"The people who were actually involved know the truth," he said. "Nobody made a complaint, because there was nothing to complain about."

Although no one filed a formal complaint against the officers, the department had what Dotson described as "an obligation" to piece together what happened.

People in the crowd Monday at Police Headquarters told the Post-Dispatch the traffic stop occurred about 8 p.m. Sunday. Based on that, the department could find no record of it. Later, officials determined the stop was about three hours earlier — and recorded from a patrol vehicle. Investigators continued to seek surveillance video from nearby businesses and witness statements.

The dash cam video shows small talk between two officers and a family on their way to church. Police made casual conversation with the driver, a man, 19, about the college he attends and gave him verbal warnings about the license violation and driving with a child not properly restrained, Dotson said.

Investigators met with the family Wednesday to discuss the video. Dotson said during the press conference that the family denied having made the allegations and blamed those on social media for making the incorrect characterizations.