Citizens are protesting police brutality in Baytown, TX after they allegedly pepper sprayed children and tasered 7 adults, including a grandmother 4 times, after responding to a complaint of loud music at a birthday party on May 4th.
Police responded to the accusations stating that the partygoers had attacked them first after they attempted to arrest one of them, and that they had actually locked 2 officers inside in order to trap them. However, the video shows 5-6 officers inside, not 2, as the dept. officially stated.
Baytown police are denying allegations of excessive force and racism leveled by guests at a house party where seven people were arrested after officers answered a loud music complaint there around midnight May 4. Much of the incident was recorded on cell phone video released Sunday.
Police say two officers warned homeowner Jose Zepeda earlier that evening that neighbors had complained about loud music. When they returned around midnight, Det. Edgar Elizondo says the officers found Zepeda in his backyard with 15-20 partygoers, and wrote him a ticket for disturbing the peace.
Elizondo says Zepeda refused to sign the citation, and the officers attempted to arrest him. Elizondo says three men stepped in to stop them: Rodolfo Zepeda, 19, Edgar Garcia, 24, and 23-year-old Christian Zepeda.
“From that point on, the three men started pushing the officers, assaulting the officers. Therefore one of the officers pulled out pepper spray and sprayed one time,” Elizondo said.
When the officers used pepper spray on the men, two of them ran into the house, Elizondo says, and the officers followed them. Once inside, police say someone locked the door behind the officers.
“You basically had a couple of officers inside trapped, fighting with people,” said Elizondo.
The officers put out a distress call. As help arrived, Elizondo says police used Tasers on three people who tried to interfere with arrests. One of them was 53-year-old Maria Zepeda who is seen on the video writhing after being shot with a Taser.
Her son, Gustavo Zepeda, says his mother was doing nothing but sitting in a chair when a female officer kicked her out of the chair when she didn’t respond to a police officers’ commands.
Family members claim Zepeda was shot four times with Tasers. Elizondo says she was shocked once when she tried to stop police from arresting her son.
Another part of the video shows several young children crying and complaining that they have pepper spray in their eyes. Elizondo says the officers did not spray anyone inside the house. He suggested the children may have been affected by spray still clinging to the men’s clothes after they ran inside.
There were also allegations that the video shows police referring to party-goers using racist names during the struggle. Elizondo says the video actually shows something else.
“We slowed that video down and you could plainly hear the officers saying, ‘Get back, get back.’ There were no racial remarks made, most of the officers there were Hispanic,” Elizondo said.
Dozens of angry protesters marched on the Baytown Police Department Sunday calling its officers criminal and abusive toward Hispanic people.
Community activist Quanell X calls the video clear evidence of police brutality and abuse aimed at people of color.
“The Baytown Police Department has a notorious record of violating the civil rights of Mexicans and blacks,” he said.
He added, “What are the citizens to do when they are being beaten and pepper-sprayed and Tasered, and they have done nothing criminal at all.”
Elizondo says the video has been turned over to prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney.
Cops have no limit to their stupidity but it would help[ if the police commissioner whould hire people that have over an 80 IQ!!
maybe just maybe…police go to far….knock, ask “can you please lower the volume on your music”…
In a Socialist policed state,you will see more of this, with no accountability or news media reporting as the militarized police increase their numbers and strong armed tactics..”Obamas Amerika”..
It would appear that the people are getting tired of the bulliness that officers are showing. it is about time they start to stand and fight against it, but be careful, we don’t want to give ovommit reason to call for martial law
Cyrus Martinez, although I do not trust the police, acting like ALL of them are corrupt only shows that you are corrupt yourself and that you fail to see the irony of your predicament in your life, and this statement is from someone that WAS falsely accused of crimes by the police almost fifteen years ago, sir!
I get so tired of hearing how bad the police are, yes they make mistakes but they are only human, I wonder how you would be if you had to put you life on the line everyday, when the walk up to a care the never no what to expect or what behind a closed door, I know the do thing wrong but I am thankful they are there and if you do what they tell you to do you want get hurt.
as I keep saying cops the new bad guys, its a shame when the biggest criminal in the room is a cop.
Andrew Moore maybe you should read the full article before making stupid comments. The police had been there earlier warned these people earlier about the complaint. This was the second visit to the residence and was now outside the home. Disturbing the peace is a crime and if you didn’t comply the first time when asked nicely what the hell do you expect to be begged? If you’re to ignorant not you but the people partying then maybe they shouldn’t be partying at all. People do have to sleep and work. No one should have to tolerate loud music just because you want to party. Quiet hours if I remember correctly start at 10 PM. I Support The Police On This one.
Wetback illegals!!
Lot of rush to judgement here..More people today refuse to abide by the orders given them by police.and here’s a clue, they aren’t leaving cause your inconvenienced by there presence. And yes there are police officers that shouldn’t be allowed to wash cars for a living let alone arrest people, But ,people don’t have the right to tell them F U and start questioning the police as if THEY are in charge, sorry DOESN’T work that way.Run your videos, but running your mouth is not gonna be your best play.