McKinney Texas Cop Facing Death Threats After Pool Fight Video, Attorney Says
Lawyer says Eric Casebolt "allowed his emotions to get the better of him."
— -- The attorney for the Texas police officer who resigned after being filmed forcing a teen girl to the ground and raising his gun toward others during a dispute at a pool says that he is staying in an undisclosed location because of death threats.
McKinney police Cpl. Eric Casebolt resigned Tuesday, a day after hundreds of protesters called for him to be fired for his behavior last week.
He has now reportedly become the subject of "daily" death threats, according to the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police, Daniel Malenfant.
Casebolt has not appeared publicly since his resignation but his attorney Jane Bishkin offered an explanation and apology on his behalf.
“He’s worried for his family," she said. "He’s worried that he may be followed and until that threat subsides, he’s going to be in an undisclosed location."
She said Casebolt was on the night shift Friday and his first two calls were to suicide scenes, including one where a man shot himself in the head in front of his family.
"The nature of these two suicide calls took an emotional toll on Eric Casebolt," Bishkin said.
"He apologizes to all who were offended. ... That day was not representative of the community of McKinney," she said.
Bishkin added: "He was not targeting minorities [at the pool party]. He also detained a white female. With all that had happened that day, he allowed his emotions to get the better of him."
Casebolt was put on administrative leave by the McKinney Police Department pending an investigation Sunday but Police Chief Greg Conley confirmed Tuesday that Casebolt was the one to offer his resignation.
Conley said Casebolt's actions at the pool Friday were "indefensible" and he was "out of control."
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