Two Dallas police officers are facing felony pre-indictment charges related to their handling of the May 2020 George Floyd protests, according to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. The Dallas Police Association, meanwhile, says the warrants are unjust and politically motivated.
Dallas County DA John Creuzot said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that the charges come after his office worked for a year to identify officers who may have committed criminal offenses during the protests.
The DA's office said Sr. Cpl. Ryan Mabry and Sr. Cpl. Melvin Williams is each facing several pre-indictment charges including multiple instances of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
Dallas George Floyd Protests
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In the statement, Creuzot said the pre-indictment charges will be presented to a Dallas County grand jury for consideration. The DA's charges against Mabry and Williams are below.
Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Ryan Mabry
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of an unknown individual with a 40-millimeter launcher near 300 S. Ervay Street on the evening of May 30, 2020.
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of David McKee with a 40-millimeter launcher in the 900 block of Elm Street on the night of May 30, 2020.
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of Brandon Saenz with a 40-millimeter launcher near 400 S. Ervay Street on the evening of May 30, 2020.
Former Dallas Police Sr. Cpl. Melvin Williams
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of David McKee with a 40-millimeter launcher in the 900 block of Elm Street on the night of May 30, 2020.
- Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon by a public servant, a 1st-degree felony.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of an unknown individual with a 40-millimeter launcher in the 400 block of S. Ervay on the evening of May 30, 2020.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the shooting of Vincent Doyle with a 40-millimeter launcher at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and Griffin Street on the night of May 30, 2020.
- Official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor - In connection to the assault of Jesus Ramiro Lule in the Deep Ellum Entertainment District on the evening of July 18, 2021.
Williams, the DA's office said, was employed as a senior corporal with the Dallas Police Department at the time of the incidents but was fired in January 2022 after the department said he repeatedly punched a man in Deep Ellum during a brawl on July 18, 2021.
Mabry's attorney, Toby Shook, told The Dallas Morning News he believes the evidence will show the demonstrators weren't complying with police orders and Mabry followed correct procedures after being told to disperse the crowd.
Williams' attorney, Robert Rogers, told the newspaper that his client and other SWAT members were only called into action once the protests "had turned into violent riots."
In a statement issued late Wednesday, the Dallas Police Association said many Dallas officers were hurt by rioters as they defended peaceful activists and bystanders who were protesting in response to Floyd's death and that the arrest warrants filed against Mabry and Williams are unjust and politically motivated.
The DPA said the officers "have unjustly been issued arrest warrants by the DA’s attorney for their actions taken while defending themselves, fellow officers, and peaceful protesters from violent rioters that were throwing large rocks, bricks, and frozen water bottles with the intent to harm. The politically-motivated actions by the DA, who is facing a challenger in the Democratic primary, come less than one week before the start of early voting."
DPA President Mike Mata, during a news conference Thursday afternoon, said the association believes in holding officers accountable when they violate policy, laws, or their oaths, but said the level of charges brought forward by the DA is "overreaching and obviously politically motivated" and so he wanted to bring them to the attention of the public.
Mata cited the political motivation being that early voting for the March 1 primary begins on Monday, Feb. 14.
In his statement Wednesday, DA Creuzot thanked the public and media for their assistance in locating video evidence and individuals involved in the above incidents. The office continues to collect evidence of any other possible offenses committed during the May 2020 Protests in Downtown Dallas. If you have any information, please contact the DA’s office at: protestreport@dallascounty.org or call 214-653-3714.
