A Royse City police officer has been fired after the department says he violated standards, policies and procedures during an encounter with a woman and her teenage daughter at a neighborhood pool earlier this month.
Royse City Police said officers were sent to a disturbance at the community pool in the Creekside neighborhood on Aug. 3. The department opened an internal investigation the following day after video of the encounter between residents and police began circulating online, alleging excessive use of force.
In the video, an officer is seen dragging 35-year-old Janiaca Wheeler by her hair before she is pinned to the ground. The video also showed Wheeler’s 18-year-old daughter, Amiayah Wheeler, being handcuffed and pinned down.
On Monday, the department said the officer “did violate departmental standards, policies and procedures” and that “due to the officer’s actions and conduct, his employment with the Royse City Police Department has been terminated.”
The officer’s name was not released.
Police said the actions of three other officers investigated as part of the complaint were justified and within department policy.
The family’s attorny told NBC 5 in a statemnt, “The firing is a step in the right direction. However, one officer’s termination does not undo what the Wheeler family endured, and it does not answer the larger questions about why this was allowed to happen. We intend to see those questions answered.”
Janiaca Wheeler and her family said the confrontation began after neighbors questioned whether they lived in the community and were allowed to use the pool. Civil rights attorney Blerim Elmazi said the family owns a home in the neighborhood, lives in the community and had every right to be at the pool.
Both Janiaca and Amiayah were arrested during the police response. The department said on Monday that no charges will be sought against Amiayah. Janiaca still faces charges of interference with public duties and resisting arrest.
“The Royse City Police Department will not condone misconduct by any member of the police department and will take appropriate action when misconduct occurs,” the department said Monday. “The Police Department also believes that the referring of criminal charges against the suspects involved in this incident should send a clear message that interfering with a police officer or assaulting a police officer in the performance of his/her duty will not be tolerated. Those who choose to engage in such criminal behavior will be held accountable for their actions.”
Royse City Police said the internal investigation is now closed, but the criminal investigation remains open. Investigators are still trying to identify a person accused of hitting a police officer in the face during the incident. Police said that once the person is identified, they will face charges of interference with public duties and assault on a peace officer.
