Cop Under Investigation After Allegedly Manhandling Teen
MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - McKinney Patrol Supervisor Cpl. Eric Casebolt is on leave and an investigation is underway following CBS 11 viewer-submitted footage showing the officer using harsh language and aggressively confronting teenagers at the Craig Ranch North Community Pool in McKinney.
**This page was part of our Sunday coverage of a developing story***
8pm: Mothers Against Police Brutality are asking that officer be fired from the McKinney Police Department for assaulting teens. In a press release, the group expanded their focus, alleging, "McKinney has a history of discrimination against and conflict with African Americans. Even today, the mayor and city council are all white (and all male). Two of the six council seats are still elected "at-large" - a method historically used to dilute Black and Latino voting strength."
8pm: The ACLU of Texas released a statement, "While we don't know all the facts about the party, the crowd, or whether a fight broke out, what we do know is that the police response, as seen on the video, appears to be a textbook case of overuse of force. A well-trained police department would have responded more cautiously, with less hostility, and using sophisticated crowd control methods that favor de-escalation not escalation. Without question, guns were not needed and in fact risked turning a group of partying teenagers into a violent encounter that could have turned deadly."
7:30pm: More is being uncovered about the "pool party" cop. According to his LinkedIn profile, which has been pulled since Sunday, Patrol Supervisor Cpl. Eric Casebolt has worked for the McKinney Police Department since August 2005. He was named "Officer of the Year" in 2008. Casebolt also served in the Navy from 1993 through 2003, where he was based in San Diego, California. He later went onto becoming a police officer in Oklahoma City. MORE >
6pm: Fallout over the controversial McKinney "pool party" footage is really starting to ripple... A civil rights advocacy group is holding a press conference Monday; the Next Generation Action Network will hold the conference at noon where some parents of the teens from the event are expected to address the media. At 6:30pm there will be a protest march against police brutality at Comstock Elementary School in McKinney. The same group is coordinating both events.
3pm: McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller responds to the pool party incident, "Having seen the YouTube video I am disturbed and concerned ..."
2pm: The McKinney Police Department held a formal press conference today in response to a video submitted by CBS 11 Saturday. In YouTube footage of the response to a disturbance call that some parents are calling "racially motivated," a police officer yelled, drew his weapon, and allegedly manhandled several teenagers during a pool party.
According to Chief of Police Greg Conley, twelve officers responded to the disturbance call regarding a group of teens and several residents, "Officers were confronted by a large group of people. Private security and homeowners were pointing out juveniles who were creating the disturbance, fighting, and refusing to leave," Conley said.
Conley said his department was responding with an investigation, "As the chief of police, I am committed to a complete and thorough investigation of this incident." He would not say if the officer had any prior complaints or incidents filed against him.
The Chief of Police declined comment when asked how he might have handled the situation if he were on the call, "I am not prepared to talk about anything in particular."
One man was arrested for interference of duties of an officer and evading arrest. The 14-year-old in the video was detained, but later released without charge. No injuries were reported.
Are you satisfied with Chief of Police Greg Conley's response? Weigh in on the CBS 11 Facebook page.
MCKINNEY (CBSDFW.COM) - A McKinney police officer has been placed on administrative leave after CBS11 News first brought to the department's attention video that had surfaced online of an officer responding to a disturbance at a pool party in Craig Ranch.
Several neighbors called police out to the Craig Ranch North Community Pool Friday evening to report "multiple juveniles at the location, who did not live in the area or have permission to be there, refusing to leave."
Multiple witnesses told CBS11 News a fight then broke out involving juveniles as well as adults.
When officers arrived at the scene, according to McKinney police, they encountered a large crowd that refused to comply with police command.
A video taken by a witness at the scene shows a McKinney police officer yelling at several of the teenagers to get to the ground and to others to leave the area.
Witnesses told CBS11 News when a 14-year-old girl did not walk away and told the officer "they did nothing wrong", the officer restrained the teenager girl.
The video shows the officer taking 14-year-old to the ground and placing her face first on the ground.
When several other teenagers surrounded the officer, the video shows the officer pulling out his weapon.
The teenage girl could be heard screaming on the video, "I want to call my mom."
Some witnesses told CBS11 News they felt the officer acted inappropriately when dealing with the teenagers.
However, other neighbors said given the situation they felt the officers did what was necessary.
CBS11 News contacted the McKinney Police Department Saturday evening regarding the video.
**GRAPHIC FOOTAGE/LANGUAGE -- you can view the video in its entirety HERE**
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