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YES! Writers JOHN BATCHELOR MARK BURGER KATEI CRANFORD LYNN FELDER JIM LONGWORTH IAN MCDOWELL
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Last Friday, Asheboro-based filmmaker Ty Brueilly’s latest short film, 7EVENTH 7IRKLE, had its world premiere at one of the most famous cinema landmarks in the world, the TCL Chinese Theatres on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.
4 The Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) will host its second annual GREEN JOB FAIR from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Goodwill Industries of Northeast N.C., 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem.
5 TWINLESS, the impressive, awardwinning sophomore feature from writer/ producer/director James Sweeney, also portrays the character responsible for the ruse, the reasoning for which becomes clear 20 minutes into the film, when the opening credits finally roll.
7 Change for change’s sake is never a good idea, yet there always seems to be some corporate marketing executive who’s willing to FIDDLE WITH SUCCESS in order to justify his salary and impress the boss.
8 When the foam settled from the 2025 North Carolina BREWERS CUP COMPETITION, one brewery stood alone atop the podium: Greensboro-based Little Brother Brewing, which delivered a masterclass performance that dominated the state’s most prestigious brewing competition.
11 Another round of the HOPSCOTCH MUSIC FESTIVAL has come and gone — and here we are in the weird week where summer bleeds into fall and it feels like my heart bleeds out from bursting with joy over and over. And breaking a little bit, too.
12 The Greensboro Police Department has released videos from a CONTROVERSIAL TRAFFIC STOP, including a compilation narrated by Chief John Thompson.
From Carolina to California — and back again
Last Friday, Asheborobased filmmaker Ty Brueilly’s latest short film, 7eventh 7irkle, had its world premiere at one of the most famous cinema landmarks in the world, the TCL Chinese Theatres on Hollywood Boulevard in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Formerly (and better-known) as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the theater opened in 1927 with Cecil B. DeMille’s Biblical epic King of Kings and has hosted countless premieres since, including the 1977 premiere of the original Star Wars. This is not Brueilly’s first brush with TLC Chinese Theatres, as his 2022 hip-hop short A Night in Charlotte With Sweeney
Ty likewise premiered there, then won Best Experimental at the Golden State Film Festival. All told, the prolific Brueilly (“Ty Bru”) has directed over 40 projects, including short films and music videos, winning a slew of awards along the way. A further testament to his artistic versatility is his work as a composer and fashion designer. Brueilly attended the premiere of
7eventh 7irkle and has arranged for the film to be shown on Dec. 11 at the Sunset Theatre in Asheville, marking its “hometown premiere.” The 16-minute film is laden with symbolic imagery and surreal storytelling designed to engage the audience’s imagination while trans-
porting them to a new and very di erent realm of reality. To view the o cial trailer, visit https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=e3xHOssFxtk.
Tye Brueilly’s o cial website is https:// www.filmandfashionbybrueilly.com/. !
See MARK BURGER’s reviews of current movies.
Ty Brueilly on set
PHOTO BY MEGAN BRUEILLY
Mark Burger Contributor
PHOTO BY TY BRUEILLY
Green Job Fair scheduled for Sept. 17th in Winston-Salem
BY MARK BURGER
The Piedmont Environmental Alliance (PEA) will host its second annual Green Job Fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, at Goodwill Industries of Northeast N.C., 2701 University Parkway, Winston-Salem. Admission is free, and for more information or to RSVP for the event, visit https://www.peanc. org/2025-green-job-fair.
sources about finding your place in the green economy, and much more.
[WEEKLY ARTS ROUNDUP]
The Green Job Fair o ers numerous opportunities to embark on “green career” pathways, including the HVAC and electric-vehicle trades, climate advocacy, public service, and green finance. Representatives and employers in PEA’s Green Business Network will be on hand to o er one-on-one interviews with local sustainability leaders, information about the growing green economy that’s being created, educational re-
Among the employers and exhibitors scheduled to attend this year’s event are the North Carolina League of Conservation Voters, Divert, Go Green Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, Rivian, and many others.
The o cial PEA website is https:// www.peanc.org/. !
Arts Council of Winston-Salem & Forsyth County has celebrated a milestone few organizations can claim: their 75th anniversary as the first arts council in the nation. Since 1949, the organization has championed the artists, organizations, and cultural experiences that define the region, providing funding, facilities, visibility, and opportunities that allow creativity to flourish and communities to thrive.
Reflecting on 75 Years: Past. Present. Possible.
“Together, we’ve built something extraordinary. But today, we must speak honestly about where we are and where we must go. Like many nonprofits, we are facing an extraordinarily di cult financial moment. Despite our history of giving more than $1 million annually in grants, operational support, and subsidies, this year we’ve had to make painful decisions, limiting or pausing funding to partners who have come to count on us. These decisions have been deeply felt, and we acknowledge that we could have communicated more clearly and consistently about our financial challenges and been more vocal about the urgency of our need for support. We’re struggling with the same pressures that impact many of the groups we serve, including funding cuts, rising costs, and facilities in need of urgent attention. And yet, even in this moment, we are focused not just on what’s behind us, but what’s ahead,” said Shannon Henry, Arts Council’s Interim President & CEO. Guided by a strategic roadmap shaped by artists, donors, educators, and neighbors, the Arts Council is working to usher in a new era for the organization — one grounded in access, collaboration, and innovation.
Celebrating A Milestone: You’re Invited!
To celebrate the organization’s milestones and pave the way for the future, the Arts Council will host a 75th Anniversary Celebration event on Wednesday, Sept. 24 in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. The event takes place at 6 p.m., and will feature live performances, a reception with silent auction and catered hors d’oeuvres, complimentary beverages, and an exciting live auction. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Arts Council’s Director of Development, Eurikca Felipe Eustache (eeustache@intothearts.org).
The Arts Council would like to thank patrons in the community for supporting local arts and culture, and invite them to support again. Support the arts during this essential time in the way that works best for you: Become a sponsor, donate, submit an auction item or share your personal story on how the arts has impacted your life. Your participation will help inspire community leaders to support the arts during this milestone event and essential time.
Support the 75th Anniversary of the Arts Council in the way that works best for you on the event website: www.intothearts. org/75anniversarycelebration !
Twinless: Friendship forged from a falsehood
BY MARK BURGER
Many comedies, romantic and otherwise, are predicated on a ruse perpetrated by one of the lead characters, which then snowballs until it is eventually revealed, usually at just the wrong moment.
That is certainly the case with Twinless, the impressive, award-winning sophomore feature from writer/producer/director James Sweeney, who also portrays the character responsible for the ruse, the reasoning for which becomes clear 20 minutes into the film, when the opening credits finally roll.
— into a dramatic scene and have it pay o . The dramatic aspects of the storyline are conveyed in unpretentious terms. The principal characters have been beautifully realized, there’s consistently snappy (and often incisive) banter throughout, and at one point Sweeney makes excellent use of the split-screen format, a technique that has mostly fallen out of fashion in contemporary cinema.
Sweeney’s Dennis is attending grieftherapy sessions for siblings who have lost their twins, where he encounters Roman (Dylan O’Brien), whose gay twin brother Rocky (also O’Brien) recently perished in a hit-and-run accident. Their common loss, the truth of which should become evident fairly early on (but will not be revealed here for obvious reasons), is the catalyst for an unlikely friendship between Dennis, who is also gay, and Roman, who most definitely is not.
Yet their relationship proceeds at a believable pace, culminating in one of the year’s best acting moments, where Roman talks to Dennis as if he was Rocky, expressing his hurt and regret over the problems in their relationship over the years, and how Rocky’s death has deeply a ected him. Dennis is a sympathetic ear, but his interest in Roman becomes more possessive, especially when Roman begins a romance with Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), the sweet and chipper receptionist where Dennis works.
Twinless nimbly straddles genres throughout, which is a testament to Sweeney’s confidence. It’s ostensibly a black comedy, and Sweeney can inject a laugh — a genuine one, not a cheap one
The film ventures into some risky territory and there are a few awkward moments, but rarely a contrived or false one. Even the ever-present ruse seems, albeit somewhat bizarrely, appropriate given the circumstances. It’s a film about longing, loss, and love, and it’s not surprising Twinless has earned critical accolades since its premiere at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s hardly a stretch to predict more accolades await, especially as awards season shapes up.
Sweeney has elicited first-rate work from his principal cast, including himself. Dennis’ neediness could easily have become creepy or o -putting, but isn’t, although he doesn’t let the character o the hook. As Marcie, Franciosi is transcendent, imbuing a character who is initially all smiles with intuition and selfawareness. Best of all is O’Brien (also an executive producer), in a tour de force performance. Both Rocky and Roman are alpha males; Rocky is aggressively flirtatious and supremely self-confident while Roman is embittered, belligerent, and, even he’ll admit, none too bright. O’Brien pulls o this double act with remarkable assurance and delivers a career turn. Alas, Lauren Graham has far too little to do as Rocky and Roman’s grief-stricken mother, but even so, Twinless is a terrific piece of work that encompasses emotions that one can identify with. !
ACROSS
1 It’s on either side of a weather front
8 Like some pain-causing toenails
15 Award for Nomadland
20 Decay of a plant’s stalk
21 Suave, glib sort
22 1/24 of a day, in French
23 Astronauts’ advisory group?
25 Blows gently
26 NHL great Bobby
27 Dot in la mer
28 Candied nut given to a kid to quell a tantrum?
30 Advice for Fonda when she has a grievance?
35 Finds a new purpose for
36 Saudi export
37 Adele’s vocal range
38 Without remuneration
41 Big cheese
44 RBI, e.g.
45 “Lily White” novelist Susan
46 Colo.-to-Ga. direction
49 Present, as the whole group
51 Small car manufactured in Poland’s capital?
54 Optimal nutrient amt.
55 In — of (replacing)
57 Su x with hero or opal
58 Common brown rodent
59 Give praise to sellers of stolen goods?
63 Regarding
64 Like the horse favored to win
65 Units of gold purity
70 Zest or Dial
73 Fighting between
Dracula and Lestat?
80 Puts into operation 85 Partner of neither 86 Land of Lima and llamas 87 “So that’s it!”
Halt hubbub?
Is scornful of
Pork product
Ocean trip
Oolong and Darjeeling
List details
Isn’t truthful with
Orch. section for timpani, triangles, etc. 100 Jet to JFK, once 101 Tater Tots maker 104 Give solace to actor Mike?
109 Win the contest?
— Grande
Meadow
From Havana, e.g.
Noting the di erences between cutting utensils? 121 Nuclear trial, in brief
Respectful tributes
Hint-giving columnist
Old Persians
Abbr.
Vodka brand, familiarly
with
My late
cousin Hannah Campbell was the first accomplished writer in our extended family. In the 1960s, her articles appeared in a number of national publications, including Cosmopolitan for which she penned a monthly column titled “Why Did They Name it?” about the origins of famous brands and companies. Later, she compiled her research into a book by the same name and sent me a signed copy. I was fascinated by her stories, like the one about a young man who was working in a Virginia drug store when he fell in love with the daughter of the store owner. The young suitor was fired, traveled west, and invented an innovative soft drink which he named after the drug store owner — a medical doctor named Pepper. Cousin Hannah sparked my interest in writing and advertising, both which would later serve me well when, in addition to producing TV shows, I also ran a small ad agency where I was occasionally called upon to create product names and slogans. Along the way, I learned a valuable lesson about branding from an unlikely source. In May 1977, Bert Lance, director of the OMB under President Jimmy Carter, told Nation’s Business magazine, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Coincidentally, that same year, Nashville designer Bill Holley created a logo for a brand new restaurant chain that would serve good old country cookin’. The logo featured an illustration of an old man sitting in a wooden chair and leaning on a large barrel. The name adjacent to the logo was Cracker Barrel. It was a welcoming sign to hungry travelers for 56 years until late last month when company CEO Julie Masino forgot to heed Bert Lance’s advice. She and her ad agency decided to go for a more modern image, and suddenly the old timer, his chair, and the barrel all disappeared. Needless to say, the Cracker Barrel universe was collectively pissed. Social
Botched Branding
media blew up, and company stock prices tumbled. Within days, Masino reversed course and restored the old logo. Change for change’s sake is never a good idea, yet there always seems to be some corporate marketing executive who’s willing to fiddle with success in order to justify his salary and impress the boss. For example, Master Card removed its own name from its iconic orange and yellow intersecting circles. Petco removed the dog and cat from its logo. And Eskimo Pie changed its name to Edy’s Pie as if we’d all care that the frozen treat was created by Joseph Edy.
Remember “New Coke” from 1985? That disaster was the creation of a corporate executive who thought it would be a good idea to add more sugar to Coke’s formula in order to better compete with Pepsi. CEO Robert Goiuzeta told reporters at the time that it was “the surest move we ever made.” Loyal Coke drinkers disagreed. According to the History Channel, the company received 8,000 complaint calls per day, and shares of stock were headed in the wrong direction. Within months, New Coke was out and “Coca-Cola Classic” was born. The Coke fiasco should have served as a warning to all future beverage makers, but a few folks at Budweiser didn’t get the memo.
In 2023, Bud Light featured social media personality Dylan Mulvaney in a promotional video. The only problem was that Mulvaney is transgender. Millions of conservative Bud drinkers boycotted the parent company, stock prices fell by 26%, and Bud Light lost its top spot to Modesto after having been number one for 20 years. Alissa Heinerscheid, who had been VP of marketing for less than a year, was responsible for changing Bud
Light’s gender, saying she was only trying to make the drink “more inclusive.” Not surprisingly, Heinerscheid was fired. Of course, inclusivity can be a good thing if a name or logo has become o ensive to consumers. Uncle Ben’s rice, Aunt Jemima Pancake mix, and the Washington Redskins all come to mind. But it makes no business sense to trash a name or image just for the sake of
creativity. If my cousin Hannah were alive today, she would probably be writing a sequel to “Why Did They Name It?” and title it, “Why Did They Change It?” or,” WTF is Wrong with Cracker Barrel?” !
JIM LONGWORTH is the host of Triad Today, airing on Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. on ABC45 (cable channel 7) and Sundays at 11 a.m. on WMYV (cable channel 15) and streaming on WFMY+.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
w/ special guest Rockie Lynne SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 @ 7:30 PM
50TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
Matthew Whitaker Quintet January 17, 2026
Cirque FLIP Fabrique - Blizzard
February 21, 2026
Noche Flamenca: Searching for Goya March 5, 2026
Piff the Magic Dragon April 18, 2026
Kandace Springs May 2, 2026
Jim Longworth
Longworth at Large
The Little Brother That Could: Triad Breweries Dominate 2025 North Carolina Brewers Cup
BY NIKKI MILLER-KA
When the foam settled from the 2025 North Carolina Brewers Cup Competition, one brewery stood alone atop the podium: Greensboro-based Little Brother Brewing, which delivered a masterclass performance that dominated the state’s most prestigious brewing competition. Their six-medal sweep across multiple categories proves that sometimes the little brother knows best.
With 36 categories spanning everything from traditional German bocks to innovative fruit sours, this year’s Brewers Cup showcased the remarkable depth of North Carolina’s brewing talent. Yet no brewery matched Little Brother’s combination of volume and
excellence. They earned medals including gold for Heavy Hands in PilsnerStyle & Hoppy Lager category, silver for Small Fires in North American-Style Lager and User Friendly in Other American Pale Lagers & Ales, bronze for King in the Castle English barleywine in Strong Ale and Pleasing Gene in Historic Beer, plus an honorable mention for Pyrle IPA in International Style Pale Ale & IPA.
Several other Triad breweries showcased the region’s brewing depth with notable performances. Greensboro’s Pig Pounder Brewery earned two medals, taking bronze for Boar Brown in British Porter & Brown Ales and silver for Banana Breeze in European Wheat. Winston-Salem’s Incendiary Brewing Company also claimed two honorable mentions with Born For Dying in American Pale Ale and Trail Candy Tropical
Pale Ale category.
Charlotte claimed the most total wins as a city, with 13 medals across multiple breweries, while Asheville earned seven. Still, no individual brewery came close to matching Little Brother’s comprehensive showing — the nearest competitor managed just three medals.
Little Brother’s dominance wasn’t accidental. It’s the result of a meticulous brewing philosophy that prioritizes time and premium local ingredients.
“Lager is the hardest thing to brew, and it takes like three months to get a lager ready,” said head brewer and co-owner Mike Fodorero. “We don’t rush it out. We let it do its thing.”
The brewery, which consolidated its brewing operations to Kernersville in October 2023 while maintaining taprooms in Greensboro, Kernersville, and Graham, sources local malt from Epiphany Craft Malt in Durham and yeast from White Labs Brewing Co. in Asheville. “Time and temperature, really,” Fodorero said of their approach.
That philosophy has translated into international acclaim. Pleasing Gene earned double gold at the International Beer Festival in San Francisco, where Forbes called it “the best lager in the world” in 2024. It also claimed bronze at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in Ohio that year. “People were definitely
clamoring to get the award-winning stuff,” said operations manager and co-owner Josh Coe. “We had to ramp up production on some of our cans, like Pleasing Gene. People were emailing us from all over the world trying to get that beer.”
Fodorero’s brewing roots are firmly planted in Greensboro. A Greensboro College alum who’s called the Gate City home since 2005, he began as a homebrewer with the local Battleground Brewers Guild. His talent showed early — he and fellow club member Mets Stotter won the prestigious Gambrinus Cup in 2019, recognizing them as part of the top-scoring homebrew club in the country.
“I started as a home brewer, like probably half of the industry at this point,” Fodorero said. “Just started on my stove top because my wife got me a home brewing kit and kind of progressed up from there.” That progression led him through Little Brother’s homebrewer spotlight program to his current role as head brewer and coowner.
That hometown foundation continues to guide the brewery today. “We sit here and mess around on recipes, make it up as we go,” Coe said. This relaxed but serious approach to brewing has yielded consistent results across competitions.
The accolades keep building. At the 2025 World Beer Cup — considered the Olympics of beer — King in the Castle earned bronze in the fiercely com-
IPA in Session IPA. Kernersville’s Gypsy Road Brewing Company rounded out the Triad’s medal count with silver for Juice Whirled in the competitive Juicy/ Hazy
LIne up of hard seltzers & canned beers, featuring Pleasing Gene & Small Fires which are produced by Little Brother as well as Delta Spirits, their alcohol-free Mixer.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LITTLE BROTHER BREWING
Natalie Garcia
Another round of the Hopscotch Music festival has come and gone — and here we are in the weird week where summer bleeds into fall and it feels like my heart bleeds out from bursting with joy over and over. And breaking a little bit, too.
Contributor
At 15 years old, Hopscotch and her city feel di erent. There’s ghosts of those we’ve lost. There’s ghosts of those I’ve been — but, most importantly, there’s good people hopping around, and there’s some great, great freakin’ music. Getting to it: I hit town just in time to catch Lonnie Walker at Slim’s Thursday afternoon — seeing Zack Mexico’s John Saturley behind the drums quelled the sadness of a set sans-Ray. Though it turned out to be the surprising Slim’s stage makeover (and its new lighting) that provided the gutpunch of grief I had been expecting.
I got to catch another side of Saturley later that evening, over at Lincoln Theatre, during Harrison & Wentz Presents: A Bewitching Night of Mystic Tropicalia. The crazy talented, absolutely insane OBX family band o ered a tasty amalgam of “Space Age Pop, Howdy Doody, The Gong Show, and Heaven’s Gate.” Look, if the good doctors Harrison and Wentz lead a cult: y’all can sign me up with a side of Hawaiian Canned Pine-
Holy Cow, Hopscotch 15
apple. Part music show, part madman middle-finger to the void, the evening started with boy-machine host, Marty Martin Denny, and a round of rousing toasts to the mighty barkeeps and hallowed walls. The Lincoln’s origins of a Black theater. The music community and compulsive gamblers. I couldn’t stick around to spin their infamous wheel, however. I had to hop back to Slims for my own family a air and see that sweet lovin’ man of mine in Doltz. This is the 11th Hopscotch we’ve enjoyed together. And maybe I’m getting old, because it’s spending time with loved ones that I enjoyed most this year. Granted, those loved ones and I raged against the dawn and screamed at the top of our lungs for like 96 hours, so there’s still life in the ol’ girl yet. And life was good seeing Bad Brad join the rest of those dummies in ripping both the Slim’s stage on Thursday and the Landmark Hangover Show on Sunday.
Doltz was joined by Snide, Pyrex, and the Gobs on Thursday — those “queer little loathsome reverb soaked punk freaks from N.C.” in Snide keep getting sicker (and their bassist Dylan helped round out the ray of Honky Tonk sunshine that was Blue Cactus’s fullband City Plaza show on Friday). The Sunday show paired them with the rock’ n ‘roll sleaze of Miranda and the Beat and Asheville’s Designer. It was a damn delight.
Family a airs continued into Saturday at the Pour House, as yours truly hosted her very first day party, ever, with NCMA W-S. Maia Kamil and Victoria Victoria o ered a soft serenade start to the morning that o ered a
sweet preface to the latter half of the day that ended with Virginia rockers Shagwuf and Destructo Disk. In that sweet middle, I got to see strangers enjoy Kill the Buddha’s dreampop blues, RIBS’ tasty freak jazz noise, and the earnest garage-punk-adjacent Instant Regrets (who I’ve wanted at Hopscotch for more than a decade). It was a real privilege to include my favorite people in my favorite weekend of the year. And it ruled!
There was, of course, the rub of missing out — something that occurs (pretty frequently) at a festival that runs 14 hours of straight programming. I did get to catch a bit of Hunx and His Punx — Shannon Shaw’s sweet ass pillbox hat and lone black outfit in the contrast of white polka dots was sweet and poignant — and the band was superb.
However, running the day party kept me from attending The Great Coverup Documentary screening (currently streaming on PBS N.C.’s YouTube channel) and Q&A moderated by Nick Neptune (who’s also hooked on Harrison and Wentz’ fine Hawaiian Canned Pineapple). And the 15 years of Hopscotch retrospective panel, moderated by Fust’s Frank Meadows, with founders and organizers Grayson Haver Currin, Paul Siler, Nathan Price, and Greg Lowenhagen. That first Hopscotch sent a jolt of life into N.C. music — a charge of AC/DC current — both fueled and fired up by the fine freaks and fabulous musicians of this fine state.
As for me, I’m in the post-Hopscotch liminal space — feeling equally recharged from living my best professional life and completely depleted from
hopping, nonstop, for four days straight. I’ve been doing this for a long time now, and holy cow, y’all. I still love it. Happy Hopscotch. Until we meet again! !
KATEI CRANFORD is a Triad music nerd who enjoys spotlighting artists and events.
Katei Cranford
Doltz at Landmark
Lonnie Walker at Slims
Maia Kamil and Victoria Victoria at The Pour House
PHOTOS BY KATEI CRANFORD
Police videos of controversial tra c stop released
The Greensboro Police Department has released videos from a controversial tra c stop, including a compilation narrated by Chief John Thompson. The compilation does not o er a clear view of O cer Braden McDaniel, whom a dozen community organizers and two city council candidates have called to be fired. Several videos depict McDaniel threatening to shoot passengers in the stopped vehicle. That footage is not in the compilation,
nor is footage of another o cer attempting to de-escalate the conflict.
On May 13 at 11:38 p.m., o cers stopped a vehicle at Willow Road and Gate City Boulevard. The compilation states that shots were reported in the area and the car was driven erratically; there is no reference to this in the individual videos.
An o cer identifies the car as a “Nissan Maxima, blue in color,” and says, “No, it’s not the same one.” Emerging from his vehicle, he tells driver Damonta Glover, 24, that he was stopped for a broken headlight.
Court records show Glover with a concealed weapons charge from a December and May 12 tra c stop.
On video, Glover acknowledges this, remains calm, and complies when asked to step out of the car. Right front passenger
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Savon Johnson, 27, and right rear passenger A’mon Moore, 20, refuse to exit, questioning the legality of the stop. The situation escalates, but the compilation video does not show the escalation.
Details shown include the o cer who first approached the car praising Glover for his cooperation and attempting to explain to Moore and Johnson that the previous arrests of Glover give probable cause for a “safety frisk” of all three occupants. The compilation does not show his partner attempting to calm a noncompliant Moore and Johnson.
Other o cers arrive on the scene, but the editing concentrates on Glover’s compliance outside the car and Johnson and Moore’s noncompliance inside it.
After Moore and Johnson are dragged from the Nissan and cu ed facedown on the pavement, they are stood up and led to a waiting patrol car.
On the compilation video, Thompson states:
“It’s important to note here that reasonable suspicion of a crime and the suspected presence of a weapon allows an o cer to conduct a frisk without consent, and the o cer can legally instruct everyone to exit the vehicle.” He also states, “All o cers used physical restraint techniques to detain Johnson and Moore, who resisted by pushing and punching at o cers.”
Johnson and Moore cannot be discerned doing this in any of the videos. In bodycam video #2, a female o cer yells, “Do not hit me with the door!” while attempting to drag Moore from the backseat.
Moore and Johnson were taken to the Guilford County Jail, where Moore was charged with one count of carrying a concealed firearm, and he and Johnson
were charged with one count of resisting a public o cer and two counts of assault on a governmental o cial. The compliant Glover was not arrested, but cited for equipment malfunction and driving with a revoked license.
The videos do not depict o cers searching the car. According to GPD records, a Bear Creek Arsenal AR-15 pistol was found in Moore’s backpack, with a full magazine and a round in the chamber, as well as multiple other full magazines in the backpack and shell casings inside the vehicle.
In his narration, Thompson alleged that the AR-15 was “inserted in the backpack in a way in which the firearm was readily accessible to be fired from within the bag.” No o cers state this on the videos, nor is the discovery of the backpack depicted.
Thompson stated, “multiple balaclavastyle masks were located within the passenger compartment.” While the video includes a photo of the confiscated firearm, the masks are not shown. According to LaToyia Cruz-Rivas, who is Moore and Johnson’s mother and who told city council she witnessed their arrests, the masks were actually durags worn by the brothers to protect their dreadlocks. According to Thompson, an administrative review is in process to determine whether departmental policies and procedures were followed.
Unmentioned in Thompson’s narration is McDaniel, who reacted to Johnson and Moore’s resistance by drawing his firearm and shouting, “Reach for anything and I will f-cking shoot you!”
While McDaniel’s threat is audible on the compilation video, the editor has chosen footage from the other side of the vehicle, in which McDaniel cannot
Ian McDowell
Contributor
Complaint Glover at left while Johnson and Moore are restrained on pavement.
be seen, and his voice is mu ed by the shouts of the passengers and other o cers.
On bodycam videos 4 and 6 and dashcam video 1, the threat can be seen and heard, with his threat escalating the confrontation rather than resulting in compliance.
Along with obscuring the words and actions of McDaniel, the compilation video omits actions of an o cer who attempts to de-escalate the encounter by calmly telling Johnson and Moore, “let me talk,” until he is joined by another o cer, who reaches into the car. GPD has not identified the o cer attempting de-escalation.
At this point in the dashcam video, the two o cers physically interact, with their arms appearing linked for a moment, and an o cer’s hand visible on McDaniel’s chest. It is unclear whether McDaniel shoves the o cer aside or if the o cer attempts to pull McDaniel back and is shrugged o .
No statement by the police has referenced McDaniel at all, but more than 20 speakers at recent city council meetings have called for his firing. These include Rev. C. J. Brinson, District 2 candidate Cecile Crawford, and at-large candidate Irving Allen.
“The video of the o cers is pretty
damning,” said Brinson. “And the fact that city o cials, even the African American o cials, are trying to convince citizens that we didn’t witness what we all saw, is absolutely alarming in a city that calls itself progressive. Perhaps it is legal for an o cer to use a regulatory stop to fish around to create criminality to arrest vulnerable citizens. However, this tactic is grossly improper.”
Brinson is a leading organizer of FREE (Freedom, Resistance, Empowerment, Education) Guilford, which is calling for changes to the city’s tra c stop policies.
After viewing the compilation video in a closed Thursday council session,
Mayor Nancy Vaughan said nothing in it convinced her of the need for written consent for searches at tra c stops, adding, “It is my opinion that all of the o cers, including O cer McDaniel, were appropriate in their actions.”
She also stated, “This was not a regulatory tra c stop,” as the vehicle was stopped due to reports of shots fired in the vicinity and because it was driven erratically.
“The chief himself stated publicly that this was a regulatory stop,” said Brinson, referring to statements by Thompson and an o cer who said the impetus for the stop was the broken headlight. “She doesn’t get to backtrack.”
The videos can be viewed on the Greensboro Police Department’s YouTube page. The clearest view of McDaniel pointing his firearm is between 2:30 and 2:40 of Greensboro Police Department / May 13 2025, Tra c Stop / Body-Worn Camera 6. !
IAN MCDOWELL is an award-winning author and journalist whose book I Ain’t Resisting: the City of Greensboro and the Killing of Marcus Smith was published in September of 2023 by Scuppernong Editions.
McDaniel stands at left while unidentified o cer attempts deescalation at right.
McDaniel aims pistol at Johnson.
clemmons
VillagE SquarE
Tap HouSE
6000 Meadowbrook Mall Ct | 336.448.5330
www.facebook.com/vstaphouse
Sep 11: Dustin York
Sep 12: Jill goodson
Sep 13: Bad romeo
elKIn
rEEVES THEaTEr
129 W Main St | 336.258.8240
www.reevestheater.com
Wednesdays: reeves open Mic
Fourth Thursdays: old-Time Jam
Sep 13: Tray Wellington
Sep 19: The Wilder Blue
greensboro
Carolina THEaTrE
310 S. Greene Street | 336.333.2605
www.carolinatheatre.com
Sep 11: Bad Momz of Comedy
Sep 27: The Key West Band — Music for our Ears
CoMEDY ZonE
1126 S Holden Rd | 336.333.1034
www.thecomedyzone.com
Sep 12-13: The Magic of Eric Eaton
Sep 19-20: Cristina Mariani
FlaT iron
221 Summit Ave | 336.501.3967
www.flatirongso.com
Sep 10: pageant + Cinema Stereo
Sep 11: a night of Comedy & Music: Dave Hill w/ Bal
Sep 12: The ain’t Sisters
Sep 13: The Slys w/ William Hinson
Sep 16: ruth Wyand + The rough & Tumble
grapES & grainS
2001 Yanceyville St | 336.601.9292 www.grapesandgrainstavern.com
Sep 12: Matt reid & april Talbot
Sep 13: Danny Mull
Hangar 1819
1819 Spring Garden St | 336.579.6480 www.hangar1819.com
Sep 10: SkyDxddy w/ Demi the Daredevil
Sep 16: rio Da Yung og
piEDMonT Hall
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Sep 19: green queen Bingo
Sep 20: ole 60
STEVEn TangEr CEnTEr
300 N Elm Street | 336.333.6500 www.tangercenter.com
Sep 19: El adios De una grande
hIgh poInt
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118 E Main St | 336.207.1999 www.facebook.com/TheDeckJamestown/ Sep 12: retro Vinyl
Sep 13: alek ottaway Band
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Sep 13: alyssa & Wayne Brewer Sep 20: The Malpass Brothers
Sep 12: record Store Junkies
Sep 14: Band Elyzium Sep 18: lamp ft. russ lawton, Scott Metzger, ray paczkowski Sep 19: Harvey Street w/ The Band Solstice
Sep 11: adam Sandler
Sep 23: Bring Me The Horizon w/ Motionless in White & Special guests The plot in You & amira Elfeky
[SALOME’S STARS]
Week of Sept. 15, 2025
[ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Aspects favor new romances for unpaired Ewes and Rams. Already paired Arian twosomes might experience renewed harmony in their relationships. Money matters also take a bright turn.
[TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Use your strong Bovine determination to help you keep the faith with your convictions while you move through a period of uncertainty. Things begin to ease by the weekend.
[GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Pay attention to your intuition. It could be alerting you to be more careful about accepting a “statement of fact” that is simply based on trust. Don’t be shy about asking for more proof.
[CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Concern for the well-being of someone in need is admirable. But don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. Ask a family member, close friend or colleague to help you.
[LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s OK to focus on the demands of your career. But try to avoid misunderstandings by also reaching out to family and friends. Your sharp intuitive sense kicks in by midweek.
[VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Keep a rein on the green-eyed monster — jealousy is counterproductive. Instead of resenting a colleague’s good points, concentrate on developing your own abilities.
[LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Spending time on a creative project during this high-energy week can pay o — both in emotional satisfaction and in impressing someone
who is glad to see this side of you.
[SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Now is a good time to start planning a trip you’ve put o because of the demands on your time. Be sure to choose a destination that is new and exciting!
[SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) An upbeat mood during the first part of the week makes you eager to take on new ventures. A more serious note sets in later to help you assess an upcoming decision.
[CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A high energy level gives the Goat the get-up-and-go to finish outstanding tasks before deadlines, leaving time for well-earned fun and games with friends and family.
[AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Dealing with disappointment is never easy. But the wise Aquarian will use it as a vital lesson and be better for it. Meanwhile, a close friend has something important to say.
[PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Your best bet is not to get involved in an argument between colleagues until you know more about who started it and why. And even then, appearances could be deceiving. Be alert!
[BORN THIS WEEK: You have creative gifts that inspire those who get to see this sometimes-hidden side of you. You should let it out more often for the people who appreciate it.
