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A man arrested for jaywalking in 2024 has sued the Austin Police Department for excessive force.<\/p>\n
American-Statesman<\/p>\n
An Austin Police officer named this week in a federal excessive force lawsuit was the subject of more than two dozen internal misconduct investigations over a two year period \u2014 a record that prompted\u00a0the city\u2019s top police oversight official<\/a> to recommend a rare, comprehensive review of the officer\u2019s complaint history.<\/p>\n Antonio Alexander filed the lawsuit Tuesday against the city of Austin and officers Ryne Kirchberg and Shalom Alvarez, alleging the officers used excessive force during a 2024 jaywalking arrest in Southeast Austin. The lawsuit claims the stop escalated \u201cwithin seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cWhat began as a stop for an alleged pedestrian infraction crossing mid-block rather than at a designated crosswalk escalated within seconds into a violent takedown, physical restraint, and arrest, all captured on body-worn camera and dash-camera footage,\u201d Alexander\u2019s complaint alleges.<\/p>\n Alexander also alleges city and police officials were aware of Kirchberg\u2019s history of misconduct complaints and failed to take corrective action before the arrest.<\/p>\n Read More:Austin police oversight officials launch complaint mediation program<\/a><\/p>\n Austin Police Department Internal Affairs investigated 25 complaints against Kirchberg between January 2023 and July 2025, according to a memo<\/a> Austin Police Oversight Director Gail McCant sent to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis in August.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Nine complaints originated within the department, while 16 were filed by community members.<\/p>\n \u201cOfficer Kirchberg has exhibited a pattern of behavior and decision-making that may not align with the training and standards APD expects from its officers,\u201d McCant wrote in the August 2025 memo.<\/p>\n Internal Affairs investigators sustained five of the complaints, finding sufficient evidence that Kirchberg violated department policies involving suspect pursuits, firearms handling and vehicle operation.<\/p>\n Austin Police Oversight Deputy Director Kevin Masters said the volume of complaints against\u00a0Kirchberg stood out.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIt was an outlier,\u201d Masters told the American-Statesman. \u201cI don’t know that we saw many other officers that had that number of complaints.\u201d<\/p>\n Masters said Police Oversight officials did not know the source of the internal complaints against Kirchberg but noted that supervisers can file complaints when they believe an officer violated department policy.<\/p>\n Following the review, McCant recommended Davis launch a broader review of Kirchberg\u2019s complaint history.<\/p>\n Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis answers questions from the press during a news conference at the Austin Police Department Headquarters regarding the homicide at Club Rodeo in Austin, Monday, Jan. 5, 2026.<\/p>\n Mikala Compton\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n It is unclear what, if any, actions Davis took following the recommendation. The Police Department did not respond to multiple requests for comment by deadline. Masters said there has been no further discussion between the department and the oversight office since the memo was issued.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n In a separate excessive force case last year, Davis fired officer Joseph Spees<\/a> after Internal Affairs concluded he used excessive force when he slammed a barefoot, intoxicated woman to the ground outside a downtown hotel.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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