderson's report, Washington did not follow commands to exit through the broken window and pulled his arm away. Henderson wrote that Washington appeared to “posture up” as if preparing to strike him, which the trooper said prompted him to punch Washington.
Henderson reported striking Washington a second time while officers attempted to handcuff him. Gosnell Police Corporal Cade Liles also reported that Washington resisted officers and repeatedly reached toward his waist.
Washington disputed officers’ account, telling NEA Report that he did not resist and was cooperating during the arrest.
He has since bonded out of the Mississippi County Detention Center, and the outlet reported that he has not responded to its request for comment.
Washington addressed the incident on his public Facebook page, writing, “Appreciate everybody for checking in I'm doing fine!! Justice will be served I want my story be heard!!!”
His post also includes a video of the incident with the caption, “Story time on how I was brutally beat by ASP!”
Washington previously played Divison 1 basketball at Southeast Missouri State before transferring to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in spring 2025. He appeared in 31 games, starting 20, according to the university.
Washington was charged with resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations, according to the police reports.
Johnson faces multiple charges, including felony fleeing, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.
The Gosnell Police Department reviewed Corporal Liles’ use of force during the incident and found his actions justified under department policy, according to records obtained by NEA Report. The review did not evaluate Henderson, who is an Arkansas State Police Trooper, or determine whether Henderson's use of force against Washington was justified.
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