On Thursday, the American-Statesman and KVUE published dashcam video of 26-year-old Austin teacher Breaion King being thrown to the ground during a traffic stop by an officer last year, as well as footage of a second officer telling her that police are sometimes wary of African-Americans because of their "violent tendencies."
Officials are investigating both the actions during the arrest of officer Bryan Richter and the comments made to King by officer Patrick Spradlin. Both officers are white, and King is black. The video surfaced as part of new investigations by the Austin Police Department and the Travis County District Attorney's office. Austin police Chief Art Acevedo publicly apologized to King during a Thursday afternoon news conference, an apology which King responded to Friday.
The story went viral immediately and has since been picked up by national news outlets. On social media, the response has been divided. Here is a sample of the comments left by readers on the American-Statesman’s Facebook and on Twitter.
Joe Silano: "When will the cops be held accountable for their actions toward people of the African American community. An unarmed black physcologist doing his job shot yesterday while laying on his back with his hands raised and now this"
Breaion King is transported by Austin police officer Patrick Spradlin on June 15, 2015, following her arrest by Austin police officer Bryan Richter. SCREEN CAPTURE FROM APD VIDEO
Jim Foster: "Another example of what happens when you don't follow an officers directions and resist. If she had followed directions it would never have gotten to that. She says 'people are responsible for their own actions'. Well she experienced the results of those 'action'."
Harry Nagel: "This cop is nothing less than a thug. Why does it seem that so many thugs are drawn to law enforcement? Is there no screening to keep these bully boys out of the business of protecting and serving? Are there no voices within the police community to say 'this is not who we are?' If think most cops hang their heads in shame when they see stuff like this but their silence makes them complicit. Being a cop has got to be one of the toughest jobs there is. And continued behavior like this is not going to make it any easier."
Andrea Lynne Hildebrandt: "Interesting how they don't highlight the fact that she brought this on herself by not listening to the officer in the first place… watch the original tape.
Black, white, red, yellow… if you don't do what you're told, there will be repocussions. PERIOD!"
Evelyn Aponte: "All I see is police brutality here. Police should do jail time for assaulting an innocent woman."
Bryan Horten: "Very disappointed in the Statesman for race baiting.. Never get out of the car during a traffic stop and then resist.. It's doesn't Matter what race you are they will treat you hostile.."
Gracelyn Cooper Dilley: "I'm sorry that you experienced such an awful attack and hope that you know not all police officers behave this way, on behalf of our entire community I sincerely apologize."
Kim Hornsby Beathard: "she was CLEARLY resisting. STOP posting these videos stirring up stuff to cause FURTHER division between police and black people. If this was a white woman, it wouldn't have made it to Facebook. Stop. Just stop."
Ciao Bella: "2015? Why is the apology just being issued… Because the tape came out?"
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