Texas Pool Party Teen Sues Police Officer for $5 Million

Summary: The teen in a viral video from a Texas pool party is suing the cop who slammed her into the ground.

In 2015, a video of a police officer pushing an African-American teen into the ground went viral; and the girl recently filed a lawsuit against the cop, his department, and the city. She is seeking $5 million for “mental anguish, loss of quality of life as well as attorney fees,” according to The Dallas Morning News.

Dajerria Becton was at a pool party in Texas when the police were called to break it up. In the viral video that was shot on a cell phone, McKinney police officer Eric Casebolt was seen grabbing the bikini-clad teenager by the arm and later her hair and pinning her to the ground. He was also seen pulling a gun on her friends who tried to come to her aid while she was apprehended. Throughout the video, she was heard crying, and she did not appear to be resisting arrest.

In a statement to the local newspaper, the police department denied the claims against it. The police said that officers had arrived at the scene because neighbors had complained about fighting in the pool area. In the video, other officers appeared to peacefully try to dismantle the pool party, but Casebolt seemed high-energy and confrontational.

Becton said that she had tried to distance herself from the pool party’s rowdiness when she was apprehended. In the video, the teen could be seen on her stomach and Casebolt appeared to rest his knees on her back to restrain her.

In June, a grand jury had decided not to indict Casebolt, but he ended up resigning from the police department anyway. The Chief of police described his actions as “out of control.”

Casebolt’s attorney said that Casebolt had suffered from depression but was not racist. Casebolt, who is white, denies targeting African-American Becton because of her race.