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Who is Ed Drain? Plano top cop who charged White man with assault for confronting BLM rally scolded by Texas AG

Paxton criticized Drain in a statement: "Too many [cops] are held back by politically motivated leaders, crippled by the woke agitators, now aiders and abettors to liberal lunacy'

PLANO, TEXAS: A man who angrily confronted a group of protesters in Plano, Texas, faces a misdemeanor assault charge for his actions. Police have filed a charge of assault by contact against the man, whom they did not name. The Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of up to $500. Texans protesting the death of Marvin Scott III, who demanded the arrest of the eight officers who were involved in the killing, also called for the arrest of the White man who disrupted their protest on May 2. 

As protesters led a march through Plano and Frisco to honor Scott that day, a white man moved toward protesters while screaming obscenities. He demanded that a police officer “get these f***ing people out of the way.” He then walked to a young Black woman and slapped the cellphone she was using to film him to the ground. He also made a threatening gesture towards attorney Lee Merritt, who represents the Scott family. The man shouted: “Get them out of here!” and yelled “F**k you!” at a protester. Shortly after, the man left the scene.  

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As per the Dallas Morning News, footage of the confrontation, which already had been shared widely online, gained new life on Saturday, May 8 when the far-right began sharing the clip online, casting the motorist as a victim who had a gun pointed at him during the incident.

Plano police issued a statement quashing rumors around the incident. “It has also been reported over social media platforms that a protestor pointed a firearm at the male subject that confronted the crowd. These reports are false. A protestor pointed an electronic control device at the male subject in an effort to protect the female from being further assaulted by the male. Officers on scene confirmed that the device was not a firearm. Electronic control devices can be purchased without a permit or license and the person who pointed the device did not commit a criminal offense by doing so. We have included a photo of the person holding the device,” the statement said. 

Who is Ed Drain?

Ken Paxton, a Tea Party conservative who has served as the Attorney General of Texas since January 2015, criticized the move to charge the White man. On Twitter, he shared a statement saying, “Read my statement regarding a recent episode of mob rule in Plano, TX. And be sure to watch the full 2 min video and see the critical screenshot below. Thank you @JackPosobiec for exposing this!”

In his statement, Paxton said, “Unfortunately, it looks like it already has in Plano, thanks to a group of radical-left armed agitators and a police chief unwilling to enforce the law” -- repeating the lie that the police had already fact-checked --  adding then that the police had informed him that it was not a gun. He said, “Whatever it was, the police declined to pursue the leftist who brandished the weapon, and no charges are being pressed against him.” 

He then criticized Plano Police Chief Ed Drain, saying Drain was “anxious to excuse the rioters”. He said, “Most law enforcement officers are ready and willing to uphold law and order. We need them to do that. But too many are held back by politically motivated leaders, crippled by the woke agitators, now aiders and abettors to liberal lunacy.” He said further, “I will never allow our beautiful Texas cities and neighborhoods to become Portland or Seattle or San Francisco because of the unchecked left.”

Drain started his law enforcement career with the Plano Police Department in 1994. He worked in patrol, the neighborhood police unit, and traffic investigations. He also served on the SWAT team and the bomb squad. In 2006, Chief Drain was appointed as the Assistant Police Chief, a position he held for 10 years. 

In July 2016, Drain was appointed as the Interim Chief for the Amarillo Police Department -- he was formally selected in October the same year. In February 2020, Drain returned to Plano to serve as the Police Chief.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Drain served in the US Army as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal officer. Between April 2004 and April 2005, he was recalled to active duty and assigned to the Third U.S. Army Corps in Iraq, where he was awarded a Bronze Star and other military decorations. Drain retired from the Army Reserves in 2007 as a Lieutenant Colonel. Drain's wife, Linda, previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney for Collin, Potter, and Randall Counties and is now retired.