A woman involved in a Hurst traffic stop in January is calling for accountability from the police and city leadership.
Taneisha Thompson said she suffered injuries following the encounter. Her attorney, Lee Merritt, attended the Hurst City Council meeting on Monday evening to gauge how residents and city leaders are responding to this incident.
During public comments at the Hurst City Council meeting, people addressed city leaders concerning a video that has now gone viral.
Thompson was driving with her 15-year-old son in January when she was seen in a video being pulled from her vehicle onto the ground by Hurst police officers. Her son is heard begging officers to stop.
The encounter escalated when the officer returned with a citation and Thompson refused to exit her vehicle.
Merritt also addressed councilmembers on Monday.
NBC 5 NewsNBC 5 News
Taneisha Thompson, center, stands with her son, left, and her attorney, Lee Merritt, right, after her arrest for littering during a traffic stop in Hurst, Texas in January 2026.
“By paying our taxes and participating in government, we deed over a certain amount of authority to police officers. We just ask that they use wise discretion,” said Merritt.
Merritt maintains the officer’s actions were an abuse of discretion. He addressed reporters outside of City Hall.
“I had to thoroughly investigate this incident. And then I have the responsibility to investigate the City of Hurst itself to see if there is a pattern in practice from other cases and other complaints,” he said. “This is a part of it. The City Council meeting gives me an opportunity to interact with both the City Council and the citizens in furtherance of that investigation.”
Thompson spoke to reporters from a pre-written statement with her son by her side. Her statement read in part:
“I had simply tossed a ticket—one that was thrown at me—out of the window. Without warning, the officer grabbed me, and when I instinctively tried to pull back, the violence escalated. I suffered a black eye, a busted lip needing stitches, and severe bruises all over my body. Other officers pinned me down, pressing their knee on my back and chest, forcing me to roll over under that crushing weight. Since that day, I have lived in constant fear every time I see a police officer. I have faced cruel backlash for simply seeking accountability. But I am here today because this is bigger than me—this is about all of us. It is about ensuring de-escalation, about prioritizing the safety of every citizen, so that no one else endures what I did. I am deeply grateful for all the support I have received from around the world—this is a call for justice, for humanity, and for safety. I will not be silenced.”
Hurst Police DepartmentHurst Police Department
Police in Hurst, Texas, say they released video of the arrest of Taneisha Thompson to be more transparent with the community.
The Hurst Police Department recently released body camera footage. The department said it was to clear up misconceptions and demonstrate transparency to the community. The department also released a statement that says in part:
“A formal complaint was filed on Jan. 20, 2026, claiming excessive use of force and an Internal Affairs Investigation was opened. A thorough investigation was conducted, the claims submitted were determined to be unfounded, and the Internal Affairs Investigation was closed. We are aware of the community concern about this situation, and we are committed to remaining transparent. The Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate the charges stemming from the original traffic stop. Because of this, we are unable to release additional information at this time.”
Merritt, following the department’s statement, stood by his position that the onus was on the officer to de-escalate the encounter. He acknowledged that officers could make arrests for littering, as the ticket is seen being tossed out the window. However, he said there are several variables to consider.
“You’re supposed to consider the totality of the circumstances. Here, the form of littering that the officer observed is the minimal,” said Merritt. “That’s not normally an arrestable offence unless there’s some other extenuating circumstance. Her attitude is not one of them.”
In his legal opinion, Merritt said this was a violation of Thompson’s Fourth Amendment rights, which protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.
“If he actually believed that dropping the ticket on the ground was an arrestable offense and was the kind of littering that was designed to make an arrest for, he could have instructed Ms. Thompson that, ‘You’re under arrest. I’ll wait till my supervising officer gets here or another officer that you’re more comfortable with because of the nature of our interaction,” said Merritt.
The Tarrant County DA has continued an investigation into charges from the original traffic stop. The District Attorney’s Office has not commented on our information requests because the case is pending.
Lee Merritt told reporters he expects to decide by the end of the week whether to move forward with a federal lawsuit.