OHIO — Four years ago this week, Philando Castile, 32, was shot and killed by a Minnesota police officer during a traffic stop.


What You Need To Know


  • Philando Castile, 32, died during a traffic stop four years ago this week

  • Mother Jackie Carter invented a plastic pouch that holds a license, insurance card, and registration

  • Roughly 10,000 'Not Reaching' pouches have been distributed

The current social unrest is reigniting the conversation surrounding the need to bridge the gap between communities and police.

A mother-turned-activist is working on ways to prevent future tragedy.

July 6, 2016 is a date burned into Jackie Carter’s mind. It marked her son’s 30th birthday and Philando Castile’s last day of life.

Although Carter never met Castile, his death resonated with her.

“That was the, you know, the beginning of Not Reaching because I actually felt, I felt like Philando was my son that day and the connections that began to happen to me were almost like a divine connection And we knew we needed to do something,” she said.

Since then, Philando’s mother Valerie Castile, became an advocate alongside Carter and her husband, Wayne. It’s a friendship that bloomed in a shared desired for justice.

“She's just a wonderful woman, and we never would have known each other if it wasn't for this tragedy,” said Carter.

The concept is simple: They created what's called the "Not Reaching" pouch in an effort to keep both drivers and officers safe during traffic stops while also eliminating any potential fear.

It’s a plastic pouch that holds your license, insurance card, and registration — all secured by a magnet clipped in to driver’s side air vent.

Carter is a former court reporter now living in Washington D.C., and the invention’s name and purpose came out of conversations with police.

“What is it that makes you so nervous? And they all say reaching, movement. And I was like, well, this is a no brainer — I’m going to call it ‘Not Reaching.’ Not knowing that when I met Valerie, I went back and printed the transcript of the traffic stop and Philando’s last words were ‘I wasn't reaching,'” said Carter.

Carter calls our current social climate the perfect storm. She considers the "Not Reaching" pouch a solution, but not the solution to some of the issues Black Lives Matter is fighting for. She believes progress is slow, but possible.

“I just think now we're at a point where more people are woke, and aware, and it's a great time to, let's get solutions out there. But I still caution, a lot of it (is) we keep talking about the problem. And as long as we keep saying the problem, we're not going in the direction of solutions,” she said.

Carter is confident these pouches have saved lives. Valerie Castile has been quoted saying she believes her son may still be alive had the device existed.

“I still cannot believe she said that. That's a big declaration for someone who is in her position that she sees the value of it. She understands why I created it,” said Carter.

Carter credits customers for the product’s development to now include other information that alerts officers that a driver is deaf or autistic for example.

Over the years, roughly 10,000 have been sold nationwide and can be purchased for $9.99 online.

Carter’s short-term goal is to partner with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles so that every driver is given a pouch and a lesson on how to respond when pulled over.

“The long-term goal is that Not Reaching, when I go to the African American Museum, will be a relic. And people are saying, ‘Oh, I remember that,’ because we don't need it anymore. The goal is to go out of business because we shouldn't need it,” said Carter.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to Cleveland Police and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and both said they had not heard of this program and therefore would not give a comment.​