A Chicago woman who posts on TikTok as @yareliloveee said a police officer followed her all the way to her house and, when she asked why, answered that he could do so. She described the encounter in a story-time video that she said people had been asking her to post. That TikTok video had gained 63,300 views. In the caption, she wrote, “Yes. I filed a complaint..” She said the incident happened two days earlier on a Saturday night as she drove home after spending time with friends. She said she was about four or five minutes from her house, driving normally, not speeding, and “literally not doing s–t, just minding my f–king business.” In an earlier TikTok video that reached about 2 million views, she filmed a nighttime confrontation in a residential driveway. On-screen text in that video read, “POV: A du—ss cop follows you home unprovoked with no reason of cause.” A black police SUV marked “ELMWOOD POLICE,” with an Illinois license plate, sat in the driveway with its headlights on. A male officer stood by the open driver’s side door. Officer answers questions about the follow with “because I can” She said she was heading straight when she saw a cop car coming the other way. She said she stays aware while driving and watches her mirrors because of past experiences. She said the officer appeared to see her through her windshield and made a U-turn. @yareliloveee Weird ass goofy… #fyp #chicago #elmwoodpark #weirdcops ♬ original sound – Yarelilove She said another car was behind her, and she first thought the officer might follow that vehicle. She said that the car turned, and the officer then got “right in back of my a–.” She said she was then about two minutes from home and kept driving normally. She said everything in her car was legitimate and under her name, and she saw no reason for the follow. She said she turned left and the officer turned left. She said she turned right into an alley, and he did the same. She said she realized he was going to follow her to her parking spot, which she said he did. She said she got out of her car and asked why he was following her. She said he “got the nerve to tell me I could do whatever the f–k I want to do.” In the driveway video, she repeatedly asked, “Why are you following me?” and “What was the reason?” The officer replied, “Because I can,” and “I just told you.” The officer’s claim that he needed no reason is part of a broader pattern of men following women home, as in a case where a man followed a woman after one date. “All he was saying was because he could. All he was saying was because he can, because he can, because he can,” she said. She accused him of “abusing your power” and called him “weird” several times. She asked, “Why are you in my f–king backyard?” The officer again replied, “Because I can.” She said she asked for a valid reason. The officer stated, “I don’t have to have a reason.” She told him, “Shut up, goo—s,” called him “a f–king goofy,” and said, “Please get the f–k out my face.” In the later story-time video, she said viewers told her she should have asked for a badge number. She said he was not going to give it and that he did not identify himself when she asked, “Who are you?” She said, “You see how he was going back and forth with me?” She also addressed people who said she should not have argued with him. She asked what they would do if they were followed to the back of their house and said she would not “just gonna go run into your house like a p—-.” @yareliloveee Yes. I filed a complaint.. #fyp ♬ Saxophones getting louder – Sped Up – AntonioVivald According to federal law by the U.S. Department of Justice, it is a crime for a person acting under color of law to willfully deprive someone of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. The DOJ also enforces a civil provision covering a pattern or practice of conduct by state or local officers that deprives people of those rights. The agency says people can report alleged criminal civil rights violations to the FBI or a U.S. Attorney’s Office and submit civil complaints through civilrights.justice.gov. Viewers offered advice in the comments. One person urged her to go to the police station and report him. They wrote, “Go to the police station and report him. You have the evidence. Tell them you don’t feel safe anymore and if they don’t suspend him, you will report him to their insurance. They hate when you go directly to their insurance.” Another commenter told her to stay safe and pointed to Flock cameras. They wrote, “Girl please be safe. Bc of all these flock camera there’s already reports of other cops stalking women easily and pulling them over. Assume this man knows who you are, where you are, and who you’re with.” One viewer wrote, “He was up to something sinister.” Another wrote, “Get a restraining order.” The process of filing a police complaint can be complicated, as when a New Jersey woman walked into a police station to file a complaint, it took 30 minutes and three officers just to find the form. A further commenter advised against driving home if followed. They wrote, “Next time you think you’re being followed, by anyone! Especially police, do NOT drive to your home! Drive to the nearest police station or hospital or grocery store & go in and tell someone you’re being followed! More people around and those who know help your chances 98% of the time. Stay vigilant ladies!!!”