Video: BLM Co-Founder Pulled Over in Florida — His Reaction Is Exactly What You’d Expect

April 7, 2025

Tampa, FL – Newly released dash cam footage from an August 29, 2024, traffic stop in Tampa, Florida, has reignited controversy surrounding Pastor Carl Soto, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc., who is now suing the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) for $5.5 million. Soto claims Deputy Alex Almaguer used excessive force and racial bias during the stop, but conservatives on X are calling his reaction a textbook case of playing the victim—a narrative they say aligns perfectly with the left’s playbook.

The incident began when Almaguer pulled Soto over for an illegal license plate decal featuring the Joker, a violation of Florida statute, according to a criminal report affidavit. Dash cam footage, released on April 4, 2025 captures Soto immediately challenging the deputy: “I’m going to give you about .2 seconds to explain to me what you pulled me over for because I have not committed any traffic violations.” When Almaguer asked for his license, Soto refused, escalating the situation. The deputy eventually opened Soto’s car door, unholstered a taser, and handcuffed him on the ground after a brief struggle. Soto can be heard shouting, “You’re on my back, and I just had surgery,” claiming the incident exacerbated his recent back injuries.

Video:

Soto’s $5.5 million civil rights lawsuit, filed on April 4, accuses HCSO of excessive force, racial profiling, and violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. “This deputy had no regard,” Soto said at a press conference, per WTSP. “Because of his actions, this is a blatant direct violation to my civil rights.” The charges against Soto for resisting arrest without violence were dropped, but HCSO spokesperson Amanda Granit defended Almaguer, stating, “This deputy was trying to have this resolved… time and time again. This didn’t have to end this way, but it did because of Mr. Soto’s actions.”

Conservatives on X, like @MAGAJustice22, aren’t buying Soto’s narrative: “BLM co-founder gets pulled over, refuses to comply, and then cries racism—shocker.” @PatriotPulse added, “This is what they always do: defy the law, escalate, then play the victim.” A 2024 ABC Action News report noted Soto’s apology to HCSO in October, where he admitted his actions contributed to the arrest, but he maintains the stop was unjustified. For Trump supporters, the footage—viewed over 200,000 times on X—confirms their view of the left’s refusal to take accountability, with @America1stMAGA writing, “Same old BLM script: break the law, blame the cops.” As the lawsuit unfolds, conservatives are rallying behind the deputy, seeing this as another example of the left’s overreach.