White officers in Texas who led black man on rope avoid criminal charges

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

White officers in Texas who led black man on rope avoid criminal charges

Donald Neely was arrested by two mounted officers who handcuffed him and used a rope to lead him through the city

Miranda Bryant
Mon 19 Aug 2019 20.34 BST Last modified on Mon 19 Aug 2019 20.49 BST

Two white police officers who prompted national outcry after leading a black man through the streets of Galveston, Texas by a rope while they rode on horseback will not face criminal charges.

Donald Neely, 43, was arrested on a charge of criminal trespassing on 3 August. In the absence of a police vehicle, the mounted police officers attached Neely, described as homeless and mentally ill, to a rope, his hands handcuffed behind his back.

A picture of the incident, widely circulated online, sparked outrage – prompting comparisons to slavery.

Galveston police department admitted to the officers’ “poor judgement” and said it would stop using the procedure.

Galveston’s police chief, Vernon Hale apologized for the “unnecessary embarrassment”, adding: “We have immediately changed the policy to prevent the use of this technique and will review all mounted training and procedures for more appropriate methods.”

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/19/white-officers-in-texas-who-led-black-man-on-rope-avoid-criminal-charges

[MontanaMama]

1. Of course they did.

I wish I were surprised.

[Oppaloopa]

2. Remember a few years ago the PD in Texas made a black man craw naked thru the police department?

[MontanaMama]

3. I'd forgotten that.

Jesus it's only Monday and I'm exhausted.

[virgogal]

6. It apparently was a technique used by the mounted police and

had nothing to do with race.

[Blue_true]

7. Yep, they were following procedures. From what I understand those procedures are under review

after the image went viral. My belief is that one should have dismounted and walked with the suspect while having his horse trailing behind.

[walkingman]

4. It's Texas, what do you expect?

[TexasTowelie]

5. Since the officers avoided criminal charges

it appears that a civil lawsuit might be the solution. Not only can Neely sue the officers, but he can sue the police department and city also to get the big $$$.

I hope that Neely can find a good attorney to take his case.

[Blue_true]

8. From what I read, department procedures allowed what they did.

It seems lazy of them to me, one should have dismounted and walked with the suspect.

[Aristus]

9. Let me guess: Leading a black man by a rope isn't illegal in Texas.

I swear, I used to be so proud to have been born and raised there...

The sooner the place turns blue, the sooner I can return for a visit...

[vercetti2021]

10. Give or take 2 to 4 more years I think

[Aristus]

11. From your mouth to God's ears...

[Eugene]

12. Nor is it against that department's current policies and procedures.

The chief said they will fix it. Without that it was just poor judgment and horrible optics.