FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — All charges have been dropped charges against a mother who was wrestled to the ground by a Fort Worth police officer in a video posted to Facebook in December.
Fort Worth police said in a statement Thursday that they decided to withdraw charges against Jacqueline Craig and her 19-year-old daughter, Brea Hymond, after consulting with Tarrant County prosecutors.
A statement from the office of Sharen Wilson, Tarrant County District Attorney said: “Recently, our office received Grand Jury referrals from the Fort Worth Police Department stemming from the December 21, 2016 incident involving Officer Martin, Ms. Jacqueline Craig and Ms. Brea Hymond. We have reviewed the materials and agree with them Department’s decision to withdraw these referrals.”
Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price also released a statement following the announcement that charges would be dropped: “We stand in support of the Chief’s decision to handle this case at the city level,” she said. “This is the most appropriate avenue to address the charges in the Dec 21 Rock Garden Trail incident. I am committed to the restorative process needed to heal any breach of trust in our community. We continue to support the work of our excellent Fort Worth officers, who are tasked with so much in their roles to serve and protect our citizens. We know that healing takes time and compassionate efforts. But, as we learn from this incident, I trust that our community will grow to be even stronger.”
The incident happened after officer William Martin responded to a fight between Craig and her neighbor. Craig said the neighbor had choked her 7-year-old son after the boy allegedly littered on the neighbor’s property.
Police also said Thursday that they have cited the neighbor, Itamar Vardi, for assault.
Martin is appealing a 10-day suspension he received for the incident.