Black Father Aspiring to Become a Police Officer is Accused of Assaulting Cops. Then His Son’s Video Saves Him: ‘It Was Haunting’
Footage from his son saved him.
Jafari Stewart had hoped to become a police officer, but instead spent a gruelling 17 months fighting felony charges after being accused of assaulting two police officers in his home in Huntsville, Texas. However, footage recorded by his 12-year-old son is said to have spared the father a lengthy prison sentence.
Per ABC13, the incident occurred in March 2025, when Stewart and his three children returned to their home late one night. Two police officers had reportedly knocked on their door and claimed to have been conducting a welfare check involving his children. This isn’t the first time people have been subjected to law enforcement, for example, this Black Circle K worker once claimed police were called on him “for no reason.”
According to Stewart, he initially refused to let the officers inside before they allegedly pushed their way in. Prosecutors reportedly charged Stewart on claims that during the incident he spat on an officer and then pushed him into a wall.
The officers’ assault claims were not seen in the footage
In the footage recorded by Stewart’s 12-year-old son, officers can be seen trying to handcuff the father. The incident reportedly escalated when an officer allegedly placed his hand on Stewart’s neck before jerking, and Stewart jerked his shoulder forward. A similar incident occurred when a man was accused of violently attacking a police officer and was subsequently arrested and later released.
The footage undermined the officers’ story that Stewart spat on and pushed them, and no footage from their bodycams backing up their version of events was available as both of their bodycams had reportedly fallen off during the incident.
While Mark Stephens, a retired police detective, agreed that “it’s technically an assault,” Stewart’s indictment reportedly didn’t accuse him of assaulting an officer with his shoulder. “I don’t like to call people liars,” Stewart said. “But fabrication, yes. Cover-up, yes.”
After the jury was shown the footage, they went on to acquit Stewart on felony charges of assault on a peace officer and harassment of a public servant.
Will Durham, the Walker County Criminal District Attorney, shared in a statement to KBTX that their office disagreed with the defendant and his attorney’s claims. Stewart’s pending charges also include Failure to Identify and Resisting Arrest.
Stewart planned to join the police academy
“It is unfortunate that this man made the decision from the start not to cooperate with police regarding a simple welfare check of his children due to a 911 call. Otherwise, none of this may have occurred,” Durham said.
James Barnes, the Huntsville Assistant Police Chief, denied that the officers involved lied. “We stand behind our officers and while we disagree with the verdict, we respect the verdict and trust in the judicial process.”
At the time of his arrest, Stewart was a prison correctional officer and had reportedly just passed his civil service exam with plans to join the Dallas Police Academy. “That was actually, like, my goal is to become a cop.”
Regarding the long legal battle, Stewart said, “It was haunting because it was like my character, me as a person, me as a man was being questioned for something I know I would never do to any human being.” Despite the long road ahead of him, he said that he will continue to fight the pending charges.
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