The 16-year-old girl seen on video being slammed to the ground by a McKinney police officer at a chaotic pool party in the North Texas city a year and a half ago has filed a federal lawsuit.
Dajerria Becton and her legal guardian, Shashona Becton, are suing former McKinney police officer Eric Casebolt, the McKinney Police Department and the city of McKinney, saying Casebolt used excessive force and the city failed to properly train its police force.
Dejerria is seeking $5 million in damages.
Cellphone videos taken by people at Craig Ranch Pool in June 2015 showed Casebolt, who is white, running after black teens and ordering them to the ground, then forcing Dajerria, who was 15 at the time, onto her stomach and kneeling on her back and neck.
At one point, he drew his firearm after two young of the teenagers charged forward in apparent protest of Dajerria's treatment, but holstered the weapon when two other officers intervened.
Police said officers were responding to reports that teens unauthorized to use the pool were jumping a fence to gain entry.
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The suit, which was filed in federal court, claims Casebolt violated the Dajerria's constitutional rights by using excessive force and holding her without probable cause.
The family is blaming the police department and the city for the girl's injuries for not training officers properly, according to the complaint.
Casebolt resigned shortly after the incident, which Police Chief Greg Conley called "indefensible." A grand jury declined to indict him this June.
In a statement to The Dallas Morning News, legal representatives for the City of McKinney deny the claims and will defend the lawsuit. A message was left for an attorney who has represented Casebolt in a prior case.
In a news conference Wednesday Becton's attorney, Kim Cole, said she was curious how the city would defend itself from actions the chief stated were "indefensible."
Federal Lawsuit Documents
