A speeding ticket is the least of congressional candidate Martin Hyde’s worries after footage of him interacting with a police officer has gone viral.
The British-born, Florida Republican, who is is running to represent the state’s 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House, was pulled over on Valentine’s Day for driving 57 mph in a 40 mph zone while texting on his phone.
Officer Julia Beskin’s body cam captured Hyde’s response.
Michael Flynn and Roger Stone backed congressional candidate not backing the blue in new traffic stop: “I’ll just call your Chief. You know who I am, right? You’re going to do this? Big mistake. You’re making career decisions.” pic.twitter.com/4GUfuKPvN4
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 23, 2022
“Do you know who I am?” Hyde asked Beskin, before threatening to personally call the police chief. “This is going to end your career,” he told her.
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In the second part of the video, Hyde asks, “Is it your Russian immigrant status that makes you treat people like this?”
Part 2: “I just called your supervisor. Is it your Russian immigrant status that makes you treat people like this?” pic.twitter.com/9mhyFVSVCb
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 23, 2022
Records show Hyde was ultimately just cited for failing to display proper registration, but we imagine the $116 ticket won’t sting quite as much as the public response.
Here’s what folks are saying:
You are a disgrace. The nerve of you to pretend to some sort of special privilege based on being a “candidate”. https://t.co/sokZelpNeo
— Bernie Gallet 🌊 (@HariCarysGhost) February 23, 2022
Martin Hyde is a giant douche https://t.co/Dh6yHrXWD1
— Rebel Owl (@RebelSnowOwl) February 23, 2022
It’s clear WHY Martin Hyde wants to be in office – for his own personal power plays.
He’s got a strong “I’m above the law, peasant” vibe going!— jk king (@JkFlower60) February 23, 2022
We know EXACTLY who you are now Martin Hyde.
— Cynthia Sinclair (@Cynthia45309359) February 23, 2022
Martin Hyde is an a**hole. For a simple traffic ticket he wants to be above the law. It is a way of life for these a**holes.
Yes, that officer is a hero. She made a career decision. Give her a raise and a promotion.
Play this video to train every cop.
Nobody is above the law. https://t.co/P3ETV2sDe4
— T. K. Rengarajan 🇺🇸 (@trengarajan) February 23, 2022
Let’s make Martin Hyde famous. Old man acting like a toddler. https://t.co/1dUowpb9kU
— Let Gar (@LetGar4) February 23, 2022
As Hyde started Trending, some commenters used the opportunity to remind everyone of that other time he behaved horribly.
Back when the businessman was running for City Commission in 2019, he got into an altercation with a group of Puerto Rican teens at a tennis club. Hyde allegedly told the Spanish-speaking teens to quiet down and “go out and cut the grass.”
This is Republican, Martin Hyde, flexing his racist rhetoric on Spanish-speaking children at a tennis club in Sarasota. He was kicked out and his membership canceled after this. Be careful how you vote. https://t.co/CbmcIzDHbD
— Zen Boosted (@Trinity_Mike) February 23, 2022
Mister P
Yes. When you vote Republican that’s what you get these days.
bodie425
Which is why many do vote for them.
rangerwilcox
entitled jerk of a candidate that cannot comply with a police officer’s request for registration, etc. the above-it-all attitude is disgusting and definitely not a good character for someone that wants to work in government.
galileo
That’s one export I’m not proud of, but on a selfish note, glad that prick is in Florida and not back here.
Mr. Stadnick
I thought republicans loved the police?
Mack
Only when it’s not them in trouble.
Heywood Jablowme
“Do you know who I am?”
“Hi, Chief? There’s a disoriented guy here who doesn’t know who he is.”
alex1435
The guy is a total dick.
barryaksarben
Yet another entitled OLD white guy in Florida. It is so full of them now our waste water is 98% viagra bunch of limp dicks
Cam
Typical Republican. They all lie about supporting workers, supporting police, etc… but the truth is, they hate everyone except their donors.
He was going to try to end that woman’s career because she was giving him a ticket. Republicans hate workers almost as much as they hate minorities and LGBTQ people.
Mack
And once the donors given money they don’t too much for them either. It’s all about lining their pockets.
sayyidn
Really curious what went on within the Sarasota Police Department who appear to be this despicable person’s supporters. Like how the supervisor and the other male officer muted their body cams to have a private discussion. Wh made the decision to reduce the charges ? What did the supervisors say to the officer back at the station ?
Gay Press
“Do you know who I am?” She should have asked him to submit to a breathalyzer. He sounded drunk to me.
Kangol2
Well, he’s lucky he isn’t Black or the officer probably would have shot him dead! Instead he gets to live on as a complete jack@ss, and will probably receive a decent number of votes from Don the Con cultists.
Bosch
God bless bodycams.
johncp56
GOP does nothing in office but they expect to get away with everything like they are above the law, BS
dario717
I’m sorry, was that law or order?
BDAguy
He’ll win… b/c he’s standing to the “deep state”. Morons will definitely put this guy in office.
Bdavid
Yup cause they have one ganglion between all the GOP and they vote blindly! It’s really sad but maybe one day they’ll wake up and realize the mistake they made! When everyone in Congress sis a GQP and all they do is scream and yell conspiracy theories and don’t get anything done and stop Biden from doing what he does they’ll see the reality! Remember people there are consequences for elections and he’ll be one of them!
Bdavid
What is it about these republicans that they think they are above the law! Just what Washington needs more self entitled greedy old white men! Then again he is from Florida and we know all the real winners have come from there such as Gaetz and Scott! The Beavis and Butthead of the state!