Hurst Police Officer Suspended Indefinitely For Taped Outburst
HURST (CBSDFW.COM) - A Hurst Police officer has been suspended indefinitely after an investigation determined that the officer violated department rules in an outburst caught on tape.
The internal affairs investigation concluded that the officer, Disraeli Arnold, "was disrespectful to a citizen, used indecent, profane, and harsh language in the performance of his official duties, and conducted himself in a manner which brought discredit to himself and the Hurst Police Department," according to a release by the City of Hurst.
It did, however, state that the amount of force used by Arnold "was reasonable based upon his perception when he arrived to assist Officer Jimenez."
According to Assistant Police Chief Steve Niekamp, the suspension is the equivalent of a termination from the police department.
"The reason we did it is, just his actions, we felt were a discredit on the police department and the profession," said Niekamp to KRLD.
On Nov. 20, 2012, Officer Arnold came to the aid of a fellow officer who was struggling with 17-year-old Andrew Rodriguez. The teenage suspect was told he was going to jail for an outstanding warrant, when he began to call his mother.
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According to Police Chief Steve Moore, Rodriguez started to walk away and ignore the officer, Officer Miguel Jimenez, who called for backup for resisting arrest.
The cell phone video, taken by 17-year-old Jordan Rojas, appears to show the late-arriving Officer Arnold tackling the teenager, who was already on the ground. The tape also shows Arnold repeatedly cursing at the teen, and asking him at least three times if he wanted to die.
Rodriguez's mother, Kelly Pope, told CBS 11 News that the warrant was from a ticket her son had received four years ago for trespassing on school property after hours.
Arnold has received mostly positive reviews for his work for the department, referred to by superiors as a "team player" interested in being promoted to supervisor. City employees wrote letters commending him for his patience dealing with an upset couple, and for his concern over a subject's ongoing panhandling and drinking.
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