Deadly Grapevine Police Shooting Video To Be Released Next Week
GRAPEVINE (CBS 11 NEWS) - Grapevine Police plan to release dash cam video of a police shooting next week and Hispanic activists call it a victory.
"That's a huge victory and let's let the chips fall where they may" says activist Carlos Quintanilla.
On Friday, February 20th, 31-year-old Ruben Garcia Villalpondo was shot and killed by a Grapevine police officer.
Until now, police have stated they would not allow the public to view the dash cam video because of the pending criminal investigation.
A press release sent out late this afternoon from Sgt. Robert Eberling, the Public Information Officer for the Grapevine Police department, states:
"We have learned that the Euless Police Department will reach a point in their investigation where they have completed interviewing witnesses related to the incident by the end of next week. With this in mind, the Grapevine Police Department anticipates the release of the in-car video from Officer Clark's patrol vehicle at that time."
Police say they have spoken to at least a dozen witnesses.
Family members are also urging police to release the dash cam video. About eight relatives of Garcia Villalpondo were allowed to view the dash cam video earlier this week.
They say it shows Garcia Villalpondo holding his hands up and getting out of the car. They say you hear the office shouting numerous expletives and commands. But those who have seen the video say the shooting occurred off camera.
"Just in reviewing the video, there was a failure to comply with commands" says Euless Police Lt. Eric Starnes at a press conference held today.
Garcia Villalpondo's funeral was held today. He leaves behind a wife and four children who range in age from one to ten years old.
Garcia Villalpondo's brother-in-law has seen the dash cam video.
"Police officers used unnecessary violence, and especially with the language that was going toward my brother-in-law" says Fernando Romero.
Romero says he is glad the video tape will now be viewed by the public.
"The officer made a very wrong decision. He could have taken different action than killing him" says Romero.
Lt. Starnes said today "the questions concerning the use of foul language on the video are accurate, however none of the language used has any racial undertones."
Dallas lawyer and activist Domingo Garcia said his office was already formulating a lawsuit demanding the dash cam video be made public. North Texas activist Carlos Quintanilla called for a boycott of Grapevine Mills Mall today but called off the boycott after police announced they would release the video next week.
The Dallas office of the Consul General of Mexico is also involved.
"For us it's a reason of concern to know that the victim was unarmed and with the hands up so that suggests it was an unnecessary use of force" says Octavio Tripp.
Tripp says the consulate is routinely notified about criminal incidents involving Mexican nationals but he was not informed until five days after the shooting when Garcia Villalpondo's family notified him.
Police say the dash cam video will be released sometime late next week.
Quintanilla says he still plans to organize a vigil at the Grapevine Police department next Tuesday.