We are finally seeing video that led to a Hillsborough County deputy’s resignation.
Tempers flared when that deputy and another driver were involved in a crash on Interstate 4 in February.
The video even shows Det. Thomas Pettis actually pulling his gun.
Pettis was never booked into jail and that’s drawing a lot of questions, including if Det. Pettis got preferential treatment because of his job.
Both men, Det. Pettis and the other driver, Evan Rees of Sebring, claim self-defense.
"Oh my God,” said the sacred and confused children on the side of Interstate 4 as a man who later turned to be Det. Pettis pulled a gun. “He's got a gun. Oh my God. Oh my God. Tell dad to get in the car."
When the two eventually pulled on to the side of the road, words were exchanged and things got so heated that the two wound up on the ground fighting.
Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober said there’s no question Det. Pettis pulled his gun and pointed it at Rees, then showed his badge as he got up from the ground and pointed it at Rees for one second.
After that, Ober said Pettis then pointed his gun once again aiming it in a diagonal direction to the ground and aiming at no one.
Det. Pettis then punched Rees because he claimed he was in fear that Rees would hit his daughter who was also there at the scene.
There’s a different story, though, from Rees who claims Det. Pettis came out swinging.
Essentially, both men claim self-defense.
"I feel he's getting extremely special treatment,” said Rees. “I mean, you know, would anybody else be getting this treatment? I mean if it were me and I drew a gun on somebody, I would have been arrested. I would have been charged. I would have been booked that night. You know, I would have gone through the embarrassment and all that other stuff."
Pettis could have been charged with aggravated assault and battery but after the investigation, State Attorney Ober lessened the charge to battery since Pettis allegedly punched Rees in the face.
Ober said in part, "......The manner in which he (Deputy Pettis) displayed the gun, the brief duration that it was pointed at Rees, the display of his badge, and the re-holstering of his weapon....are all actions consistent with claim of self-defense....."
"I'd like to see there be justice,” said Rees. “I would like to have faith in the system."
Witnesses who used their cell phones say they were reportedly asked to delete those recordings from their phones by sheriff's deputies. But the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said they were afraid that video would go viral and possibly hurt the case.
At the same time, they said they're not sweeping anything under the rug.
Pettis' next court date is May 15th.