HOUSTON — A viral video of a Houston police officer doing “donuts” in the snow has sparked controversy, with the man who posted it alleging retaliation from the Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU).

Hamon Brown, the man behind the viral clip, expressed concern for his safety at a press conference on Monday, stating, “Just leave me alone, I don’t want no problems … y’all are really getting me scared, cause I ain’t did nothing, I ain’t did nothing wrong, y’all were in the wrong.”

The backlash Brown refers to centers on a series of posts made by the HPOU on its Facebook page. After the video gained widespread attention, the union shared several posts referencing Brown, including one that displayed an alleged video of him driving recklessly, an image of his criminal record, and a photo of his taped windshield captioned, “We’re looking for someone who can help Hamon Brown get his broken windshield repaired. He didn’t get any CrimeStoppers money for snitching, so we need a good sponsor that can hook him up.”

The posts sparked outrage among community members and activists, with some viewing the union’s actions as retaliatory. Community activist Quanell X came to Brown’s defense during the press conference, condemning the union’s behavior.

“They made a mockery of this man, saying he didn’t get any Crime Stoppers money. They referred to this young man in their post as a snitch,” said Quanell X. “We want you all to stop that retaliation and let the leaders of this city make it clear … you are safe reporting police misconduct.”

In response, HPOU President Douglas Griffith told KHOU 11 that the posts were not meant to be malicious.

“It wasn’t to draw any negative attention to this gentleman,” Griffith said. “We always try to put a little levity to whatever it is we talk about. So we played a little cat and mouse, back and forth with him.”

Griffith emphasized that the union’s Facebook page is intended to foster community engagement in a lighthearted way, while also encouraging individuals to report officer misconduct. “He [Brown] took it very personal, and it’s not personal. We tell anyone, if you see an officer doing something wrong, report it,” Griffith added.

The controversy comes as the Houston Police Department investigates several incidents involving officers seen driving in the snow.

In a Jan. 23 statement, the department said, “The Houston Police Department is aware of two videos circulating on social media showing marked patrol units driving in the snow in parking lots. We take this matter seriously and are currently reviewing the incidents. Once additional facts are gathered, appropriate steps will be taken to address the situation internally.” As of Monday, none of the officers in Brown’s video or similar videos have been publicly identified.

Meanwhile, Brown remains steadfast in his plea for the union to stop what he perceives as retaliation.