The footage shows the officers entering a McDonald's after receiving a 911 call alerting them of a customer whose appearance matched that of the suspect.
In the recording, the police officers approach Mangione and ask him to lower his mask for identification. After a brief conversation, the officers proceed to interrogate him and request his identification. During the arrest, the police searched Mangione's backpack and found a weapon charger, an item that led investigators to directly link him to Thompson's homicide.
Currently, Mangione is fighting in court to prevent this evidence from being used in his case. His defense argues that the backpack search was illegal, as the officers did not have a warrant. The still image released from the video shows Mangione talking to Officer Joseph Detwiler during the police intervention on December 9, 2024. This video has become a key piece in the judicial process.