Two tourists filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against police officers in Austin for using excessive force to arrest them. The said tourists along with another friend was accused by the officer for jaywalking. The violent arrest has been filmed and the video went viral on the internet.
Jeremy King, 22 and Lourdes Glen, 24 go on a vacation and decided to visit Austin when the incident happened on November 6, 2015, according to Downtown Austin-UT Patch. Filmed by one of their friends, they were confronted by the Austin police officer for allegedly jaywalking on Austin 6th Street. On the video, taken on their friend's cellphone, the said officers violently forced King and their other friend to the ground. King on the video asked the officers many times on why they are getting arrested.
Brian McGiverin, their attorney said, the clip prove they were very roughly arrested. "These events fall into a larger practice we're seeing with the Austin Police Department. It's outrageous, it's illegal and it's unconstitutional," he said.
According to Texas Tribune, King and his other friend who was held down, Mathew Wallace, 23 who were both black listed the names on the suit. The names include Austin police officers Richard Munoz, Brian Huckaby, Gustave Gallenkamp, Vanessa Jiminez and other "unknown officers." The video also showed Wallace appeared to be being hit repeatedly by the officers while he was already held down by three police officers.
Aside from allegations of excessive force, the filed lawsuit also stated the officers could have violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution. McGiverin represents King and Glen, a Hispanic man and advised Wallace not to join as he was already indicted with resisting arrest.
Their representing lawyer also said that the officers "acted in a racist manner" as they only focus on arresting the two African-Americans on the group, the rest of their friends were white, Statesman reported.
After the arrest, King, who was not ultimately charged with a crime, went to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with multiple sprained muscles in addition to cuts and bruises, according to the lawsuit. He and Glen are suing for damages, but he said what they really want to see is departmental change.
