Omaha Police Launch Investigation After Terence Crawford Held at Gunpoint

The Omaha Police Department (OPD) has announced an internal affairs investigation following an incident involving undisputed super-middleweight champion Terence Crawford, who was pulled over by an officer early Sunday morning.

Crawford, 38, had returned to his hometown to lead a victory parade celebrating his September 13 win over Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas — a triumph that crowned him a three-weight undisputed world champion. Thousands turned out for the celebration in Omaha, which was hailed as a proud moment for the city.

However, the celebratory mood shifted in the early hours of Sunday — Crawford’s 38th birthday — when he was pulled over by an OPD officer around 1:30 a.m. and cited for reckless driving. According to reports, the officer allegedly spotted a firearm in the vehicle and ordered all four occupants, including Crawford, out of the car at gunpoint. OPD has since confirmed that all four individuals, including the boxer, were legally permitted to carry firearms.

Mayor, Police Chief Pledge Transparency

Omaha Mayor John Ewing addressed the situation in a public statement on Facebook Sunday evening, revealing that he had personally spoken with Crawford and expressed concern over the incident.

“My heart dropped in learning of this end to an otherwise wonderful day celebrating our city’s world boxing champion,” Ewing said. “We held a great parade and event at Heartland of America Park. Omaha needs to remember this important day as a good one — even as we seek answers to how it ended.”

The mayor emphasized the importance of trust between law enforcement and the community and confirmed that Police Chief Todd Schmaderer has ordered a full internal investigation.

“I support this investigation and want it to be full and thorough. We will gather all the facts and be transparent with the public about our findings,” Ewing stated.

Incident Footage and Reactions

Video of the traffic stop has circulated online, showing a tense exchange between Crawford and the officer. The boxer has yet to make a public comment, but his head of security, Qasim Shabazz, spoke to Nebraska’s First Alert 6, describing the incident as traumatic.

“That was a nightmare,” Shabazz said. “I’m a future husband, I just had a new child. To know I almost lost my life last night because we had a police officer who didn’t know how to articulate a traffic stop — it’s terrifying.”

The OPD has not released the officer’s identity or additional details surrounding the stop. The department said it will provide updates upon completion of the internal investigation.