Still, he moved around the sedan.
The Black driver noticed him.
He also noticed the body camera on the younger officer's chest.
The red recording indicator was lit.
The sergeant's body camera was positioned lower.
The indicator light was not visible from where the driver stood.
"Put your hands on the roof."
The Black driver placed both hands on the sedan.
The sergeant moved behind him.
"Spread your feet."
The driver complied.
The sergeant began patting him down.
His hands were unnecessarily rough.
The younger officer looked uncomfortable.
The Black driver spoke without turning around.
"I have no weapons accessible to you."
The sergeant pressed harder against his back.
"You don't tell me how to do my job."
"I'm telling you there is nothing concealed."
"Everybody says that."
The sergeant moved his hands around the driver's waist.
His fingers stopped at the gold ceremonial belt.
He gave it a tug.
"Fancy."
The Black driver looked over his shoulder.
"Do not pull on that."
The sergeant's eyes narrowed.
"What did you say?"
"I said do not pull on the belt."
The sergeant stepped close behind him.
"You don't give commands here."
The Black driver slowly turned his head forward again.
"No. I am asking you not to damage government property."
The younger officer's head snapped toward him.
The sergeant laughed.
"Government property?"
The Black driver remained silent.
The sergeant tugged at the belt again.
"You buy this stuff online?"
The younger officer took a small step forward.
"Sergeant, maybe we should verify his identification."
The sergeant looked sharply at him.
"I already have his license."
"I mean the other identification."
The sergeant stared at the younger officer.
"What other identification?"
The younger officer nodded toward the uniform.
The sergeant's face hardened.
"You think because somebody buys medals and puts stars on his shoulders I'm supposed to salute him?"
The younger officer said nothing.
A woman standing near a bus shelter had begun recording with her phone.
Another pedestrian stopped.
Then another.
The Black driver could see them reflected in the sedan's windows.
The sergeant noticed the phones.
His posture became more aggressive.
"Turn around."
The Black driver turned.
Now the two men stood almost chest to chest.
The sergeant was shorter but leaned forward as if closing the distance would make him larger.
The Black driver did not step backward.
The sergeant pointed at the ribbons on his chest.
"What did you do to earn all that?"
The Black driver's expression changed for the first time.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something colder.
"I am not discussing my service history with you on the side of a road."
The sergeant smiled.
"Service history."
He looked toward the small crowd.
"You hear that?"
No one laughed.
The sergeant looked back at him.
"Let me guess. Secret missions?"
The Black driver remained silent.
"Special forces?"
Silence.
"You save the country?"