MITH COUNTY, TX -Newly released dash cam video shows exactly what happened during a traffic stop that led to an assistant fire marshal being placed on paid leave, and then resigning.
Oren Hale of Smith County was pulled over on August 20 in his county fire marshal unit, allegedly with a mixed drink and pornography displayed on the on-board computer screen, according to the Smith County Sheriff’s Office.
See: Assistant fire marshal resigns following traffic violations investigation
Hale was observed swerving before he was stopped and he was ticketed for failing to maintain a single lane.
Dash camera video from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office shows deputies reacting to seeing the images on Hale’s screen. While driving behind Hale’s vehicle, the deputy comments to another, “Oh my God, do you see it? He’s not even trying to hide it.”
When the deputies approach Hale, they tell him they noticed the explicit images on his screen.
“Probably not the best idea, man,” said the deputy. “If we see it, other people can see it. You’ve got Smith County written on the side of your vehicle.”