For a moment, he looked between Ethan and Michael, trying to understand the situation.
MARCUS HILL: "All right. Everyone needs to remain calm. We need to document the scene and establish the facts."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "Marcus, you know me. This man is trying to turn a straightforward arrest into something it isn't."
MARCUS HILL: "I haven't decided what happened."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "I found the bag on him."
ETHAN WALKER: "I dispute that account. I saw him place it in my jacket."
Michael turned sharply.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "That's a lie!"
Marcus raised one hand.
MARCUS HILL: "One at a time. We'll record both accounts."
Daniel Price moved toward the SUV, looking at the bag resting on its hood.
DANIEL PRICE: "Is this the item in question?"
ETHAN WALKER: "Yes. Officer Hayes placed it there after I asked him to stop handling it."
Michael immediately objected.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "I placed it there because I was preserving the evidence."
MARCUS HILL: "Then we need to document its current location and arrange for proper handling."
Michael looked increasingly uncomfortable.
The arrival of other officers had not restored his control. Instead, it had introduced independent witnesses to the scene and made it more difficult for him to dictate what happened next.
Marcus instructed everyone to maintain distance from the bag while its position was documented. The officers began recording the basic details of the incident, including the location of the SUV and the identities of those involved.
Ethan provided a concise account.
He explained that Michael had approached him without identifying a specific reason for suspicion, questioned him, and then placed the bag into his jacket. He described the officer's immediate claim to have discovered the substance and the physical confrontation that followed.
He did not claim that his position made his account automatically correct.
He answered questions about his own actions, including the punches and defensive movements during the fight.
ETHAN WALKER: "Officer Hayes struck me first. I blocked his attack and defended myself when he continued. I did not initiate the confrontation."
Michael shook his head.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "That's not what happened."
MARCUS HILL: "You'll have the opportunity to provide your full account. For now, we need to establish the sequence of events."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You're taking his side."
MARCUS HILL: "I'm not taking anyone's side. I'm making sure the incident is handled properly."
Michael stared at Marcus, searching for a sign that his colleague might privately accept his version.
But Marcus remained focused on the procedure.
He knew Michael professionally, but familiarity was not proof that Michael was telling the truth. The same principle applied to Ethan. An official credential was relevant to identifying him, but it did not eliminate the need to examine his account.
The allegation was serious enough that the scene required careful handling.
The small plastic bag was documented and secured according to the appropriate procedures. The officers recorded the circumstances under which it had been found and the fact that its placement was disputed.
They also documented the physical confrontation and the condition of both men.
Michael was instructed to remain available while the matter was referred to the appropriate supervisory authorities.
He objected repeatedly.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "This is unnecessary. We could settle this right now."
MARCUS HILL: "We cannot settle an allegation like this by ignoring it."
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "He's an Internal Affairs investigator. Of course he's going to make it a big deal."
ETHAN WALKER: "The allegation would require examination regardless of my position."
Marcus nodded slightly.
MARCUS HILL: "That's correct. The same process applies whether the complainant is a civilian, an employee, or an investigator."
Michael fell silent.
The statement was simple, but it removed the last convenient excuse he had been using.
This was not a dispute that could be dismissed because Ethan worked in Internal Affairs.
It was not a personal disagreement that could be settled through a private conversation.
It was an allegation of misconduct that had to be examined on its merits.
As the responding officers continued documenting the scene, Michael stood near his patrol vehicle, his hands resting at his sides.
He looked toward Ethan.
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You could have avoided all of this."
Ethan regarded him carefully.
ETHAN WALKER: "How?"
OFFICER MICHAEL HAYES: "You could have cooperated."