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1/ This summer, Texas DPS officers have tracked down and arrested more than a dozen Texans as part of a highly-publicized investigation into police brutality protesters from May.
Attorneys call the probe an unparalleled political “witch hunt.” https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
Attorneys call the probe an unparalleled political “witch hunt.” https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
2/ Special agents have spent hundreds of hours poring through social media posts, surveillance footage and YouTube videos to identify protesters.
The department has publicly announced arrests and offered up to $1,000 in cash for the public’s help in identifying others.
The department has publicly announced arrests and offered up to $1,000 in cash for the public’s help in identifying others.
3/ The majority of the 14 people DPS says have been jailed so far are suspected of only misdemeanor crimes.
Nearly half of the arrestees are Black. Almost all are in their teens or early 20s. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
Nearly half of the arrestees are Black. Almost all are in their teens or early 20s. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
4/ Several attorneys have argued the investigation is an attempt to distract the public from recently-heightened criticism of American law enforcement’s use of force against Black people and instead bolster the perception of officers as protectors. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
5/ Protesters have described being arrested at gunpoint and their families harshly interrogated months after the protests.
Some have been arrested multiple times for actions during the same protest almost three months ago. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
Some have been arrested multiple times for actions during the same protest almost three months ago. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
6/ DPS dismissed accusations against the department and said accounts by protesters and their attorneys contained inaccuracies or were false.
The agency said there was no indication of officer misconduct or complaints filed — and that those arrested were not peaceful protesters.
The agency said there was no indication of officer misconduct or complaints filed — and that those arrested were not peaceful protesters.
7/ Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick specifically praised DPS’s actions during Austin protests in an unrelated press conference this week, saying without the state police, Austin’s leadership would have put the city’s residents in danger. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
8/ Jordan Teal was counting down the weeks until college when he found out he was wanted on suspicion of a felony.
A DPS drone camera captured a Black teenager throwing an item, “possibly a water bottle,” toward state police. And an anonymous tipster said it was Teal.
A DPS drone camera captured a Black teenager throwing an item, “possibly a water bottle,” toward state police. And an anonymous tipster said it was Teal.
9/ Seven officers in five police cars showed up at Teal’s grandmother’s house with guns drawn in July, his lawyer said.
Teal wasn’t there. According to his lawyer, the officers said other agencies may send officers back with a no-knock warrant if Teal didn't surrender himself.
Teal wasn’t there. According to his lawyer, the officers said other agencies may send officers back with a no-knock warrant if Teal didn't surrender himself.
10/ Teal’s lawyer interpreted the statement as a threat based on the harshly-criticized death of Breonna Taylor, who was killed by Louisville officers serving such a warrant. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
11/ Teal’s story is not unique. Keegan Godsey was arrested at gunpoint while getting into a car nearly a month after the protest, according to his attorney.
He’s accused of spray painting the doors of the historic building of the state Capital. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
He’s accused of spray painting the doors of the historic building of the state Capital. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
12/ Cassidy Nordstrom was arrested in July for allegedly refusing to leave Interstate 35 and throwing water on an officer during the May protests. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
13/ During her second arrest, Nordstrom said law enforcement officers in plain clothes interrogated her in a truck in her apartment’s parking lot and asked if she was involved in any socialist organizations before taking her to the jail. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
14/14 DPS rejected depictions by protesters and their lawyers, but did not respond to specific questions from the Tribune about officers’ actions regarding protesters. https://bit.ly/2QfEwQ8
