A North Texas woman disputed Hurst police findings after a January traffic stop that ended with her removal from her vehicle and arrest.
Taneisha Thompson spoke publicly for the first time about the January 16 encounter. She said police pulled her over for speeding. The situation escalated, Thompson said, when she told the officer she did not want a copy of the ticket and threw it out of her car; thus, littering.
Video recorded at the scene shows multiple officers pulling Thompson from her vehicle and taking her to the ground. Her 15-year-old son sat in the front seat.
“I suffered a black eye, needed stitches, and severe bruises all over my body,” Thompson said, per CBS News. “Since that day, I have lived in constant fear every time I see a police officer.”
The Hurst Police Department released body camera video. An internal investigation determined that the excessive force claims were unfounded.
Residents discussed the incident during public comment at Tuesday’s Hurst City Council meeting. Speakers offered divided opinions. Some defended the officers. Others called the video disturbing and raised concerns about excessive force.
The city and Thompson’s attorneys accused each other of releasing edited video versions. Each side said the edits removed only unnecessary portions, without altering events.
In a video on YouTube, Hurst Police Chief Billy Keadle says that “the video clips circulating on social media have misrepresented our officer and misled some of our community. Transparency matters, and so does accuracy.” The department released video of the altercation from three different body cameras at the scene.
Keadle added that “Corporal Morgan acted in full accordance with the law and with our department policies, and the Department stands firmly behind his actions.”
After reviewing all the evidence submitted, the Tarrant County DA’s office accepted the charge of resisting arrest against Thompson.