Deputy constable caught on camera hitting teenage girl
HOUSTON (KTRK) -- An internal investigation has concluded there was no wrongdoing on the part of an officer, seen on video striking a 15-year-old girl.
According to Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman, a deputy constable was responding to a disturbance in the Kenswick subdivision near Humble around 8:30 Saturday night. Herman says, upon arrival, the female deputy constable made contact with a group of people walking away from the area. According to Herman, the officer then was attacked, viciously, by a 15-year-old girl in that group when the officer tried to talk to that teen. The deputy constable called for help, and a male officer arrived to help stop the attack.
"What he observed was our deputy was on the ground still, rolling and trying to get the juvenile into handcuffs, and at that time, the juvenile had her hands -- both of her hands -- around the deputy's neck and was choking the deputy," said Asst. Chief Wally Wieghat.
After unsuccessfully attempting to pull the girl off the female deputy, the male officer struck the teen.
"She's probably lucky that's all he did," said Herman. He adds that the second officer who responded feared for the safety of the first.
The female deputy suffered injuries to her head, her hands and had a bite mark. She remains off duty until she recovers.
Investigators say the teenage girl may have been under the influence of alcohol. She was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer.
Investigators are getting a search warrant for the phone belonging to the eyewitness who recorded the video. You can watch it in its entirety HERE. Investigators are looking at not only that video, but also recordings taken by their own dash cams and a body camera worn by the officer who allegedly struck the teen.
