Craig’s household filed a lawsuit in opposition to town 5 years in the past after they are saying Fort Worth police violated their constitutional rights throughout their arrest.
FORT WORTH, Texas — The City of Fort Worth has agreed to pay $150,000 to Jacqueline Craig, pending council approval, to settle a lawsuit Craig filed in opposition to town alleging police violated her rights throughout an arrest.
The arrest first occurred practically six years in the past, with video of the arrest going viral, gaining greater than 5 million views and inflicting protests within the metropolis calling for the arresting officer, William Martin, and former Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald to be fired.
“I, for a while, have called Jacqueline Craig the Rosa Parks of our time,” Craig’s legal professional, Lee Merritt mentioned. “Her experience has changed the culture of policing in Fort Worth. She will remain a staple in the conversation for police reform.”
The lawsuit accused Martin of utilizing extreme drive and alleged Fort Worth policymakers — particularly Fitzgerald, Mayor Betsy Price and the Fort Worth City Council — on the whole, didn’t supervise or self-discipline officers who used extreme drive and didn’t attempt to establish these officers.
Martin had responded to Craig’s name for police help in December 2016. Craig had referred to as 911 to report that her son had been choked by a neighbor. That’s when Martin was caught on video questioning Craig’s parenting.
The lawsuit describes how she and the officer turned concerned in a heated trade that ended up with Craig and her 15-year-old daughter being pressured to the bottom and positioned in handcuffs, all whereas a Taser was pointed at them.
Fitzgerald was fired in May 2019 after serving as police chief for three-and-a-half years. Martin obtained a 10-day suspension following the incident.
Merritt mentioned the incident led to the Fort Worth group being empowered to have a voice in metropolis coverage.
“So many members of the community are now regular attendees to city council meetings,” he mentioned. “But not solely that, we’ve seen commissions which were put collectively in Jacqueline Craig’s honor, which were put collectively to debate ways in which the expansive Fort Worth Police Department might be reformed. And we’ve seen some reforms applied that I feel will make the group a safer place.”
Jason Smith, a Fort Worth Discrimination Lawyer and Civil Rights Attorney, mentioned whereas he was glad to see the Craig household was getting compensation, they deserved extra.
“There are a lot of great things about Fort Worth, but it has a race problem, and it needs to quit sweeping it under the rug and deal with it,” mentioned Smith in an announcement to WFAA.
Since the lawsuit, there was new management put in place on the Fort Worth Police Department. Police Chief Neil Noakes now leads the division, which simply obtained its closing report outlining each inner and exterior points, highlighting the adjustments within the division, want for officer accountability and group belief.
Some of the suggestions from the surface advisors are already underway. They are suggestions that Chief Noakes has welcomed with open arms as he works to enhance the police-community relationship in Fort Worth.
The metropolis additionally now has a Citizen Review Board and the Office of the Police Oversight Monitor.
In an announcement launched Friday from the City of Fort Worth, town admits to “no fault” as an element of the settlement.
“The settlement will go before City Council in October for approval,” a spokesperson for town mentioned.
City council members will vote to approve the settlement throughout their October assembly.
WFAA has confirmed that Martin continues to be an officer with the Fort Worth Police Department.
This is a creating story, please test again for updates.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link