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McKinney pool party: lawyer for Eric Casebolt to give press conference McKinney officer regrets pool incident but viewed teens as 'possible suspects'
(35 minutes later)
A lawyer representing the Texas police officer who threw a black girl to the ground and waved a gun at other teenagers during a pool party is addressing the media on behalf of his client on Wednesday. The Texas police officer who manhandled black teenagers at a pool party has apologised for his conduct via a lawyer, who said the officer arrived at the scene in an emotional state because he had just attended two suicide calls.
Eric Casebolt resigned from the police force in McKinney, Texas, on Tuesday, and officials were quick to place full blame on him, calling his “out of control” after video footage spread and protesters descended upon the town at a time when relations between police and communities of color are under increased scrutiny. Eric Casebolt’s attorney, Jane Bishkin, said in a news conference that earlier in his shift he had responded to a suicide at an apartment complex where an African-American man had shot himself in the head in front of a family. He then attended a call where a teenage girl was threatening to jump off her parents’ roof.
“Our policies, our training, our practice doesn’t support his actions,” McKinney police chief Greg Conley said on Tuesday. He described Casebolt’s actions as “indefensible” – even though Casebolt had been accused of racial profiling before, according to a withdrawn civil rights lawsuit filed against the police department. “With all that happened that day he allowed his emotions to get the better of him. Eric regrets that his conduct portrayed him and his department in a negative light,” said Bishkin. “He apologises to all who were offended.” She said that he believed the teenagers were possible assault suspects.
Casebolt resigned from the McKinney police department on Tuesday. The corporal had been placed on administrative leave in the wake of the incident.
Video footage posted on YouTube by a bystander showed the ten-year department veteran shouting, swearing and being physically aggressive towards young people after police were called to a private community pool in an affluent Dallas suburb on Friday night following reports of a fight and anti-social behaviour.
At a news conference outside McKinney police headquarters earlier on Wednesday, local African-American civil rights activists said that the resignation was not enough and that Casebolt should face an assault charge. “We want this officer charged, that’s the bottom line,” said Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network.
On Tuesday, McKinney police chief Greg Conley described Casebolt’s actions as “indefensible” – even though Casebolt had been accused of racial profiling before, according to a withdrawn civil rights lawsuit filed against the police department.
Mayor Brian Loughmiller also blamed Casebolt, saying he was “not indicative of McKinney as a whole” and that “the actions of any one individual cannot define our community”.Mayor Brian Loughmiller also blamed Casebolt, saying he was “not indicative of McKinney as a whole” and that “the actions of any one individual cannot define our community”.
The incident at the party was not the first time that Casebolt, a 10-year veteran of the McKinney police, had come under scrutiny for aggressive behavior.The incident at the party was not the first time that Casebolt, a 10-year veteran of the McKinney police, had come under scrutiny for aggressive behavior.
Meanwhile, it was revealed on Wednesday that the man who initially called 911 to complain about the party and who has defended the controversial police response is a convicted felon who spent time in prison for torturing animals.