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McKinney Officer Resigns Amid Pool Party Investigation
NBC DFW ^ | Jun 9, 2015 | Frank Heinz

Posted on 06/09/2015 9:47:30 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Officer's resignation effectively ends internal investigation by McKinney police

"As the chief of police, I want to say to our community that the actions of Casebolt, as seen on the video, of the disturbance at the community pool, are indefensible," said Chief Greg Conley, during a news conference Tuesday afternoon. "Our policies, our training, our practice, do not support these actions. He came into the call out of control, and as the video shows, was out of control during the incident."

As Casebolt and two officers first responded to the scene, teens were said to be running from the area as officers tried to gain control of the situation

"Our citizens called us to a fight in progress and a general disturbance at the community pool. We responded. I do not condone the actions of those individuals who violated the rules of the community, showed disrespect to the security person on scene and to the officers who responded," Conley said. "However, we as a department are held to a high standard ... as we do our jobs. I support the fine men and women of the McKinney Police Department, who day in and day out, do an outstanding job on behalf of all of our citizens."

Police said nine additional officers were called to the scene and the disruption was eventually brought under control.

"I have 12 officers on the scene and 11 of them performed according to their training. They did an excellent job," Conley said. Video showing the incident sparked national scrutiny of the officer's actions. Meanwhile, Casebolt was placed on administrative leave while his actions were investigated.

Casebolt resigned Tuesday through his attorney and did not issue an apology, police said Tuesday.

The teen in the bikini taken to the ground by Casebolt was eventually released without being cited.

"I was wondering what was going through his head. Why would he even come to the scene and act in the manner in which he acted?" said Dana Bakari, whose daughter, Jahda, was at the party on Friday night.

The family lives in the Craig Ranch North neighborhood.

Casebolt's resignation effectively ends the investigation by the McKinney Police Department's Internal Affairs Division.

"We may never know, but at the same time, too, I am relieved that he's no longer at the police force here in McKinney," Dana Bakari said.

On Monday night, the Craig Ranch North Homeowners' Association sent an email to its members, saying, in part, "This is a peaceful, increasingly-diverse neighborhood that is growing and thriving because of our difference in background, race, reasons for moving here, and in many other ways."

"I just hope it doesn't shed a negative light here," Dana Bakari said.

Cornell William Brooks, president and CEO of the NAACP, released a statement Tuesday following Casebolt's resignation.

"To protect any community, law enforcement officials must respect that community. The resignation of Cpl. Eric Casebolt is a good first step, but hardly the last," Brooks said.

Brooks went on to say the NAACP, "will continue working with community members and law enforcement to ensure that no one, especially the young people of McKinney, are ever again the victims of excessive force, racial profiling and police brutality."

One person was arrested for evading arrest/detention and interference with public duties. Police said Tuesday that those charges were dropped.

McKinney police said they have reached out to the teens involved and asked if they wanted to press charges. So far only one person has responded.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra, Ray Villeda, Don Peritz, Kevin Young and Brian Roth contributed to this report.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: donutwatch; police; texas
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To: SoFloFreeper

“So those eleven the chief is referring to were NOT the first ones on the scene.”

There were 3 cops in the video.
2 were professional the other one has resigned.

Total of 11 cops at the scene and there weren’t any complaints about the others.


61 posted on 06/10/2015 6:44:38 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: nickcarraway

My guess is he just didn’t want the hassle!!


62 posted on 06/10/2015 6:50:01 AM PDT by ontap
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To: scooby321; Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
It would seem that according to some here, that Officer Eric Casebolt should have stood down and given them more “space to destroy” just like Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did during the riots in Baltimore.

He should have calmly walked up to the out of control and nearly rioting teens thugs who were crashing a private community pool and then running amok through the neighborhood, throwing bottles at cars, etc., and said something like, “Hey-Diddly-Ho Neighbor-eeno! I understand the underlying cause of your violence and as a whiteman, I know it’s all my fault and I understand you’re a victim of white micro aggression. So why not just do your beat ups on the residents, your vandalism, your drinking and smoking dope, having sex in public, and assaulting security guards who asked you to leave, and all like that, just a wee bit, a little more quietly and “Godspeed lil' doodles!”” / s

This was not about race but it is now as this black man, who is a resident of the community and saw what was happening can attest as he is now is under death threats by the thugs and race baiters, with calls for his radio show to be cancelled and being called an “Uncle Tom” for simply telling the truth.

Radio host: 7 'knuckleheads' ruined pool party for all

Here is a picture of the supposedly 14 year old poor innocent Black Barbie In The Pink Bikini (who is actually 20 years old and the organizer of the for profit “party” held on private property on which she had no permission to do so) and who BTW also appears to be the “girl” who was earlier, before the cops showed up, beating up on an older white woman while she’s trying to leave and get her children safely to their car.

And here is her white friend Grace who was also part of the flash mob.

Nice “kids”…. Who would you rather have at your next pool party? Officer Eric Casebolt or Tatiana and Grace? Just asking.

Did perhaps Officer Casebolt overact? Maybe, but I don’t know. FWIW he didn’t pull his gun out on Black Barbie In The Pink Bikini but he only did so after several of her “friends” came up behind him and one reached around as if he was reaching for a gun. I guess he should have let them do a beat down on him.

It would seem that the crowd who was causing all the trouble were not dispersing as ordered to do so and were mouthing off to the cops and crowding around them and coming back after being told to leave the area. And why do I think perhaps the cops including Officer Casebolt had had prior run ins with some of these “kids” before….

Baltimore police officers break silence on riots, murder spike and Freddie Gray

(CNN)Forty-two people were killed in Baltimore in May, making it the deadliest month there since 1972.

When asked what's behind that number, a Baltimore police officer gave an alarming answer. Basically, he said, the good guys are letting the bad guys win.

"The criminal element feels as though that we're not going to run the risk of chasing them if they are armed with a gun, and they're using this opportunity to settle old beefs, or scores, with people that they have conflict with," the officer said. "I think the public really, really sees that they asked for a softer, less aggressive police department, and we have given them that, and now they are realizing that their way of thinking does not work."

FWIW, I am no fan of overly aggressive policing and yes, there are certainly some rouge and out of control cops who deserve to get reigned in and culled from the heard of the mostly good cops trying to do their jobs, or even prosecuted when their actions are illegal and I will call that out when that is the case, but OTOH, when the cops are afraid of doing their job because of the fear of PC and prosecution if the thugs they are arresting are black - good luck with that “softer, less aggressive police department” some would call for.

63 posted on 06/10/2015 7:02:01 AM PDT by MD Expat in PA
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To: scooby321

I have not seen the video, but from the descriptions I’m reading of what happened, including how the cop treated the girl, I side with the cop.

And I say that as one who considers most cops to be nothing but thugs with a badge. However, I take each case individually.


64 posted on 06/10/2015 7:13:09 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: snarkybob

The McKinney chief of police disagrees with you.


He’s a politician. He’s trying to reduce the tension by throwing the cop under the bus. It’s his job.


65 posted on 06/10/2015 7:16:23 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: snarkybob

The cop resigned as he should have.


Ever since the cop resigned this case has reminded me of the accountant that used the word “niggardly” and was fired. And when everyone realized that was stupid they offered him his job back and he declined.

If I was this cop and participated in the “Sorry, but we’re gonna have to throw you under the bus” closed door meetings you KNOW they had, I’d have had a bit of a “take this job and shove it” attitude myself.

But then, I’ve said for well over a decade that only fools and thugs aspire to be cops in our current cultural environment.


66 posted on 06/10/2015 7:19:10 AM PDT by cuban leaf (The US will not survive the obama presidency. The world may not either.)
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To: snarkybob

The reports I saw/heard were that three cops were ALONE in the beginning. The “eleven” were after backups were called.


67 posted on 06/10/2015 7:31:36 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: cuban leaf

“Ever since the cop resigned this case has reminded me of the accountant that used the word “niggardly” and was fired. And when everyone realized that was stupid they offered him his job back and he declined.”

I get what you’re saying but I don’t think it applies here.
They’re not going to wish they had him back.

The racism allegations have nothing to do with it. His actions on the video and the difference between his behavior and the behavior of the other cops on the scene is why he got himself in hot water.

This particular incident seems to be over.
As I wrote in another post, McKinney isn’t Ferguson or Baltimore.
There was 1 cop who got out of line. The cop is gone.
Problem solved.


68 posted on 06/10/2015 7:33:56 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: SoFloFreeper

“The reports I saw/heard were that three cops were ALONE in the beginning. The “eleven” were after backups were called.”

That could be.
Two of the three cops were professional and followed their training, they’re not having any problems at all and in fact have been praised by all parties involved.

One cop got out of control. He’s gone now. Problem solved.


69 posted on 06/10/2015 7:37:13 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: cuban leaf

“He’s a politician. He’s trying to reduce the tension by throwing the cop under the bus. It’s his job.”

Officer Eric didn’t leave him much of a choice.
He can’t pretend it didn’t happen or that he didn’t see it.


70 posted on 06/10/2015 7:39:32 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: snarkybob

Yes, well, the story isn’t over yet, despite your assertions.

The problem isn’t necessarily “solved”, it may just be beginning.

Baltimore had public demonstrations of joy when cops got charged, and now a record number people of been murdered.

I s’pose that makes some folks pleased. Not me.


71 posted on 06/10/2015 7:51:15 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: cuban leaf

I agree; the youngster who keeps insisting the cop was the problem apparently hasn’t had any real world experience with criminal behavior.

No biggie...he or she will someday. Then their tune might change. Or they’ll double down on delusion. :)


72 posted on 06/10/2015 7:53:19 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: A CA Guy

The youngster applauding the cop being thrown under the bus apparently hasn’t had much experience dealing with criminal behaviour.

Let him or her continue in their delusion—someday those chickens will come home to roost.


73 posted on 06/10/2015 7:55:43 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: snarkybob
There was 1 cop who got out of line. The cop is gone. Problem solved.

And thus - the “lesson” for all cops has once again been learned.

If the perp(s) are black, it has to be hands off policing. Cops now know that even when faced with an out of control mob of black “youts” running amok, assaulting residents, destroying property, not following orders to disperse – they now know to just stand down and let them have their space and give them more “space to destroy” just like Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did during the riots in Baltimore.

The lesson learned and the “problem solved” is that no white nor any black cop is ever going to risk taking down a black perp, no matter what that perp, he or she has done because they don’t want to, not only lose their job or be forced to resign under pressure, but also face a criminal or a civil rights prosecution for doing their jobs.

74 posted on 06/10/2015 7:58:29 AM PDT by MD Expat in PA
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To: SoFloFreeper

“Yes, well, the story isn’t over yet, despite your assertions.
The problem isn’t necessarily “solved”, it may just be beginning.
Baltimore had public demonstrations of joy when cops got charged, and now a record number people of been murdered.
I s’pose that makes some folks pleased. Not me.”

McKinney is hardly Baltimore. It’s an upscale suburb of Dallas.
The girl who got pushed down by the cop lives in that neighborhood.
The kids in the video weren’t hood rats.
There may be some pressure to bring criminal charges against the cop.
They may or may not stick. I do expect the city to have a payout to this girl and her family.

There wasn’t a riot there was a peaceful march against police brutality. Cop resigned.
Problem solved.


75 posted on 06/10/2015 8:01:50 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: MD Expat in PA

“If the perp(s) are black, it has to be hands off policing. Cops now know that even when faced with an out of control mob of black “youts” running amok, assaulting residents, destroying property, not following orders to disperse – they now know to just stand down and let them have their space and give them more “space to destroy” just like Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake did during the riots in Baltimore.
The lesson learned and the “problem solved” is that no white nor any black cop is ever going to risk taking down a black perp, no matter what that perp, he or she has done because they don’t want to, not only lose their job or be forced to resign under pressure, but also face a criminal or a civil rights prosecution for doing their jobs.”

Sorry but I think there’s going to be some middle ground between Hands Off and going full tilt out of control.

The argument that you can only do one extreme thing or the opposite extreme thing isn’t valid.

This was pretty simple. A party got out of control and the cops showed up and one cop got out of control.
It’s the cops job to be in control. Cops are held to a higher standard.
The party’s over the cop has resigned.
Problem solved.


76 posted on 06/10/2015 8:22:30 AM PDT by snarkybob
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To: snarkybob

The officer did nothing wrong.

There is frame-by-frame critiques of his performance on the internet already.


77 posted on 06/10/2015 9:13:16 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (B.L.O.A.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
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To: snarkybob

78 posted on 06/10/2015 9:15:19 AM PDT by SoFloFreeper
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To: snarkybob
"...Sorry but the McKinney chief of police disagrees with you."

The police chief is a political hack who needs to be fired. He is not some paragon of morality that we should look to for our opinions.

Interestingly, the entire community is rallying around the officer and demanding he be reinstated, and they are also calling for the chief to be fired.

79 posted on 06/10/2015 9:16:50 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (B.L.O.A.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
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To: vette6387

Did you see an entirely different video than everyone else?


80 posted on 06/10/2015 9:18:01 AM PDT by T-Bone Texan (B.L.O.A.T. : Buy Lots Of Ammo Today)
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