The Plano police chief says the department will review policies and procedures after the arrest of an 18 year old who was walking home from work last week.
Someone called police last Tuesday and said a person was walking in the street without a coat in snow and freezing temperatures. February 16, DFW reached a high of just 18 degrees; that morning, the airport had set a record low of -2.
Plano police were dispatched for a welfare check. Rodney Reese says he was walking several blocks from his job at WalMart to his mom's house after work.
Plano police have released body camera footage of the encounter. The video shows Reese walk away from officers when they pull up.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE (Caution Lanuguage)
"We just want to make sure you're all right," an officer said. "Sir, you need to talk to us, all right?"
"I'm good. I'm on my way home. I'm straight, man, it's cold out," Reese replied.
"You're walking in the middle of the road," the officer said.
"I understand that. My bad," Reese said.
After refusing to stop, officers arrested Reese on a charge of pedestrian in the roadway. He spent the night in jail.
Plano Police Chief Ed Drain says charges have now been dropped. He says the intent was to check on the 18 year old's well-being and make sure he reached his destination safely.
"Our officers were on a welfare call. The arrest wasn't consistent with the reason officers were there, to provide assistance," Drain says.
Drain says the department is also reviewing policies and procedures. Drain says officers receive crisis intervention training, "which is the gold standard for law enforcement."
"We respect and trust our police officers and at the same time expect the highest level of professionalism," Mayor Harry LaRosiliere wrote in a statement. "This incident highlights an opportunity for us and the entire community to realize we all can do better in strengthening the relationship between Police and the African-American community. We are committed to understanding what we could have done better and how we can move forward in a constructive manner. Communication and dialogue is important and we look forward to better outcomes in the future."
Drain says he has contacted community leaders, and "we are hearing the expectations our community has for our Police Department."
