In Memphis, Tennessee, this incident has captured widespread attention. Kris, a former employee of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), found herself at the center of this controversy after a moment on the road led to unexpected consequences, including the loss of her job.

The video footage, which has garnered thousands of views and sparked numerous discussions online, depicts the arrest of Kris by a state trooper in the vicinity of Memphis International Airport.

“I was trying to understand why he wanted me to step out, and he wouldn’t explain,” Kris recounted. “Since I was unaware that they could request you to exit the vehicle at any time, I refused until he provided a reason.”

“I was trying to figure out why he wanted me to step out, and he would not tell me,” Kris said. “And since I didn’t know that they could ask you to step out at any time, I refused until he told me the reason why.”

The 24-year-old college student said a bystander she did not know recorded the video of her arrest as she was on her way to work. Soon after the footage went viral, Kris was fired from her job at the TSA.

“We were going back and forth, and he then reached into the car and grabbed me and threw me against the car,” she said.

ABC24 attempted to reach the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) and the Tennessee Highway Patrol for comment on the arrest. An MSTF representative told ABC24 that it would release more details as they become available. 

Kris now faces charges of reckless driving and resisting arrest, though she maintains she was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s social media guidelines for employees, even if an employee is not the one who posts online content, the viral nature of a video could “reasonably be expected to cause an unwarranted disruption” to the agency’s mission or public trust.

Meanwhile, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris has continued to speak out about local traffic enforcement. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, he doubled down on criticism of the Memphis Safe Task Force, alleging that the unit discriminates against some communities. Harris and other local leaders have filed a lawsuit against Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, citing disparities in misdemeanor and felony arrests.

“We’ve seen a doubling of activity with respect to each one of the categories that’s under investigation right now,” Harris said. “So that’s the bookings, and those are the bail settings.”

Kris said she believes some drivers are unfairly targeted.

“Most definitely, they’ve been targeted,” she said. “Yeah, you drive a certain type of car, they’re going to pull you over if you look suspicious.”

Kris added that she’s already missed four weeks of pay because of the federal government shutdown. Though she was told she would eventually receive back pay, she’s now unsure.

“Everybody should educate themselves, because the Safe Task Force, they are most definitely taking advantage of people not knowing the law,” she said.

Now, with no back pay and no job, Kris said she’s considering taking legal action. She hopes her experience serves as a warning to other federal workers and Memphis drivers.