Fort Worth leaders convened in a closed meeting to address allegations of police brutality involving Carolyn Rodriguez, who was injured during an encounter with police while recording a hit-and-run investigation. The incident occurred early Sunday morning when Rodriguez approached officers, filming and questioning them. Body-camera footage shows an officer instructing Rodriguez to move, and when she questioned him, he restrained her forcefully, causing significant injuries.
Rodriguez sustained a concussion, dislocated shoulder and elbow, and required stitches on her lip and eye. City Council Member Chris Nettles initiated the executive session to review the incident and discuss it with police officials. After the meeting, Nettles expressed ongoing concerns about the arrest and the level of force used. He emphasized that officers should have established a perimeter to manage the scene and prevent such incidents.
Nettles criticized the officer's conduct, stating that Rodriguez's actions did not justify the aggressive response and stressed the need for serious consequences and additional training for officers, particularly in handling situations involving civilians exercising their First Amendment rights. He called for more thorough training on de-escalation and appropriate responses.
The Fort Worth Police Department is investigating the incident through its Major Case and Internal Affairs units to determine if proper protocols were followed. The Office of the Police Oversight Monitor is involved in the investigation to ensure transparency and accountability. The officer in question, a seven-year department veteran, has been reassigned pending the investigation's outcome.
Rodriguez was charged with multiple offenses, including Interference with Public Duties and Resisting Arrest, and is currently out on bond. Nettles urged further public meetings with the Police Oversight Monitor to foster understanding and improve the handling of similar situations in the future.
The severity of Rodriguez's injuries—sustained while she was merely exercising her First Amendment rights—exposes a culture of impunity that too often characterizes law enforcement's interaction with the public.
Link: NBCDFW
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