Jacqueline Craig: Texas mom settles civil rights lawsuit over her and her daughter’s violent 2016 arrest
FORT WORTH, TEXAS: After a protracted legal dispute over a violent 2016 arrest in which a white officer wrestled a Black woman and her daughter to the ground, city officials in Fort Worth, Texas, reached a settlement with her on Friday, September 23. According to NBC News, the woman, Jacqueline Craig, received a $150,000 award. However, the city council must approve it in October.
In 2016, a video of Jacqueline Craig's arrest that showed her and her daughter being restrained by a white police officer named William Martin while he pointed a taser at a second Black bystander went viral, according to NBC Dallas. The officer allegedly also detained Brea Hymond, Craig's 19-year-old daughter, who had recorded the incident.
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In the video, Craig told the police that her neighbor had choked her son, who was 7 years old at the time and had grabbed his neck for littering. She also claimed that her son had refused to pick up the paper after being told to by her neighbor. As per the video, the officer responded, "Why don't you teach your son not to litter?"
The mother informed the officer that the neighbor's inability to substantiate her son's littering was irrelevant. Craig said in the video, "It doesn't matter if he did or didn't, it doesn't give him the right to put his hands on him. Martin then retorted, "Why not?"
Craig told the local outlet, "I'm very distraught because what I felt I was doing was actually protecting my child, and it didn't happen. It made me feel less of a parent because I couldn't protect him when he needed it."As per NBC News, Craig was accused of resisting arrest and having outstanding traffic warrants, and her daughter was accused of interfering with public duty and resisting arrest.
The charges against the texas mom and her daughter were dropped, reported NBC news. The officer was suspended for 10 days for breaking departmental rules. Mayor Mattie Parker said in a statement, "Reaching a settlement with Craig was the right decision, in this case, to provide closure for the Craig family and our community." He added, "As a city, we will remain committed to fostering greater communication and understanding and continuing the progress we've made in addressing the needs of Fort Worth."
In 2016, on the steps of the former Tarrant County courthouse, about 150 protesters gathered to express their disapproval of the officer and support for the Craig family. Dominique Alexander, founder of the Next Generation Action Network stated at the time, We do not want this officer to resign. We want him terminated. We want the white gentleman that assaulted that 7-year-old child charged with assault."