A Texas police officer was indicted last week by a grand jury after using a stun gun on a City Council member he was arresting.
According to Yahoo News, Prairie View officer Michael Kelley was indicted by a grand jury on the charge of 'official oppression'. The charge, though classified as a misdemeanor, could bring up to a year in prison and a US$ 4000 fine, said the Waller County District Attorney's Office.
The incident occured outside councilman Jonathan Miller's home. Police were questioning friends of Miller, when he came out to see what was going on.
FOX2 Now reports that a video of the incident shows that Kelley, who is white, use a stun gun on the African-American councilman Miller.
ABC News was able to get a hold this cellphone video from one of Miller's friends and it shows police officers ordering the councilman to place his hands behind his back. He refused to do so and a taser is then used on the councilman who falls face first to the ground.
After the incident, Miller was charged with resisting arrest and interference with public duties. But a grand jury dropped all charges against him, said Waller County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Noah Johnson.
Prairie View Police Chief Larry Johnson declined to comment on the matter. The chief, however, suspended Kelley without pay after being indicted. He said that the incident does not represent his department and that his agency has good officers, all seven of them.
The tasing incident also prompted the police chief to review his department regarding the use of stun guns and training on de-escalation methods. He required all officers surrender their stun guns and will only be returned after sufficient re-training.
The police chief says that he and his department are not afraid to take a close look at themselves and do what they can to get better.
