Sola Arikawe ignores police while walking on I-24 East, tells officers “Jesus told him to keep walking”

45-year-old Sola Arikawe was spotted walking on I-24 East at marker 49 on July 21st. Officers were called to the scene after reports of a black man walking on the left shoulder of the interstate. When officers arrived, they noticed that a TDOT help truck had stopped traffic on the interstate and alerted the officers. The officers turned on their emergency lights and used their patrol car sound system to instruct Arikawe to stop, but he continued walking. More officers arrived, with one car behind Arikawe and another in front. The officers behind Arikawe exited their vehicle and told him to stop, which he then complied with. Officers tried to get Arikawe to move to the right shoulder grass area for safety. Still, he refused, saying, “Jesus told him to keep walking.” As a result, Arikawe was taken into custody for refusing to disperse after being ordered to move.