Images with body cameras show former Major League Baseball player delegate Johnny Damon claiming that he was targeted by police in February on suspicion of DUI as a result of his support for former President Donald Trump.
The images, which were released Tuesday, depict Damon and his wife, Michelle Mangan-Damon, pointing to their “Blue Lives Matter” slogan on the license plate, with Damon saying, “Guys, we’re all for cops.”
Damon has long been a supporter of Trump and appeared at an Orlando rally with him before election day 2016, according to The Washington Post. Damon, a native of Orlando, was retired in the early hours of February 19 in Windermere, Florida.
At one point in the stop, Damon says, “I know people are trying to target me because I’m a Trump supporter.”
One officer replies, “I don’t think this has anything to do with it,” to which Damon replies, “Yes, yes.”
According to reports, Damon’s blood alcohol content was 0.30, nearly four times the legal limit of 0.08. Damon agreed to take a sobriety test in the field, but stumbled during the walking exercises and was unable to follow a red light with his eyes while keeping his head still.
Damon was charged with resisting a nonviolent officer and was cited for driving under the influence of alcohol and putting up a stop sign. Mangan-Damon was also arrested and charged with batterying an officer and violently resisting.
Damon played 18 years in MLB for seven different teams. With two stars, he won two World Series championships: with the Red Sox in 2004 and the Yankees in 2009. He last appeared in one game in 2012, finishing his career with 2,769 hits.