Two separate law-enforcement incidents—one in Tennessee in 2021 and another in Illinois in 2024—show the unpredictability officers face during seemingly routine calls. Both events were captured on body-worn cameras and later became subjects of public scrutiny.
The Nashville Traffic Stop – February 12, 2021
At around 9:00 a.m., Officer Josh Baker of the Nashville Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle registered to Desmond Buchanan, a man with multiple outstanding warrants. The car stopped in a laundromat parking lot, and the driver, 31-year-old Nica Hobart—Buchanan’s girlfriend—stepped out.
Body-camera footage showed Hobart becoming increasingly anxious as the officer searched her belongings. Inside her bag, Baker discovered marijuana exceeding the state’s legal possession threshold, as well as a bag of white powder. When Baker moved to detain her, Hobart panicked, resisted and attempted to run back to her vehicle. A Taser deployment failed to subdue her, and she drew a handgun, resulting in a close-range exchange of gunfire.
Officer Baker was wounded but survived. Hobart fled in the vehicle but crashed shortly afterward due to her injuries and later died at the hospital. Records later revealed a long criminal history and a difficult upbringing marked by instability and trauma. Baker returned to duty a month later on light assignment.
The Ogle County Standoff – June 12, 2024
In rural Illinois, deputies responded to a call involving 32-year-old Jonathan Garys, who was reportedly armed and threatening harm. After extensive negotiation attempts failed, a Special Response Team forced entry. Garys opened fire immediately, injuring three officers. The team returned fire, wounding Garys, who was taken into custody.
Garys survived and now faces 12 felony charges, including attempted murder. All injured officers recovered, though one required multiple surgeries.
Both incidents underscore the dangers of everyday police encounters—whether a simple traffic stop or a planned tactical operation—and how rapidly unpredictable factors can escalate into life-threatening situations.
