Terence “Bud” Crawford, the newly crowned world super middleweight boxing champion, found himself in a troubling situation when police stopped him for suspected reckless driving in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, in the early hours of Saturday.
During the incident, Crawford and his three companions were asked to exit the vehicle at gunpoint after officers noticed a firearm on the car’s floor, which belonged to one of Crawford’s associates and was legally possessed.
Crawford, who was in town to celebrate his 38th birthday and recent victory over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas, was quickly recognized by the authorities at the scene. The Omaha Mayor and Police Chief confirmed awareness of the situation and initiated an internal investigation in response to a video circulating on social media.
According to reports, the police stopped the vehicle near North 12th and Capitol Avenue after observing reckless driving behavior. Following the discovery of the firearm, all occupants were removed from the vehicle for safety reasons and later identified, with Crawford receiving a citation for reckless driving. It was confirmed that all occupants had legal permits to carry firearms, with Crawford’s security team member also found to be carrying a lawful weapon.
In a statement, Omaha Mayor John Ewing emphasized the importance of trust between law enforcement and the community, supporting a thorough internal investigation led by Police Chief Todd Schmaderer to ensure transparency and accountability.
Qasim Shabazz, head of Crawford’s security team, expressed concern over the tense situation during the stop, highlighting the fear that they could have been in danger. He recounted the moment when the police officer reacted strongly upon learning about the firearm in the vehicle.
This incident has sparked discussions about the need for continued efforts to strengthen relationships and transparency between law enforcement and the community.