Grand Jury To Decide Whether Police Officer Used Excessive Force In Macing Already-Arrested Detainee (Video)

AUSTIN, TX — Travis County prosecutors have decided to present a grand jury with evidence in a police use-of-force-case in trying to determine whether charges should be filed against the officer involved.

The case centers on the actions of police officer Cameron Caldwell, who was filmed applying liberal amounts of mace on an already-handcuffed detainee in the back of a police van. In the footage showing the incident that was uploaded to YouTube, the officer is heard inferring to the detainee that he was being maced for kicking on the door of the vehicle to get the officer's attention.

"What did I tell you about kicking the door?" the police tells the man before spraying mace at close range and shutting the door of the transport van. Video below shows the incident, but be warned of profanity used throughout.

In August, Police Chief Art Acevedo suspended Caldwell for 45 days as a result of the incident. First Assistant District Attorney John Neal told the Austin American-Statesman on Wednesday the decision to present the case was “made after our normal review process for use-of-force cases.”

The Statesman notes it's unusual for prosecutors to present cases that do not involve lethal force, and it's only been done four times since January 2012. None of those cases resulted in criminal charges.

The most recent use-of-force case centered on the violent violent arrest of teacher Breaion King in June 2015 by Officer Bryan Richter. Earlier this month, a grand jury declined to indict Richter. The video below shows that incident, illustrating the violent arrest of the Austin school teacher for what began as a traffic stop for speeding.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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