Embolden South Carolina Man Arrested After Viral Video Shows Him Impersonating Police and Harassing Latino Driver [Video]

A South Carolina man is facing serious charges after a video surfaced online showing him impersonating a police officer and threatening a driver with deportation during a roadside confrontation.

Video:

Sean Michael-Emmrich Johnson, 33, of Huger, South Carolina, has been charged with felony kidnapping, misdemeanor impersonation of a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor larceny/fraudulent removal of personal property, and misdemeanor third-degree assault. Johnson reportedly turned himself in to authorities just before 11 p.m. on Friday and is currently being held at Al Cannon Detention Center.

The incident, which unfolded on Sullivan’s Island, first came to light after Johnson himself called the police to report a driver for allegedly operating a vehicle without a license. However, what wasn’t immediately clear to officers was that Johnson’s call would soon be overshadowed by a video that captured him committing multiple crimes during the confrontation.

The Sullivan’s Island Police Department later issued a statement acknowledging that they had responded to Johnson’s call but were unaware of his criminal actions until the video began circulating online. The department described the footage as “disturbing” and confirmed that neither the driver nor the passenger in the vehicle were charged with any offenses.

In the video, Johnson is seen aggressively leaning into the window of a truck, questioning the driver about his nationality.

“You got caught, Bro,” Johnson is heard saying. “Where you from? Mexico? You from Mexico? You’re going back to Mexico.”

The driver, appearing confused, responds with, “Parking?” but Johnson ignores him, repeatedly saying “no” before snatching the keys from the ignition and waving them in the air. He continues to accuse the driver of not having a license and insists that the police are on their way.

As the driver attempts to make a phone call, Johnson escalates the situation further by batting the phone out of his hand, declaring, “It’s over.” Throughout the video, he continues to taunt the driver, calling him “El Chapo” and offensively referring to the Spanish language as “Pig Latin.”

“This is America; we speak English in America,” Johnson says in the video.

Following the release of the video and subsequent investigation, authorities arrested Johnson on multiple charges. He now awaits legal proceedings for his actions.

This incident adds to ongoing discussions about racial profiling, harassment, and the misuse of authority. While the driver and passenger involved were not charged, the video has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability.