Don't know the real facts so can't comment on that.

However, when I was 20 years old, near dusk, had my headlights on because back then cops loved pulling people that age over for any reason. Well I had a bulb out. Got pulled over. Had a half rack in back. Being a few months under age the lady cop, which was rare in those days, made me pour each beer out. Afterwards I asked "what should I do with the empties?" she said "take them with you" I asked "isn't it illegal to have empties in the car?" she said if I wanted to get smart with her she'll arrest me and hall me off to jail. OK OK I'll take the empties. A week later I read in the paper she had been placed on leave, eventually fired, for kicking a handcuffed prisoner in the nuts at the jail and he lost a testicle.

Moral of the story: don't piss off a cop because they can and sometimes do overreact and you may pay dearly.