Terence “Bud” Crawford was pulled over and briefly held at gunpoint by police in Omaha early Sunday morning, just hours after the city celebrated him with a parade in his honor.
The incident took place around 1:30 a.m. near 12th and Capitol Avenue. According to the Omaha Police Department, officers stopped the vehicle for reckless driving.
During the stop, police spotted a firearm inside the car and, citing safety concerns, instructed all four passengers – including Crawford – to exit the vehicle at gunpoint.
Authorities later confirmed that Crawford was the driver and issued a citation for reckless driving. One of his security team members was carrying a legally registered firearm, and all occupants were reportedly authorized to carry weapons.
Mayor Ewing addresses incident and pledges full review
Mayor John Ewing released a statement on Sunday confirming that he had personally spoken with Crawford following the stop. He also noted that Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has initiated an internal investigation.
“My heart sank, to be quite honest,” Ewing told First Alert 6. “I thought we had one of the best days this city’s ever had in my lifetime… I was heartbroken that something that was so good had an issue that potentially have people concerned about police-community relations.”
Emphasizing the need for accountability and public trust, Ewing said, “We will have a full investigation and we will be fully transparent.”
He also reiterated his respect for Crawford, saying, “[Bud is]… a great ambassador for the city of Omaha, a great role model for our young people, and I still hold him in high esteem.”
The mayor encouraged the public to voice any concerns about policing practices respectfully and assured that all complaints would be taken seriously: “We want people to always be safe, and I want our officers to always be safe.”
Ewing is currently reviewing bodycam footage and plans to meet with police leadership in the coming days to evaluate the stop in more detail.
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