Sanger PD releases video of arrest that got former 'Officer of the Year' fired, charged
Sanger officer excessive force investigation
After pulling the car over, officers ordered the driver out of the vehicle and told him to walk toward the back. The driver complied,, according to Sanger police, but Sergeant Thompson used physical force and a taser while trying to put handcuffs on them.
SANGER, Texas - The Sanger Police Department released dash camera video of a traffic stop that led to one of its officers being fired and charged.
Former police sergeant Cole Thompson was fired and is facing charges after allegedly using excessive force during an arrest last October.
The new video shows Sanger police officers initiating a traffic stop on Oct. 23, 2022.
Police say a call came in about a husband and wife having a verbal disturbance in their vehicle. A child was also in the car.
The officers asked the husband to get out of the driver’s seat, and he complied.
The video shows Thompson giving the driver some sort of instructions. The driver put his hands above his head. Thompson placed them behind the driver’s back. The sergeant was working to place the driver in handcuffs.
There did not appear to be any sort of struggle until the driver moved his right leg while tilting his head to the left. He was then taken down by Sergeant Thompson.
Punches appeared to be thrown by the officer. Another officer came into the frame.
According to Sanger police, Thompson pulled out a taser to use it against the driver before securing handcuffs.
Dr. Alex Del Carmen, associate dean at Tarleton State University’s School of Criminology, is not alone in this belief.
"I believe that the force that the officer used was not warranted and was not justified," he said. "The police department is also reacting to whether or not the narrative that the officer wrote is accurate as per the review of the body camera and dash camera video."
No one was charged related to the disturbance call.
In December, Thompson was fired by Sanger police after an internal investigation.
Cole Thompson (Source: Denton County Jail)
Police say the investigation determined that the use of force report filed by Thompson did not match what was captured on video.
On March 30, a grand jury indicted Thompson on one count of official oppression and one count of assault.
READ MORE: Former Sanger 'Officer of the Year' charged with oppression, assault for use of force during arrest
Jail records show Thompson was booked into the Denton County Jail on April 5 and released on a $10,000 bond.
Thompson had been with the Sanger Police Department since February 2020 and, according to a social media post, was named the 2020 Sanger Police Department Officer of the Year.
Thompson’s attorney did not respond to FOX 4’s request for comment. His next court date is scheduled for Sept. 13.