Lexington Police issue statement after arrest video surfaces
FOLLOW UP:
- ‘It was so horrible’: Man speaks out after viral incident with police
- Lexington Police Chief speaks to WBBJ after arrest incident sparks controversy
UPDATE: WBBJ staff requested the body cam footage from the Lexington Police Department, however we were told it will not be released at this time. An open records request was submitted in effort to obtain the footage. Due to the case being open and investigation ongoing, that request was denied.
LEXINGTON, Tenn. — Local authorities are responding after a video of an arrest began circulating online.
Several WBBJ 7 Eyewitness News tipsters brought the video to our attention, which depicts the arrest of an individual in Lexington. See below: (CONTENT WARNING: Video may be disturbing or offensive to some)
Tuesday morning, the Lexington Police Department issued a press release regarding the situation. See below:
FROM THE LEXINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 8/19/25:
The Lexington Police Department (LPD) wishes to provide clarity on a recent social media video that surfaced last night, depicting a use of force incident during an arrest. We believe it is important for our community to understand the full context of this event.
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, around 8:25 PM, LPD officers were called to the 600 block of West Church Street to address a disturbance involving multiple individuals. Upon arrival, an officer noticed a male subject aggressively swinging his arms at a vehicle leaving the scene. The officer initiated a traffic stop to investigate the situation further. The vehicle’s driver, a juvenile, explained that the adult suspect, who had been observed acting aggressively, was attempting to assault him over a prior traffic dispute.
While the officer interviewed the driver, the suspect—later identified as Kendal M. Keith, age 24—arrived on the scene of the traffic stop and began shouting and causing disruption in the area. The officer attempted to arrest Keith for the witnessed assault while he remained in his vehicle. During this time, a front-seat passenger began recording the interaction as officers took Keith into custody, during which he resisted.
Keith did not sustain any injuries during the encounter and was transported to the Henderson County Jail, where he faces charges of assault, disorderly conduct, and resisting an officer during a stop, frisk, halt, or arrest.
As with all use of force incidents, the Lexington Police Department conducts thorough reviews of officer actions to validate that they are legally justified and align with established policies and procedures. This review process is currently in progress. The department is also collaborating with the District Attorney General’s Office to ensure a complete and fair investigation based on factual evidence.
No additional information can be released at this time.
Jeffrey G. Middleton
Chief of Police
Lexington Police Department
For more local news, click here.
