Black people still can't swim: Reflections on the McKinney, TX pool incident 3 summers later
Black people still can’t swim: Reflections on the McKinney, TX pool incident 3 summers later
Editor’s Note: A version of this piece was previously published on The Each Other Project
I learned to swim well before I was 14 by taking classes at the local YMCA in East Cleveland. If that rec center was the only frame of reference, you’d think swimming was an exclusively Black phenomenon, the pool being even more segregated than the larger community. After moving to a more diverse suburb,…
A grand jury in Texas decided Thursday not to press any charges against a white police officer recorded on video apparently roughly handling a black teenage girl at a pool party last year, according to CBS DFW.
A video of the incident posted to YouTube went viral after former McKinney, Texas, officer Eric Casebolt threw the girl to the ground, sparking immediate outrage and criticism of the police department.
In the video, the officer is seen assessing the situation of a neighborhood pool party in which a fight between a mother and daughter broke out. The girl who would eventually be tossed to the ground, her face pushed into the ground by Casebolt, can be seen asking officers to call her mother throughout the entire ordeal.
It's unclear from the video what, if any, involvement the girl had in the fight prior to officers arriving at the scene.
But the jury decided to toss the investigation out entirely, reporting there wasn't enough evidence to press charges against Casebolt, according to CBS DFW.
The City of McKinney provided this statement on the incident, CBS DFW reported:
The McKinney Police Department's mission is to make the city a safe place to live, work and visit for everyone. In light of this, we seek to work in partnership with all who live and work in this great city. The incident at the Craig Ranch Pool in 2015 was turned over to the Texas Rangers for investigation. The Rangers concluded their investigation and presented it to the Collin County District Attorney's Office. On Thursday, June 23, the District Attorney's office presented the findings of the Rangers' investigation to a grand jury. The grand jury's decision was to "no bill" any charges against Eric Casebolt in relation to the June 2015 incident.
The McKinney Police Department will be holding a community forum at the Old Settler's Recreation Center 1201 E. Louisiana Street, McKinney, Texas 75069 on Monday, June 27, at 6:30 p.m. Several community leaders involved with the Police Chief's Advisory Council will be on hand to speak at the meeting focusing on the theme: Moving Forward, Strengthening Police and Community Relationships. All McKinney residents are invited to attend this meeting.
The officer's handling of the situation even prior to his treatment of the individual girl was called into question by those who had watched the video. Casebolt arrived to the scene sprinting, performing a barrel roll that led to nowhere.
#2015faves Peppy Hare Teaching Officer Eric Casebolt how to properly "Do a Barrel Roll!" #McKinney https://t.co/GtW3QBFGib
— Derek (@KentuckyBlacc)
December 30, 2015
He then ran back toward where he originally came from, pushing young boys to the ground and screaming at some to sit on the street while handcuffing others.
When McKinney policeofficer Eric Casebolt tossed a 14yr old blk girl to the ground; kneeling on her back. #Thathurt https://t.co/Ui9D5HSvSF
— Lanyia Richardson (@Lanyiadr)
June 16, 2016
To date, the original YouTube video has been watched over 12 million times.
Eric Casebolt, the officer who instigated the #McKinney Pool Party fiasco, will NOT face charges. Casebolt being let off scot-free (along with Caesar Goodson acquitted on all charges) is a sad day in America.
A Collin County Grand Jury decided not to indict a former McKinney police officer who was seen on video throwing a teenage girl to the ground at a pool party last summer.
The decision to no bill Eric Casebolt ends the investigation into his handling of the pool party melee.
Casebolt (who’s white) was widely criticized for his treatment of the young, black teenager.
But the Grand Jury determined there wasn’t enough evidence to bring criminal charges against Casebolt.
