'Where I'm from, we shoot police': Shocking moment University of Tennessee linebacker trash talks cops during his arrest on a bench warrant

  • University of Tennessee PD video of Jeremy Banks, 20, was released this week
  • Banks was arrested on September 15 after being pulled over for an illegal U-turn
  • Cops found he had bench warrant on charge of driving on suspended license
  • Video shows Banks telling female police intern: 'Where I'm from, we shoot police'
  • Banks issues apology saying: 'I deeply regret my language and attitude'

A University of Tennessee linebacker's shocking remarks to police have been revealed in patrol car video of his arrest.

Jeremy Banks, 20 was arrested in Knoxville on September 15, after campus police pulled him over for an illegal U-turn and found he had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license.

The nearly hour-long video shows Banks making crude remarks to a young civilian woman who was on a ride-along with police. 

'Ma'am, I don't think you want to be an intern, because where I'm from, we shoot at cops. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee,' he said. 

Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA football game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia State Panthers in August

Jeremy Banks #33 of the Tennessee Volunteers during the NCAA football game between the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Georgia State Panthers in August

Banks, 20, was arrested in Knoxville on September 15, after campus police pulled him over for an illegal U-turn and found he had an outstanding warrant

Banks, 20, was arrested in Knoxville on September 15, after campus police pulled him over for an illegal U-turn and found he had an outstanding warrant

'I should've ran, test y'all's speed,' Banks said later in the video. 

'Y'all would've never catch me. That's what I should've did. Next time, I am, I promise you. Never again y'all boys will take me to jail. Not UT police.' 

Later, he asks the female civilian to follow him on Instagram, and asks for her contact information. 

'Y'all probably not allowed to step foot in the football facility,' Banks brags at another point. 'I'ma make sure that. Coach Pruitt gonna make sure that. Sucker!' 

'Y'all country a** folk,' he goes on. 

After arriving for booking, Banks tries to clarify his earlier remarks.

'Your intern up here, I don't like her no more because she just tried to put words in my mouth. Talking 'bout I'm gonna shoot you — you known d**m well that didn't come out my mouth. Lowdown, miss blondie. Miss blonde hair lady.'

'Ma'am, I don't think you want to be an intern, because where I'm from, we shoot at cops. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee,' Banks said to a civilian riding with the police

'Ma'am, I don't think you want to be an intern, because where I'm from, we shoot at cops. I'm from Memphis, Tennessee,' Banks said to a civilian riding with the police

'Y'all would've never catch me. That's what I should've did. Next time, I am, I promise you. Never again y'all boys will take me to jail. Not UT police,' he said

'Y'all would've never catch me. That's what I should've did. Next time, I am, I promise you. Never again y'all boys will take me to jail. Not UT police,' he said

'Look at me so I can look at you in the eye. Your hair all over your head. I got a hairstylist that'll do your hair for free, 'cos I'm Jeremy Banks,' he went on.

The full video was obtained and posted by WBIR-TV

Banks was booked and released on $500 bond. A UT spokesman said in a statement the day after Banks' arrest that Banks resolved the traffic citation following his arrest. 

Banks apologized in a statement released on Tuesday by UT to the Knoxville News Sentinel, after the video was made public. 

 'I want to sincerely apologize to my family, the University of Tennessee and the law enforcement community,' Banks said. 

'I deeply regret my language and attitude in the video. I have great respect for our police men and women, and I am embarrassed by my actions that night. That's not who I am. I promise to be a better representative for the University of Tennessee moving forward,' he went on.

Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt addressed Banks' behavior Tuesday in a statement also released by UT.

Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt denied that he was trying to lobby for special treatment in a phone call with the cop that arrested Banks

Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt denied that he was trying to lobby for special treatment in a phone call with the cop that arrested Banks

Banks has remained on the University of Tennessee football roster since his arrest

Banks has remained on the University of Tennessee football roster since his arrest

'Jeremy's behavior and comments are unacceptable and portrayed himself and our football program very poorly and he understands that,' Pruitt said 'We will address the matter internally.

'I'm determined to do what I can to help Jeremy grow up and become a better man. Our team and staff respect our law enforcement and we will continue to educate our players on how to carry themselves at all times.'

Officers allowed Banks to call Pruitt twice during his arrest, and at one point the linebacker handed the phone to the officer, video shows.

The video shows that Pruitt told the officer he 'thought (Banks) had paid the ticket' and asked the officer, 'Why do you have to arrest him? Just because he has a warrant?'

The officer explained he was legally obligated to arrest Banks because of the warrant.

'This is the silliest s**t I've ever seen in my life,' Pruitt said during the phone conversation, concluding by saying, 'Go ahead. Do your civic duty, man.'

On Wednesday, Pruitt denied that he was trying to lobby for special treatment during the call.