UPDATE: Mayor backs police work as Region police department investigates online video of its officers

MICHIGAN CITY — A video of local police officers during a traffic stop has gained the attention of not just the public, but the department as well. The city's mayor on Thursday defended the actions of the officers involved.

Michigan City police issued a statement late Wednesday night saying it is aware of the video posted to YouTube and other social media platforms.

"We are currently looking into the matter and are committed to addressing the situation with transparency and professionalism," the department said.

No details were given about the nature of the video in question and no one at the department was immediately available early Thursday for comment.

A video posted to YouTube early Wednesday evening, which attracted nearly 140,000 views and more than 3,800 comments by Thursday afternoon, allegedly depicts a traffic stop by Michigan City police officers.

The video says the stop took place in the summer of 2024, but Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said the video in question is from February 2024.

The video is one of 1,600 appearing on the YouTube channel claiming to hold public officials accountable, with a goal to "Expose corruption, and weed out the liars hiding behind a badge." The channel has 1.45 million subscribers.

An officer says in the video the driver was stopped both for running a stop sign and for partially obscuring the license plate on his vehicle. A second officer then shows up with a drug sniffing dog, and a third, who refused to identify himself, tells the driver, "This can go one of two ways."

Police search the vehicle and the driver, who repeatedly challenged the officers and their commands, and wound up in handcuffs. Nearly 30 minutes after the stop, the man is released.

"As this is a personnel matter, we are unable to provide any further comment until a thorough review has been completed," according to the department. "We appreciate your understanding."

In a statement, Deuitch said while she stands behind the actions of the officers depicted in the video, she recognizes

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