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Tuesday, Apr 20, 2021

Was Daunte Wright pulled over by police because he had an air freshener hanging from his mirror?

Dana Ford, Lead Stories
no

Police have said that they stopped Wright because of expired tags, and that it was when officers approached the vehicle that they saw something hanging from his rearview mirror in violation of Minnesota safe driving laws.

A police officer fatally shot Wright, 20, during an April 11, 2021, traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

During a press conference on April 12, 2021, then-Police Chief Tim Gannon said Wright's tags were expired and Brooklyn Center officers did notice a "hanging item from the rearview mirror." Gannon said officers ran Wright's name, found there was a warrant and then attempted an arrest.

Minnesota law prohibits hanging items from a vehicle's rearview mirror. Supporters of the law believe it's necessary to help drivers maintain a clear line of sight, but critics contend it can be used as an excuse to make pretextual stops that target Black people.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

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