Officer apologizes after viral dashcam footage

An American Fork police officer called a driver he had pulled over and apologized after dashcam footage of the stop circulated widely online, according to American Fork Citizen. The episode unfolded as scrutiny intensified around the American Fork Police Department’s handling of encounters involving YouTuber Benjamin Schneider, who posts as Reckless Ben. (afcitizen.com) Schneider, 30, has been charged in Utah County with misdemeanor offenses tied to his contacts with people connected to a dispute over a Lego collection reportedly valued at $200,000. American Fork police have said they released footage and a statement on May 29 to address what Chief Cameron Paul called misinformation circulating online. (afcitizen.com) ### Which stop prompted the apology? (abc4.com) American Fork Citizen reported on June 1 that the apology came after dashcam video of a traffic stop spread online and drew criticism of the officer’s conduct. The outlet said the officer personally called the driver after the footage gained attention, and described that outcome as unusual enough to surprise the motorist who had sought accountability. The available search results do not identify the officer by name in the reporting surfaced here, and the underlying dashcam clip in search results does not independently establish the full circumstances of the stop. What is clear from the local report is that the apology followed public circulation of the video, not an internal disciplinary announcement. (afcitizen.com) ### How is Schneider connected to the case? Benjamin Paul Schneider is a Los Angeles resident who publishes videos under the name Reckless Ben, according to American Fork Citizen. The outlet reported that he became involved in a dispute over a Bricks & Minifigs franchise and a Lego collection that another family says was not returned after a franchise ownership change. (afcitizen.com) ABC4 reported that Schneider made videos about the dispute and accused the franchise of stealing the collection. The station said his posts drew broad attention and led members of the public to question the conduct of American Fork police. ### What charges does he face? (afcitizen.com) American Fork Citizen reported on May 30 that Schneider faces misdemeanor charges of stalking, targeted residential picketing, disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. The alleged victim in one case is Joshua Johnson, an American Fork resident and employee of Bricks & Minifigs, the outlet said. The Salt Lake Tribune and ABC4 separately reported the same set of misdemeanor allegations, with ABC4 saying Schneider was arrested twice in March after repeatedly going to a franchise executive’s home and attempting to serve legal papers. (afcitizen.com) ABC4 also reported a separate disorderly conduct and criminal trespass case tied to a Dec. 10, 2025 incident. (abc4.com) ### What has the police department said publicly? American Fork Police released body-camera footage and a public statement on May 29, according to ABC4 and American Fork Citizen. Chief Cameron Paul said the department was trying to provide transparency and address misinformation, and said officers were enforcing Utah law rather than intervening in the underlying Oregon business dispute. (afcitizen.com) Dexerto, citing the department’s statement, reported that police said Johnson and his family made multiple complaints over several days. The department said Schneider and others repeatedly tried to contact Johnson at his residence, photographed the property, delivered packages and placed signs near the home after prior warnings from officers. (sltrib.com) ### Why did the footage draw so much attention? A YouTube video labeled as dashcam footage of Schneider’s stop was indexed in search results within the past two days, and local reporting said the clip spread widely online. PrimeTimer and other outlets described a backlash on social media after Schneider posted video of police stops, arrests and a search tied to his reporting on the Lego dispute. (abc4.com) ABC4 reported that the department’s release of footage was itself part of the public response to that criticism. The station said the agency disclosed that no active Utah warrants were outstanding for Schneider and said some footage had been redacted because it involved contact with a reported victim. (dexerto.com) ### What happens next? Utah County court proceedings against Schneider are still pending, according to recent local and regional reports. American Fork’s records request page says police reports and related records can be requested through the department, while the city’s public records page says requests are generally processed within 10 business days. (afcitizen.com) (abc4.com) (youtube.com)