Former Baytown officer accused of assault indicted

former Baytown police officer who was fired in June after a bystander was struck during an arrest — an incident caught on video that went viral — was indicted Wednesday by a Harris County grand jury, officials said.

Nathaniel Brown, a nineyear veteran of the Baytown Police Department, was indicted on charges of assault, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. The offense is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $4,000 fine.

“The grand jury has made clear that our community won’t tolerate unnecessary violence by anyone including police officers,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement.

The encounter happened June 2 when Brown was arresting a 23-year-old driver outside Baytown Market for an alleged traffic violation, officials said.

Witnesses near the store began filming. Brown apnicipal proached one of them, Skylar Gilmore, and threw him to the ground. He struck Gilmore in the face and shoulder with his knee, the district attorney’s office said.

Gilmore and another witness were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and using profane language, but the district attorney’s office dismissed the charges after reviewing video of the incident.

Brown was fired days later.

William Nelson, president of the Baytown MuA Police Association, said the union was disappointed by the indictment, calling it an extension of the “political gamesmanship” that motivated Brown’s termination.

“Our officers come to work every day, trying to make a difference in their community, but it is very disheartening to see the policymakers holding criminal behavior up on a pedestal, while trying to criminalize officers,” Nelson said in an email. “Officer Brown wasn’t perfect, but he was a good officer.” Lt. Steve Dorris with the Baytown Police Department said in a news release Wednesday that Brown was relieved of his duties by Police Chief C. Keith Dougherty as a result of an internal review of the incident.

“We have faith and trust in the grand jury process and respect their work and decision in this first step of the judicial process on this matter,” Dorris said.

“We hold all of our officers to very high moral, ethical and professional standards and are committed to holding accountable those who fail to adhere to those standards. As we wait for this case to proceed through the judicial system, we ask that our community continue to have faith and trust in the Baytown Police Department and the dedicated professional men and women who are committed to serving all members of our community with integrity, compassion and professionalism.”