The video shows a Millen, Georgia, police car in an open field with patches of dirt, bushes and a nearby cemetery, according to local news station WRDW. An officer walked to the back of the car and engaged in sexual activity while in uniform, WNYW reported.
Millen Police Chief Dwayne Herrington told WRDW that he knew about a video and was set to meet with Officer Larry “Ben” Thompson, but Thompson resigned before the meeting. It’s unknown what video the meeting was about.
Someone on a telecommunications tower filmed the incident and uploaded the video to TikTok on March 19 with the caption “Police caught on cam!!!” and the hashtags #towerclimbers #dirtydeeds and #police. The video has been viewed nearly 11 million times.
Comments on the post said the video was taken off White Oak Road in Millen, a small town with a population of just over 2,700. The satellite map matches the description and shows a cemetery, patches of dirt, the tower and a school located across the street, WRDW reported.
Thompson had previous incidents while serving on the Millen police force. WRDW investigated Thompson’s past and reported that he had shot another officer, was involved in a fatal car crash and received a two-day suspension after a woman said he was harassing her.
In 2017, Thompson shot a police officer in the arm. He claimed the incident happened while he was cleaning his gun and it got jammed before going off, according to investigative documents obtained by WRDW.
The report said there were no malfunctions that would have led to the weapon discharging. The report said that although it is referred to as an “accidental discharge,” it essentially was an “negligent discharge,” WRDW reported.
In 2019, Thompson was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of a 76-year-old driver. While responding to a home invasion call, Thompson was traveling 86 mph when he T-boned the man’s vehicle. The driver later died from his injuries.
In 2020, a woman who had previously been in a relationship with Thompson contacted Millen police because she said he had been harassing her. Thompson admitted to running her cars tags to get her new address because he said he wanted to mail some items that belonged to her, according to documents. He was suspended for two days without pay and had to retake the GBI Security Awareness Training, WRDW reported.
Herrington told Newsweek, “I have no comment,” when contacted about the video and Thompson’s resignation.
Newsweek reached out to Thompson for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.
Other recent viral TikToks include a woman tackling someone who attempted to rob her and a donkey excited to see its owner. In Oregon, students are requesting the firing of a college professor over “offensive and racist” comments in a video.
Update 3/30/22, 10:51 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a response from Police Chief Dwayne Herrington.