FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A tense encounter in an Arcola car parking zone earlier this month is stirring political tensions and elevating questions on management and regulation enforcement conduct within the small Fort Bend County city.
The incident, which occurred on June 9, concerned present Mayor Veeda Williams, her cousin Keith Washington, and newly elected metropolis council member Fred Burton, who additionally beforehand served as mayor. Parts of the encounter have been captured on video, which has since circulated on-line and amplified divisions at Metropolis Corridor.
Within the video, Mayor Williams is seen confronting Burton and Washington. At one level, she will be heard saying, “I am letting I am not petrified of y’all,” whereas showing to dam a automobile and step out of her personal automobile a number of instances.
Williams claims that previous to the recording, the boys made threats towards her associated to the result of the town’s most up-to-date election.
“I can’t be bullied. I can’t be threatened,” Williams later instructed ABC13. “It wasn’t my greatest second. No, it wasn’t my greatest second. However I stand behind it. I stand behind standing up for this metropolis day by day of the week.”
Burton adamantly denies making any threats. He says the 2 males have been merely speaking within the car parking zone when the mayor approached them.
“No person known as her a reputation, no one mentioned something derogatory towards her,” Burton mentioned. “We simply did not wish to discuss to her. We have now that proper.”
Caught in the course of the political confrontation was Arcola Police Sgt. Claude Miller. The officer seems within the video making an attempt to de-escalate the state of affairs. Nevertheless, Eyewitness Information has realized that Miller has since been positioned on administrative depart.
Burton alleges that the officer was sidelined as a result of he refused to arrest him and Washington on the mayor’s request.
“She mentioned, ‘Arrest him, I need him arrested now,’ and he mentioned, ‘Get again in your automobile,'” Burton recalled. “She mentioned, ‘I need them arrested.'”
Arcola Police Chief Arika Carr declined to deal with the particular allegation however confirmed the officer’s depart is expounded to the incident. In a written assertion, Carr mentioned Sgt. Miller is on depart “pending an investigation associated to a disciplinary concern arising from his response.”
Sgt. Miller declined to remark.
The 2 sides will meet once more on the subsequent metropolis council assembly scheduled for July, the place each Williams and Burton will return to work as elected officers.
ABC13 has requested body-worn digicam footage from the incident to higher perceive Sgt. Miller’s position and decide whether or not his actions warrant disciplinary motion.
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