Police say video clip does not show entire story of arrest

A video circulating on social media Wednesday of a Texarkana, Texas, police officer using force to detain a suspect did not represent the entire incident, according to police.

“The video that has been on social media is a small clip that happened at the end of the incident. We viewed the entire footage from the store’s surveillance video, and we do not feel this officer used excessive force… we have concluded that the officers acted within the scope of their duties and within departmental policy,” said Sgt. Geoff Lewis, TTPD spokesman.

Police also reviewed footage from the officer’s body camera.

Timothy Thurston, 53, of Texarkana, Texas, was arrested Monday on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest.

The video was brought to the attention of the TTPD early Wednesday, Lewis said. No one has filed any complaint regarding the incident, but the video was making the rounds on Facebook, Lewis said.

“Every time an officer uses any level of

force, it is thoroughly reviewed to ensure our officers followed all departmental rules and regulations,” said a statement on the department’s Facebook page.

The department also posted the video on its Facebook page.

At 11:40 p.m. Monday, a TTPD officer was conducting a traffic stop in the parking lot in the 1800 block of New Boston Road. Immediately upon exiting his patrol unit, the officer heard a loud voice coming from across the lot and recognized the individual from previous encounters, Lewis said.

It appeared he was under the influence as he was dancing and yelling loudly in the parking lot. The officer completed the traffic stop and made contact with the suspect. Despite repeated attempts to summon him, the individual walked away and refused to respond. Based upon his actions, speech and mannerisms, the officer determined he was, in fact, under the influence. The officers then grabbed his arms in an attempt to make the arrest, which led to a struggle. During the incident the officers encountered resistance from the individual despite repeated commands to place his hands behind his back. They went to the ground, where, again, the individual refused to place his hands where officers could handcuff him. One of the officers used the back of his closed hand to stun him long enough to gain compliance. He immediately complied and was handcuffed and arrested.

Once the suspect was handcuffed, no force was used, Lewis said.

Thurston is being held in the Bi-State jail. His bail has been set at $5,000.