White Man Attacked by Cops while Filming Houston Police Officers Detain Black Man - Phone Taken by Cops. Retuned 1 Yr. Later without Video
They are supposed to ensure public safety, but a local man says Houston police officers are dangerous themselves.
Back in 2011, Al Herzik says he saw an off-duty Houston cop berate and unlawfully detain and a man. He says he started filming the ordeal with his phone, and that made everything worse.
“I thought I was helping protect Mr. Reed, but as it turns out, I was just creating problems for myself,” Herzik says.
Herzik says Officer Kenny Li physically attacked him, to steal away his cell phone and then he says the officer ran into a nearby business yelling “call 911, officer down!”
Surveillance shows the circus that ensued. A team of cops searched Herzik’s property, and he says his phone ended up being confiscated for more than a year. It was just finally returned, without the video.
At this point, community activists say they want the U.S. Department of Justice to add this case to the list they are already investigating about HPD.
They also want Officer Li to be let go.
Internal affairs suspended him for five days. He appealed the suspension.
HPD has no comment.