A pool party gone haywire in McKinney, Texas this past weekend has sent the masses into an uproar over yet another display of police brutality.
Police were reportedly responding to complaints from residents in Craig Ranch, who told officials that there were “multiple juveniles at the location, who did not live in the area or have permission to be there, refusing to leave.” Upon arriving to the scene, police were captured chasing after and ordering a group of black teenagers onto the ground. In the most disturbing portion of the now-viral encounter, one officer is seen grabbing a young girl by her head and placing her face onto the ground. After placing both of his knees onto the girl’s back, the officer is also shown drawing his weapon on a separate set of teens.
The McKinney Police Department has since placed the officer on administrative leave, and has announced that an investigation of the incident is taking place. As waves of news reports continue to trickle in, here are some things you should know about the unfortunate events that took place. – Iyana Robertson
SEE ALSO: Texas Police Officer Placed On Leave After Attacking Teen Girl At Local Pool Party
1.) The teenage female victim in the video has been identified as 15-year-old Dajerria Becton. “[The officer] grabbed me, twisted my arm on my back and shoved me in the grass and started pulling the back of my braids,” she said to local news station Fox 4 News. “I was telling him to get off me because my back was hurting bad.” [Fox 4 News]
2.) The officer seen pinning down the teenager has been identified as Corporal Eric Casebolt, a 10-year vet, a patrol supervisor and president of a local police union. He reportedly served in the U.S. Navy as a military policeman and operations specialist, according to Heavy. Several sources also report that he watched the now-viral footage of the encounter, and added it to a “police training” list on YouTube. [Heavy]
Sources confirm:McKinney Patrol Supervisor Cpl. Eric Casebolt placed on admin leave following conduct at pool party pic.twitter.com/JaJMFWR5Ef — Zahid Arab (@ZahidArabFox4) June 7, 2015
3.) The party was held at the Craig Ranch Community Pool. It was advertised on social media. [Fox 4 News]
The pool party was advertised on social media. Homeowners say none of the nearly 70 people were allowed to be there pic.twitter.com/pZZy9htEK3
— Zahid Arab (@ZahidArabFox4) June 7, 2015
4.) The fight that broke out during the event started with a neighborhood resident spewing racial slurs at partygoers, according to one of the party’s organizers, Tatiana Rhodes. She detailed the argument in an interview posted on YouTube.
5.) The McKinney Police Department released a statement regarding the incident. “First responding officers encountered a large crowd that refused to comply with police commands. Nine additional units responded to the scene. Officers were eventually able to gain control of the situation,” it reads. They also held a press conference, revealing that one arrest was made. [McKinney PD]
6.) Brandon Brooks, the white teenager who originally recorded the video, attested to the racially-charged nature of the incident. “I think a bunch of white parents were angry that a bunch of black kids who don’t live in the neighborhood were in the pool,” he said. “Everyone who was getting put on the ground was black, Mexican, Arabic. [The cop] didn’t even look at me. It was kind of like I was invisible.” [BuzzFeed]
7.) McKinney residents have begun to show support for the officers involved in the incident.
Pool just put up this sign supporting McKinney PD & thanking officers for their response Friday pic.twitter.com/P7bC9hULCF — Zahid Arab (@ZahidArabFox4) June 7, 2015
8.) Local NAACP and ACLU chapters have spoken out against the events that took place in McKinney. “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,” the ALCU statement reads. [The Root]