Royse City police officer fired over viral pool arrest video
Royse City fires officer seen in viral arrest video
Royse City Police fired an officer caught on viral video pulling a woman's hair during a community pool dispute. They also dropped charges against an 18-year-old but referred two others for prosecution.
ROYSE CITY, Texas - The Royse City Police Department has fired the police officer who was accused of using excessive force against a woman and her 18-year-old daughter following a disturbance at a public pool.
Royce City excessive force claim
What's new:
Royse City police said they have concluded an internal investigation into the incident that happened in the Creekside neighborhood on Aug. 3.
Officers were called to a community pool in the neighborhood because of an argument between a family and an older couple. Viral video of the incident shows a Royse City police officer throwing a woman to the ground by her hair.
As a result, the officer who was placed on administrative leave following the incident has been terminated. The department said he violated departmental standards, policies and procedures.
The 18-year-old who was arrested during the confrontation will not face charges, but two other people, including the 35-year-old woman who had her hair pulled, will be referred to the Collin County District Attorney’s Office for allegedly interfering with public duties and resisting arrest, as well as interfering with public duties and assault on a peace officer.
Family claims excessive force used during Royse City public pool arrests
Royse City Police have not released officer body camera footage from last week's public pool incident, but the family involved says the arresting officer failed to de-escalate the situation and used excessive force.
What we don't know:
Police did not release the name of the fired officer or the identity of the second woman being referred to the Collin County District Attorney's Office.
What they're saying:
"The Royse City Police Department will not condone misconduct by any member of the police department and will take appropriate action when misconduct occurs. The Police Department also believes that the referring of criminal charges against the suspects involved in this incident should send a clear message that interfering with a police officer or assaulting a police officer in the performance of his/her duty will not be tolerated. Those who choose to engage in such criminal behavior will be held accountable for their actions," the department said in a news release.
The other side:
The Next Generation Action Network said the firing of the officer is an important step, but continued to push for the Royse City Police Department to release body camera footage of the incident.
"From the beginning, we said this family deserved accountability, and today the department’s own investigation confirms that serious misconduct occurred. Terminating the officer is an important step, but it cannot be the final step. We are demanding the public release of the video, a fair and independent review of any proposed charges, and full accountability for everyone involved," Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network said.
Civil rights attorney Sean Daredia, who represents the 18-year-old seen in the video, wants the Collin County District Attorney's Office to look into criminal charges against the now-fired officer.
"This affected this community in such a harsh way," Daredia tells FOX 4's David Sentendrey.
Daredia viewed the officer's body camera footage, alongside his client and her family, and says the foficer's actions are worse than what we've seen in the viral video.
"It tells a completely different story," Daredia said. "It shows abuse that I can't even describe. It shows humiliation."
Sean Daredia
What's next:
Royse City PD is still reviewing whether the officer who was fired will face criminal charges.
The Source: The information in this story comes from a Royse City Police Department's news release and past news coverage.