Body digital camera footage obtained by HuffPost exhibits a police canine viciously attacking an unarmed Black man in entrance of his 9-year-old son throughout a site visitors cease in Denison, Texas, final yr.
Derrick Dunlap, 54, was pulled over by Denison police on May 25, 2023, whereas his son was with him. Dunlap’s attorneys say police reported that he was stopped as a result of the sunshine over his license plate was too dim.
Footage exhibits an officer, recognized by attorneys as Tyler Buchanan, get out of the police automobile and say “Here, here, here” to the canine as Dunlap’s youngster is heard screaming within the background.
The canine is seen repeatedly biting Dunlap, who’s in a grassy space along with his arms up, attempting to get away from the canine. Buchanan approaches him and shouts “Give me your hands” as he grabs Dunlap’s arm to drag him to the bottom because the canine continues to attack.
“Why did you tell him to bite me?” Dunlap twice asks the officer whereas mendacity face-down as he’s nonetheless being bitten.
“Give me your fucking hand, man,” Buchanan is heard saying to Dunlap. Dunlap continues to scream in ache as Buchanan handcuffs him. “Oh, my God, you are doing this in front of my son,” Dunlap stated.
Dunlap’s shirt is ripped open by this level, and as Buchanan shines a flashlight over his again, a number of chunk marks are seen. At this level within the video, Dunlap’s son yells at Buchanan to not kill his father.
“I’m not going to kill him, just get back,” Buchanan says.
Dunlap was taken to a hospital to be handled for his accidents. Pictures from the incident obtained by HuffPost affirm there have been chunk marks in a number of locations on Dunlap’s again. Dunlap stays scarred from the mauling, his legal professional stated.
The Denison Police Department by no means acknowledged the incident publicly. Dunlap filed a lawsuit in opposition to Buchanan in December, which the Dallas Morning News reported on in January.
Dunlap’s legal professional advised HuffPost he’s working with the Denison Police Department on addressing the violent arrest. It is unclear if Buchanan or anybody else on the police division has ever been reprimanded.
“Tyler Buchanan betrayed his badge and the code of ethics and should be held fully accountable for his wrongful acts,” stated civil rights legal professional Daryl Washington in a press release.
“What Tyler Buchanan did to Derrick was demeaning and flat-out hateful.”
Washington, who’s representing Dunlap, added that points with the Denison Police Department should not at all times getting consideration as a result of small-town tradition discourages residents from voicing their complaints.
“They are accustomed to getting away with these kinds of things because no one complains. In these smaller cities this is kind of what you expect to happen,” Washington advised HuffPost.
Denison police didn’t reply to requests for touch upon the footage obtained or lawsuit.
