Texas DPS Trooper resigns after excessive force during a DWI arrest
Videotape shows Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Arturo Perez slamming a 22 year old woman into concrete barrier while handcuffed.
The trooper who is the subject of an investigation by the Texas Rangers for using excessive force during a DWI arrest on the Dallas North Tollway, has retired from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Arturo Perez responded to a single vehicle accident on the Dallas North Tollway on October 11, 2009 at around 3 in the morning. The 22-year old woman driving the vehicle was suspected of driving while intoxicated in Dallas, and Tropper Perez initiated a field investigation. The suspect reportedly failed several field sobriety tests and smelled of alcohol. As Perez was walking the woman to his squad car, she jerked and tried to walk away from him. Perez warned her not to resist or she would get hurt.
The video camera in his cruiser then captured images of him jerking the woman in an effort to take her to the ground. Instead, the officer ended up pushing the handcuffed woman chin first into a concrete ledge with such force that her feet left the ground. She then collapsed "like a sack of potatoes." Perez denied using excessive force, saying it was not his intent to hurt her.
Perez, 42, joined the Department of Public safety three years ago, after working 16 years for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. On October 23, 2009 the DPS director initiated a process to fire Perez for misconduct that included the excessive force incident. Perez retired before that process was complete. Despite the resignation, the Texas Rangers investigation of the use of excessive force during the DWI arrest will continue. Its findings will be presented to Dallas County prosecutors.
