North Texas mom says she suffered injuries after police dragged her from car over alleged littering

HURST, TX — A video showing a North Texas mother being dragged from her car during a traffic stop has gone viral, prompting renewed scrutiny of police conduct in Hurst, Texas.

The footage shows Taneisha Thompson, 35, being aggressively pulled out of her vehicle by an officer who accused her of littering after she reportedly tossed a citation out the window, Atlanta Black Star reported.

Thompson said she feared for her safety and began recording the January encounter. She had been driving with her 15‑year‑old son when an officer stopped her, saying she was speeding in a school zone.

North Texas Police Officer Accuses Mom of Littering

The video shows the officer attempting to hand Thompson a speeding citation.

When he tossed the ticket into her car, she appeared to throw it back out and said she did not want it.

The officer responded, “That’s littering. Step out of the car,” before reaching inside and grabbing her wrist, Atlanta Black Star reported.

Her son can be heard pleading, “Please stop,” as the officer pulled his mother from the vehicle.

Taneisha Thompson, Attorney Claims Injuries and Excessive Force

Thompson suffered a black eye, a busted lip requiring stitches, and other injuries, according to her attorney Lee Merritt, CBS News Texas reported.

Merritt said the officer used unnecessary force over a minor infraction that should have ended with a citation.

He acknowledged that officers could make arrests for littering. However, he questioned whether this situation warranted the officer’s actions.

“Here, the officers are given discretion to say, ‘Is this a situation that requires an arrest?” he said.

He argued the officer could have waited for another supervisor or issued a second citation instead of escalating the encounter.

Police Say Complaint Was Unfounded

The Hurst Police Department said the incident occurred on January 16.

The department confirmed that an internal affairs investigation found the excessive‑force complaint “unfounded,” though the case remains under review by the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office, CBS News Texas reported.

Officials said they are aware of community concerns and pledged transparency.

Taneisha Thompson Speaks

According to NBC DFW, Thompson said she began recording because the officer’s demeanor changed during the stop.

She told reporters the experience was “traumatizing” and left her fearful during future interactions with police.

Attorney Says Client’s Civil Rights Were Violated

Merritt said the onus was on the officer to de-escalate.

“She wasn’t happy, and I think that the officer caught wind that she had an attitude, and this officer decided to punish her for her attitude,” said Merritt.

Merritt said this was a violation of Thompson’s Fourth Amendment rights, which protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.

In a press release, Merritt demanded the following from the City of Hurst:

• A full, independent investigation into the officer’s conduct
• immediate release of all body-worn camera footage from the encounter
• “concrete accountability measures” within the Hurst Police Department

The Hurst Police Department has not identified the officer involved in the arrest.