'I didn’t even know my car was speeding' - Sha'Carri Richardson pleads with officer to “work with her” before arrest

The bodycam footage of Sha'Carri Richardson before her arrest has been released, showing her pleading with the officer not to take her into custody after being clocked at 104 mph on a Florida highway.

Richardson was arrested on Thursday after being accused of speeding. She was pulled over for driving at more than 100 mph and taken into custody under Florida’s recently introduced “super speeder” law.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the 25-year-old Olympic medallist was driving at 104 mph, dangerously tailgating and weaving across lanes to pass other vehicles. She was taken into custody and booked into the Orange County jail on a $500 bond.

After paying up the bond, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released the bodycam footage of the whole incident, showing her pleading with the officer to “work with her” before her arrest.

Richardson said, “I didn’t even know my car was speeding," and later on, "I didn't know I was speeding; it wasn't intentional."

Under a new Florida law enacted on July 1, driving 50 mph over the speed limit or at speeds exceeding 100 mph is a serious offense.

A first-time conviction can result in up to 30 days in jail or a $500 fine. A second offense carries a potential 90-day jail term or a $1,000 fine, and a second conviction within five years triggers a minimum 180-day license revocation.

It has been confirmed that Sha'Carri Richardson's boyfriend, Christian Coleman was also arrested during the incident with charges of resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to reports from TMZ, the situation unfolded after Richardson was pulled over for speeding by Orange County Police. Coleman, who was in a separate vehicle, reportedly stopped his black Jeep on the side of the road. He then exited his car and approached the officers, allegedly interfering with the traffic stop despite being told to return to his vehicle.

The arrest report states that Coleman was taken into custody for resisting an officer. A subsequent search of his vehicle uncovered a glass smoking device, which authorities claim contained cannabis. Recreational cannabis use is illegal in Florida, one of 26 U.S. states where it remains prohibited, and can lead to fines or criminal charges.

Coleman was later released after posting a $1,000 bond, with $500 allocated for each charge.