Texas officer who pulled gun at teen pool party apologizes, cites 'stress'

MCKINNEY, Texas, June 11 (UPI) -- The Texas police officer who quit the force after outrage erupted over a videotaped confrontation at a pool party full of teenagers -- during which he pulled his handgun -- issued an apology through his attorney Wednesday.

The incident occurred Friday, when McKinney Police Cpl. David Eric Casebolt and other officers arrived in a neighborhood due to reports of fighting among some of the party-goers. A teen in attendance began filming as Cpl. Casebolt and other officers attempted to secure the scene.

Cpl. Casebolt can be seen running at the beginning of the video -- and briefly tripping over something -- in pursuit of unseen teens. Moments later, he can be seen telling other party-goers to leave the area and threatening to arrest them if they didn't comply.

Two black teenagers are seen handcuffed sitting on the grass as Cpl. Casebolt gets into a verbal altercation with a group of teen girls nearby.

"Keep running you mouth!" Casebolt, 41, is heard saying to the girls as they walk away.

Moments later, he walks over to another group of young girls and forces one down to the ground and restrains her. After a few seconds at the escalating scene, Cpl. Casebolt removes his handgun from his belt holster as two teen boys move in near the altercation.

Casebolt's Attorney, Jane Bishkin, said Wednesday that her client had been under severe stress before arriving at the pool party -- as he had previously responded to an emotionally-charged suicide and a suicide attempt.

"The nature of these two suicide calls took an emotional toll on Eric Casebolt," Bishkin said. "With all that had happened that day, he allowed his emotions to get the better of him."

"He never intended to mistreat anyone, but was only reacting to a situation and the challenges that it presented," she continued. "He apologizes to all who were offended."

McKinney police also responded to the incident and said Casebolt's actions were "indefensible."

"Our policies, our training, our practice do not support his actions," McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley said.

Casebolt had been a member of the McKinney police force since August 2005. In 2008, he and other McKinney officers were sued in federal court by a man alleging excessive use of force and racial profiling, but that suit was dismissed a year later, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The video outraged people, particularly parents, across the nation. Protesters held rallies demanding that Casebolt be removed from the force. The McKinney Police Department said Tuesday that he had resigned.

The girl at the center of the video was released to her parents and was not charged with any offense, and a lawyer representing her said stress is not a justifiable reason to behave in such an aggressive manner.

"Using that as an excuse, or what sounded like a defense, it didn't bother me, but I wasn't sure if it perhaps belittled the apology a little," attorney Hannah Stroud, who represents the girl's family, said.

Stroud said the family is exploring legal options, such as a civil rights lawsuit. McKinney police are also determining whether any charges against Casebolt are warranted.