You'll remember Andrew Rodriguez as the 17-year-old who learned the hard way what Hurst police officer Disraeli Arnold's knee feels like when it strikes the back of one's head.
The video of that encounter, and Arnold's expletive-laced threats ("Move and fucking' die."), went viral, embarrassing the Hurst Police Department and prompting Arnold's suspension.
Kelly Pope, Rodriguez' mother, had let her displeasure be known, but Rodriguez had been publicly silent until yesterday when he finally spoke to the media. Or, more accurately, he thanked the people of Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter and issued a prepared statement.
In the statement, Rodriguez denies resisting arrest, saying he asked to call his mother but otherwise complied with the instructions of the officer who initially placed him under arrest.
After that I could hear someone running and then I felt a hit to my head and heard Officer Disraeli Arnold, badge Number 654 calling me vulgar and life threatening names. He threatened to "fuck me up" he threatened to "kill me" and he continued to threatened me several times using language unbecoming a police officer.
Rodriguez, who is being represented by activist Carlos Quintanilla, plans to plead not guilty and is requesting that the Tarrant County District Attorney and the U.S. attorney conduct an independent Investigation of possible civil rights violations.
He does, however, admit that he's not quite blameless.
"I recognized that I also used language that my mother would not approve of and apologize to my family and all those who have seen the video for my wrong use of words," he said. "I was scared, I was nervous and I feared for my safety at that time, starting at the moment that Officer Arnold assaulted me."
