Brennan rose to object to the phrasing, and the judge reminded James that the recording would speak for itself when admitted. James thanked her and moved on. He asked about the window tint, the registration, the duration of restraint, and the officer's phone call while Maya remained on the ground. Each answer sounded less certain than the one before it.
"Was Ms. Richardson still restrained when you discussed dinner plans?" James asked.
Callahan stared at him. "I don't see how that matters."
"It's a factual question. Was she restrained?"
"Yes."
"Were you concerned at that moment that she posed an immediate threat?"
"We maintain situational awareness throughout an encounter."
"Were you concerned enough to interrupt the call?"
Silence. Finally, Callahan said, "No."
James let the jurors absorb the answer before continuing. He asked whether any weapon had been found, whether Maya had attempted to strike him, and whether any charge had been filed. The answers were no, no, and no. Then he turned to the officer's claim that race had played no role.
"In the forty-seven incidents we discussed, do you know how many people identified in the records were Black or Hispanic?"
"No."
"Forty-three. Does that surprise you?"
"I respond to behavior, not race."
"Then the records should allow us to examine the behavior involved in each case. You'd agree with that?"