Actions

Routine traffic stop turns into teachable moment

Posted at 4:18 PM, May 18, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-18 23:39:33-04

Most of us have felt the anxiety when we're pulled over by police, but a traffic stop took on another meaning for one man from Boston.

22-year-old Anthony Newberry has Asperger syndrome. He has difficulty expressing himself through words, and a has sensory issues, so when he was pulled over by New York State Trooper David Morgan, he froze. 

"I started sweating and stammering a bit," he said.

It was just another traffic stop for Trooper Morgan on Boston State Road in early April.

"He was quiet and reserved. He was polite and he just had a blank stare," he said of Anthony.

"It's not easy for me to explain, especially in situations like that," said Anthony.

When Trooper Morgan asked Newberry about his handicap window sticker, Anthony says he had trouble explaining why he needs it.

"Because of my Aspergers, I wasn't really sure what to say. I called my mom."

Officer Morgan then came back and cited Anthony with a ticket...sending him on his way. 

"After I got done giving him a ticket, I saw an American flag laying on the ground at a nearby home," said the Trooper. "I went and picked it up and noticed Anthony was still there."

That's when Anthony's mom, Deanna Newberry stepped in, telling Trooper Morgan about Anthony's condition.

"He's like 'that makes sense!' I wish he would have told me from the beginning," Newberry said.

The stop turned into a teachable moment for Anthony.

"He said let's go talk to Anthony and see if we can teach him what to do," Deanna said. "I was completely floored because in my 22 years of raising four children on the spectrum, no one has ever taken the time to do that," she said.

Deanna took to social media to express her gratitude. The post, has thousands of shares.

"He was absolutely incredible," she said. 

The Newberry's say Trooper Morgan is their hero, but Trooper Morgan stays humble.

"I was polite to him and he gave me the same respect back," Trooper Morgan said.

Take WKBW Everywhere, on all your devices.  Download below!

Phone or Tablet: Apple, Android
Set-top Device: Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Alexa

Personalize your news, get the latest 7 First Alert Forecast, and watch 7 Eyewitness News video wherever, whenever.

Learn more here about what 7 Eyewitness News provides on all these devices.

▼Related Headlines (0)