Notice of complaint related to 2022-0289

OF
GIVE
COSTEL
OFFICE OF
POLICE OVERSIGHT
FOUNDED
NOTICE OF COMPLAINT
April 15, 2022
ICMS #: 2022-0289
On April 15, 2022, the OPO received a phone complaint.
The complainant alleges: Approximately
days ago, around
, sergeants pursued
the complainant by vehicle for multiple blocks and eventually pulled him over on
and
, possibly because he was playing music. The complainant stopped his car when
they turned on their lights and asked the cop why he was being followed. The complainant believes
he was being stereotyped and harassed for not being white. Two cops approached him with a taser
and gun, and the complainant believed he would be killed. Sergeant
had a taser while
the other office, a rookie, approached with his gun out. The officers told the complainant this was
because they thought the complainant had a weapon, even though the complainant had no record
of weapons and has only a non-violent offense history. While the complainant was trying to talk
to the officers, they laughed in response to a comment from the complainant about the degree of
violence in Austin. Years ago, other officers drew guns on the complainant in his driveway because
the complainant was holding a red cell phone in his hands. The complainant's father was killed by
APD and the complainant has been reaching out to victim services for many years yet has not
received any contact or help from them. The complainant believes APD should help the children
of people they have killed.
This notice of complaint is a request for Internal Affairs to initiate an investigation to determine
if the employee conduct is within compliance of APD policy, Civil Service Rules, and Municipal
Civil Service Rules.