Breaion King, an Austin, Texas school teacher was driving, according to police, 15 miles above the speed limit. This is not exactly a remarkable event, unless it's completely mishandled. This is a time that turned out worse than you can imagine, but thankfully, no one died, at least.
I can't think of a time where I haven't driven that quickly for a brief period, at least until I realized my error, slowed down, and generally thought nothing of it. It's not that simple for other Americans, especially Black motorists, and especially in the Lone Star State, sadly.
26-year-old teacher Breaion King last June was caught allegedly driving 15 miles per hour over the speed limit when officers tried pulling her over. King was seemingly unaware of the police, however, and pulled into a parking lot before coming to a complete stop.
As she was about to exit her car, one officer approached her and told her to sit back down in her vehicle. He asked her for her license and registration, and when she hesitated, a struggle began to ensue.
As she was about to exit her car, one officer approached her and told her to sit back down in her vehicle. He asked her for her license and registration, and when she hesitated, a struggle began to ensue.
The officer asked her to get out of her car. As she began doing so, he grabbed her by the arm and yanked her forcefully out of the car, and then body slammed her onto the parking lot pavement.
“Put your hands behind your back!” the officer repeatedly yelled while he was on top of her.
The officer handcuffed her and, with the help of the other officer, put her in the patrol car.
Officer Bryan Richter nearly threw King into an adjacent truck in the parking lot of a Wendy's after pulling her over for going 15 mph over the speed limit around lunchtime. Following a struggle, King was handcuffed and driven to jail by Officer Patrick Spradlin, who told her that "I don't blame" whites for being afraid because of violence in the black community.
Both officers have been placed on desk duty and prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into Richter's actions during the stop.
Patrol car video publicly released Thursday, July 21, 2016, shows a white Austin, Texas, police officer violently throwing King to the ground during a traffic stop, followed by another white officer telling her black people have "violent tendencies" and whites are justifiably afraid.
