Police Misconduct Attorney Dallas – A Cuffed Man is Repeatedly Tazed, a Leaked Balch Springs Police Video Shows
The Balch Springs Police Department that is currently under criticism for the recent death of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards is again in the news for alleged police misconduct. A police video was release this week that shows an incident that occurred on April 28, 2016. A white officer cuffed black suspect Marco Stephenson and then is seen jabbing the stun gun into Stephenson’s side. The cuffed man cried out in pain and fell to the ground and was later tazed repeatedly. The video was mailed to a Dallas television station with what seems to be the obvious intent of exposing the alleged police brutality.
Further details of the video are fanning flames of outrage. Before the officer allegedly tazed Stephenson, the officer is heard repeatedly demanding that the suspect not pull away. “You understand? Don’t pull away.” The cuffed man appears to display apprehensive calmness before the use of the stun gun.
Balch Springs Police Chief Jonathon Haber acknowledged the video and its content Tuesday night, May 16, 2017. He provided assurance that changes are being made to the force, but those changes were not specified. He also mentioned that officers “went over his head” to report the incident, according to reporters.
When the footage in an undisclosed residential neighborhood begins, a police officer has his gun drawn and is kicking away what appears to be a weapon. The officer approaches the suspect, who has his hands on his head and is on his knees. Stephenson was being detained because a group of kids claimed he threatened them with what looked like a firearm. The suspect was adamant that what he had was a BB gun.
One officer told Stephenson that the perceived threat is why he was being arrested. Officers answered the suspect’s attempts to defend his behavior with statements about his having to be dealt with on almost a daily basis. Court records allegedly show Stephenson is allegedly a repeat offender who has allegedly pled guilty to mischief, criminal trespass, and resisting arrest.
In the video, the officers have a conversation, and the sergeant allegedly shoved the stun gun against Stephenson repeatedly as he was lying on the grass.
Haber said that no criminal charges were brought against the officer for his behavior, after the video was reviewed by the Texas Ranger Division, the Balch Springs Police Department said in a statement. It was determined also by an independent agency and an internal review that the officer who did the alleged tazing in the video would not be charged, but he was forced to take anti-bias classes and conflict resolution classes.
–Guest Contributor
smchugh
smchugh