Judge agrees to release video in crash that led to dismissed cases, NC troopers investigation

ByJamiese Price

Friday, May 16, 2025

Judge agrees to release dash cam footage in deadly Raleigh crash case

Two state troopers are accused of lying about the events leading up to the single-car crash in October 2024.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A North Carolina judge agreed Friday morning to release law enforcement videos related to a deadly crash that happened in the fall of 2024 in Raleigh.

Judge Thomas Currin said it was in the best interest of the public and the credibility of law enforcement that recordings be released in the deadly crash of 31-year-old Tyrone Mason.

The release includes recordings of all law enforcement officers who encountered Mason on October 7th, 2024, beginning at 2:30 am, the day and time of the crash.

"If a picture is worth a thousand words, recorded video and audio have even greater worth in the realm of transparency and accountability. All of this transpired in public, and there is no expectation of privacy in this conversation," said Attorney Mike Tadych, who represented the group of media companies that petitioned the release of the recordings.

"There is a compelling public interest in seeing what happened and assessing what happened. The public does not expect infallibility in public officials, but they have a hard time understanding what happened if they can't see it," he continued

Attorney Joseph Vellon who represented the North Carolina Highway Patrol objected to the release of the video due to the ongoing SBI investigation and current internal investigation.

"When we talk about footage that captures the circumstances of potential offenses, potential misconduct, releasing that into the public could indirectly impact and apply pressure to decision makers in different types of proceedings," Vellon explained to the judge.

Vellon asked for a delay in the release. It wasn't in opposition to release at all. "That would allow the investigations and any possible follow-on actions from them, any possible criminal charges or personnel actions by the agency be allowed to to run their normal course before footage like this is released."

Raleigh Police Department, whose officers responded to the crash, consented to the release of the video, citing their department's task with investigating the crash.

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman didn't object to the release of the video. Her office has already dismissed nearly 200 pending cases involving Marcario and his supervisor due to credibility issues.

Judge Currin ended the hearing, ruling that the video and other recordings should be made public.

"I do find that the release of these videos is necessary to advance a compelling public interest, namely, confidence in law enforcement. Furthermore, the public has a compelling right to know why the Wake County D.A. had to dismiss 180-plus cases as a result of these officers. I do find that there is good cause to release the videos," Currin explained.

Mason's family attorneys released a statement following Judge Currin's ruling, vowing to fight for justice.

"Today's decision was an important step forward for Tyrone Mason's family and the people of North Carolina. But we're not done yet and we will continue to fight for justice every step of the way."

Case Background

On Oct. 7, 2024, Raleigh police initially reported that a driver (Tyrone Mason) was speeding along Capital Boulevard and lost control.

Search warrants obtained by ABC11 News revealed that District Attorney Lorrin Freeman and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation into the traffic accident.

Investigators say state trooper Garret Macario attempted to stop Mason before the crash. According to documents, Macario's body cam at 2:32 a.m. showed him making a phone call to his supervisor, Sgt. Matthew Morrison. Morrison allegedly asked whether Macario had called in a vehicle chase over the radio, to which Macario said no.

North Carolina State Troopers Garrett Macario (left) and Matthew Morrison are on administrative leave.

Morrison then reportedly told Macario that the traffic accident was the Raleigh Police Department's problem and advised him not to disclose that he had attempted to stop Mason before the crash.

When Raleigh officers arrived, investigators allege that Macario was asked if he had tried to pull Mason over before the accident. Macario allegedly denied it and claimed he came upon the wreck and saw smoke and debris coming from the vehicle.