Name: APD under fire after video appears to show officers slamming trans woman to ground
Uploaded: 2025-03-19T09:57:32+00:00
Description: AUSTIN, Texas — Some Austin City Council members are calling for an investigation after video posted to social media appears to show an altercation between an Austin Police Department (APD) officer and a transgender woman earlier this month.

AUSTIN, Texas — Some Austin City Council members are calling for an investigation after video posted to social media appears to show an altercation between an Austin Police Department (APD) officer and a transgender woman earlier this month.

Councilmembers Vanessa Fuentes, José Velásquez and Mike Siegel released a joint statement Tuesday afternoon regarding the video, dated March 2, which appears to show a transgender woman being thrown to the ground by an APD officer.

A longer body camera video provided by APD Tuesday afternoon appears to shows the individual strike another person as APD officers approach, blowing their whistles. The officers then attempt to escort the individual away from the other person before throwing her to the ground.

APD said the incident occurred at approximately 2:30 a.m. on March 2, at the intersection of Sixth and Neches streets. Officers observed a “physical disturbance” in a crowd of people before identifying “an intoxicated individual in a black dress that was attempting to engage in physical confrontations.” APD said officers blew their whistles to get the crowd to disperse.

“Those involved in the disturbance began to disperse, including the subject in the black dress. However, the subject relocated to the side of a nearby building and swung a closed fist twice at the face of another individual. At this time, officers again approached the subject to stop the assault. The officer continued to blow their whistle and called out ‘Austin Police’ to the individual,” APD said.

The department said the individual then began moving and pulling her arms away from the officers who were trying to detain her. An officer reportedly grabbed the individual’s arm and “attempted to turn the subject around by pulling them back” and it was at this time that “the subject went to the ground on their knees and then hit their face on the ground.”

The individual was detained in handcuffs, evaluated by medics and arrested for Disorderly Conduct – Fighting.

Fuentes, Velásquez and Siegel are calling for a use of force investigation.

“We have taken steps to ensure that this excessive use of force is investigated properly and that appropriate action is taken to ensure accountability,” the councilmembers wrote in their statement. “At a time when our LGBTQIA+ community is under continuing attacks from the national and state governments, we must do all we can as a City to ensure that all members of our community are safe. Thank you to all who have reached out and shared their concern about the safety and dignity of our trans community.”