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Texas pool party officer 'stressed not racist' | Texas pool party officer 'stressed not racist' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The police officer filmed in a confrontation with black teenagers at a pool party in Texas was acting out of stress, not racism, says his lawyer. | The police officer filmed in a confrontation with black teenagers at a pool party in Texas was acting out of stress, not racism, says his lawyer. |
Eric Casebolt resigned from the police force and his actions were described as "indefensible" by his former boss. | Eric Casebolt resigned from the police force and his actions were described as "indefensible" by his former boss. |
His lawyer, Jane Bishkin, told reporters on Wednesday he was not targeting minorities but he was over-emotional after a traumatic day. | His lawyer, Jane Bishkin, told reporters on Wednesday he was not targeting minorities but he was over-emotional after a traumatic day. |
Community leaders in McKinney want criminal charges brought against him. | Community leaders in McKinney want criminal charges brought against him. |
The video showed the officer throwing a girl in a bikini to the ground, then pulling a gun on other bystanders. | The video showed the officer throwing a girl in a bikini to the ground, then pulling a gun on other bystanders. |
At a press conference on Wednesday his lawyer, Jane Bishkin, said Mr Casebolt is aware that his emotions "got the better of him" during a difficult shift. | At a press conference on Wednesday his lawyer, Jane Bishkin, said Mr Casebolt is aware that his emotions "got the better of him" during a difficult shift. |
He and his family are now in hiding due to death threats. | He and his family are now in hiding due to death threats. |
Before arriving at the pool party Mr Casebolt had responded to a suicide call where a black man shot himself in the head in front of his wife and children. | Before arriving at the pool party Mr Casebolt had responded to a suicide call where a black man shot himself in the head in front of his wife and children. |
The suicide occurred "poolside", said Ms Bishkin, and the officer took statements from the family, photographed the body and consoled the man's widow. | The suicide occurred "poolside", said Ms Bishkin, and the officer took statements from the family, photographed the body and consoled the man's widow. |
Next he responded to a second suicide call where a teenage girl was threatening to jump from the roof of her parents' home. | Next he responded to a second suicide call where a teenage girl was threatening to jump from the roof of her parents' home. |
"The nature of these two suicide calls took an emotional toll on Eric Casebolt," said Ms Bishkin, a lawyer for the Fraternal Order of Police. | "The nature of these two suicide calls took an emotional toll on Eric Casebolt," said Ms Bishkin, a lawyer for the Fraternal Order of Police. |
When he was called to a community swimming pool after reports of a fight and anti-social behaviour, he was stressed, she said. | When he was called to a community swimming pool after reports of a fight and anti-social behaviour, he was stressed, she said. |
But he wasn't targeting minorities and he apologises to all who were offended, she added. | |
"He also detained a white female, who you do not see on the video," said Ms Bishkin. | |
At a news conference on Tuesday, McKinney police chief Greg Conley condemned Mr Casebolt's actions and said the other 11 officers who attended did an excellent job. | At a news conference on Tuesday, McKinney police chief Greg Conley condemned Mr Casebolt's actions and said the other 11 officers who attended did an excellent job. |
The girl at the centre of the incident, 14-year-old Dajerria Becton, told the Texan broadcaster KDFW: "Him getting fired isn't enough." | The girl at the centre of the incident, 14-year-old Dajerria Becton, told the Texan broadcaster KDFW: "Him getting fired isn't enough." |
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