‘Crime Was Swimming While Black’: Texas Family Violently Arrested by Police in Chaotic Confrontation at Community Pool Over Alleged Disturbance
Attorneys are seeking transparency.
A Black family reportedly became the target of excessive use of force by Royse City Police Department officers during a confrontation when they responded to a call about an alleged disturbance at a community pool in Texas. A video of the altercation circulated online, and as a result, the police officer involved in the incident was said to have been fired for departmental violations.
The incident reportedly occurred on Aug. 3, when Janiaca Wheeler and her family were allegedly questioned by neighbors about whether they were residents of the community and whether they were allowed to swim in the pool, per NBC 5. The incident supposedly escalated when the officers arrived and arrested Wheeler and her daughter, 18-year-old Amiayah, in a violent scuffle.
Dominique Alexander (@niquealex), the founder of Next Generation Action Network (NGAN) and representing Wheeler’s family, shared a video of the incident on his Instagram. In the video, several officers can be seen pinning down a woman, believed to be Amiayah, as they handcuff the teen. Simultaneously, Wheeler was seen being dragged by her hair by an officer and was subsequently pinned to the ground.
Authorities fire one of the officers
As Wheeler and her daughter were hauled to the police cruisers, a woman carrying a child was struck in the face when she approached the officers, while another woman was repeatedly punched in the background. Amid the violence, Wheeler’s friends and family can be heard screaming and crying as they protest the arrest.
Wheeler and her daughter were reportedly released, and the charges against Amiayah were dropped. On the other hand, Wheeler is still facing charges for resisting arrest and interference with public duties.
An internal investigation was launched following claims of the officers’ excessive use of force during the incident. The officer involved, identified by NGAN as Officer Robert Crider, was reportedly put on administrative leave and was ultimately fired after the department determined that the officer “did violate departmental standards, policies, and procedures” on Aug. 24.
Three other officers were reportedly investigated as well. However, the department deemed their actions justified and compliant with policies.
Reportedly, Wheeler and her family, with the aid of Alexander, had filed an official complaint against the officer. They also demanded an apology and further action from Royse City authorities in a call for accountability over the officers’ response during the ordeal. “We have law enforcement for a reason. They are supposed to de-escalate situations, not escalate situations,” Alexander said before a Royse City Council meeting.
The police department will pursue criminal charges
Blerim Elmazi, a civil rights attorney also representing the family, claimed that Wheeler and her family’s only “crime was swimming while Black” and emphasized their equal rights to be at the community pool. “They lived in that neighborhood, they pay taxes in that neighborhood, they own a home in that neighborhood,” Elmazi said.
While the Royse City Police Department’s internal investigation had concluded, it shared its plans to pursue criminal charges against those involved. Aside from Wheeler, the department is reportedly trying to identify the other people who allegedly hit the officers during the incident, and once identified, they may face charges of assault on a peace officer and interference with public duties.
“The Royse City Police Department will not condone misconduct by any member of the police department and will take appropriate action when misconduct occurs,” the department said. “The Police Department also believes that the referring of criminal charges against the suspects involved in this incident should send a clear message that interfering with a police officer or assaulting a police officer in the performance of his/her duty will not be tolerated.”
NGAN said they will continue to advocate for the family and push for transparency, accountability, and fair process, as well as seek to have all bodycam and dashcam footage connected to the incident made public. Reportedly, Police Chief Kirk Aldrige agreed to give Wheeler and her attorneys access to the footage from that day.
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