5 facts surrounding the viral Fort Worth police video

A video that has now gone viral of a woman and her two teenage daughters being antagonized and arrested by a Fort Worth police officer Wednesday December 21st, is causing an uproar. Family and community members are calling for the immediate firing of the officer, who has yet to be identified.

5 facts of Fort Worth police viral video

The woman has been identified as Jacqueline Craig, her 19 year-old daughter Bea Haymond, and her 15-year-old daughter who were arrested on various charges and released on Thursday night.

While there are many speculations surrounding the case as more details emerge, here are some facts:

1. Jacqueline Craig called Fort Worth, TX police to report an alleged assault on her 7-year-old son by a neighbor. Officer tells Craig “Teach Your Son Not To Litter”

Jacqueline Craig, who lives in a neighborhood in a Fort Worth TX area, called the police after her daughter and son came to her saying a neighbor, which she knows, allegedly put her son in a choke hold for apparently “littering”.

After briefly speaking with the man (the neighbor), the police officer walks over to Jacqueline Craig and says: “What’s going on with you?”

“My daughter and son came home, saying that this man grabbed him and choked him,” the mother said as her daughter recorded. “I came around here and asked him. I said, ‘Why did you put your hands on my son?’ He said, ‘Oh, he threw some paper and I told him to pick it up.’ He said he defied him and that’s why he did it…you don’t have the right to choke somebody’s son. My son is 7-years-old, you don’t have the right to grab him and choke him.”

“He can’t prove to me that he did or didn’t, but it doesn’t matter,” the mother said. “That doesn’t give him the right to put his hands on him.” The officer then responded, “Why not?”

Things now go to another level. At this point, Jacqueline Craig, visibly upset told the officer that he didn’t know what she taught her children, made it clear that he was wrong for interrogating her in the manner he was instead of the man that assaulted her 7-year-old son.

The officer, completely suffering from selective memory forgetting that he had not just suggested that the man had a right to assault her child, asked, “Why are you yelling?” She explained that she was “pissed off” that he would even suggest that her son deserved to be assaulted and questioned her parenting skills, to which he responded, “If you keep yelling at me, you’re going to piss me off and I’m going take you to jail.”

Jacqueline Craig and her two daughters would be arrested after that without provocation.

2. Jacqueline Craig face charges including resisting arrest and was released Thursday.

Photo Source: Facebook

Jacqueline Craig was charged with resisting arrest and failure to identify, according to court records. Jacqueline Craig was also arrested on warrants from the Irving Police Department for traffic charges, including driving with a suspended license, failure to maintain financial responsibility and speeding. She was being held on a total of $5,901.90 bail.

According to their lawyer, S. Lee Merritt, Jacqueline Craig and her daughters were released on Thursday.

3. The officer has been placed on restricted duty pending an internal investigation

The officer, who has not been identified, has been placed on restricted duty status pending an internal investigation.

In a statement released on Facebook, the Fort Worth police department said they received information about a video post around 10 p.m. Wednesday, December 21st and that there is an internal review in process.

We acknowledge that the initial appearance of the video may raise serious questions. We ask that our investigators are given the time and opportunity to thoroughly examine this incident and to submit their findings. This process may take time, but the integrity of the investigation rests upon the ability of the investigators to document facts and to accurately evaluate the size and scope of what transpired. We ask our community for patience and calm during this investigation process.

4.A Protest Was Held at Tarrant County Courthouse on Thursday, December 22nd

Protesters rallied behind Jacqueline Craig and her daughters during a protest at Tarrant County Courthouse in Fort Wort, TX.

About 150 protesters gathered in downtown Fort Worth, TX at Tarrant County Courthouse at 7 p.m. on Thursday

“It’s time to stand up and protect your community,” LaShadion Anthony said. “If you came out here for a kumbaya, you came to the wrong place.” Fort Worth pastor Sharon Mason Ford-Turner said Craig called police for help and received none. “When we call the Fort Worth PD, we want help. Not to be arrested,” she said. “She called him to help. And he questioned her.” Activist Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network called on Fort Worth Police Department’s leadership to “do the right thing.”

5. The family has vowed to get the officer fired and has set up a GoFundMe for Jacqueline Craig and her family.

The family of Jacqueline Craig and her daughters said they vow to get the officer fired for his actions.

Porsha Craver, Craig’s niece, who posted the video, addressed the viewer at the end, saying they want the video seen by as many people as possible.

“I just want you all to see how the Fort Worth Police Department treated my family after calling them for a racist man putting his hands on a 7-year-old, my 7-year-old little cousin, who couldn’t defend himself. When they called Fort Worth Police, this is what we got,” Craver said. “These motherf*cking racist-a*s officers, who clearly are not here for us. Racist b*tches. … We want everybody to see this s*it, how Fort Worth Police Department is here to treat people, and what this racist a*s police did. He deserves to lose his job and this is our goal.”

Also, a GoFundMe account has been set up to assist with the needs of the family during this time. 

“On behalf of the Craig Family, they thank you all for the continued support and prayers. As you’ll can imagine, the Craig Family has endured unbearable pain within the last 72 hours. They are restless and are incurring many expenses due to the event that occurred on Wednesday, December 21st. They are continually being harassed and have not been able to comfortably stay in their own home. Please assist with any monetary donations to help ease their burdens  as well as prayers for the Craig Family, for their strength, peace and justice. All donations will be sent directly to the Craig Family. Again, thank you and Happy Holidays.  #ThouShallNotLitter #SilenceEqualsComplicity

Help spread the word!”

Here is the direct link to the GoFundMe page.