Police Brutality: Cop Suspended After Assaulting, Pointing Gun at Black Teenagers
A video showing a police officer in McKinney, Texas body-slamming a 14-year-old girl, pointing his gun at teenagers, and screaming threats at onlookers has gone viral after the incident occurred last Saturday. In response, the officer has been placed on administrative leave while internal investigations looks into the matter and a police abuse law firm is on the case.
What Happened In Texas?
A disturbance call was made near a public pool in a residential area on the afternoon of Saturday, June 6th. At the time, a pool party was being held to celebrate the graduating class of a local high school. Reportedly, a confrontation had broken out after a white resident had told the black, teenaged party-goers that they should get used to the bars lining the windows around the public pool because their futures would all be behind similar bars. According to the party host, she also instructed them to “go back to their Section 8 [Public] Housing”
Brandon Brooks, who shot the video of the police brutality told Huffington Post, “I think a bunch of white parents were angry that a bunch of black kids who don’t live in the neighborhood were in the pool.”
The video starts with police arriving and running toward the location of the disturbance. One officer stands out as he trips over the sidewalk, falling to the ground.
Seemingly agitated by his own embarrassment, this officer then engages with a 14-year-old girl in a bikini, ultimately grabbing her and throwing her to the ground. At this point, two young men confront the officer, asking him to let her go and mentioning the term “police brutality.” The officer jerks his gun free and chases after the two young men until his fellow officers restrain him. In a rage, he grabs the teenage girl by her arm, throws her onto the ground again. He then sits on top of her, handcuffing her and screaming instructions to “get on your face.”
All the while, the 14-year-old victim is crying for her mother while bystanders shout and attempt to appeal to the police officer to stop. News sources agree that it is clear that the girl in the bikini was posing no imminent threat and did not require man-handling or restraint.
Dozens of teenagers were handcuffed at the time of the incident and passersby with no involvement in the disturbance were screamed at and threatened, as is shown on the video.
This video has raised further ire over an ever-present trend of racial profiling and police abuse in the United States.
What Can A Lawyer Do To Help In This Situation?
The Law Offices of Michael S Lamonsoff has been involved in some of the highest profile police discrimination and misconduct cases in New York City. We have over 20 years of experience representing the victims of civil rights violations, particularly at the hands of police.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of police misconduct or police brutality, give us a call at (212) 962-1020. We’ll put you in contact with one of our experienced police misconduct attorneys who can give you a personal consultation about your case and the options you have for the future.