HOUSTON – A Houston transit police officer has resigned after the release of a surveillance video that shows him beating a man he found slumped on a seat on a rail platform.
An internal review recommended Officer Jairus Warren’s dismissal for using excessive force in the Sept. 14 beating of Darrell Giles. Authorities say Warren quit Monday.
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Police Chief Vera Bumpers told reporters that Giles had become “combative” with officers during several interactions with Giles the day of the beating, but believed the actions of Warren went beyond reasonable.
“They had dealt with him a couple of times earlier that morning asking him to leave the platform,” she said. “What went through my mind was surprise that the response was to this gentleman had gone that far.”
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Giles was arrested on charges of trespassing and resisting arrest, but the charges were later dropped. Giles’ attorney says he was struck more than a dozen times.
“He hit me so hard,” Giles told KTRK. “He knocked me to the ground, so the first couple licks he’s just standing over me going ‘boom, boom, boom,’ making some noise.”
Bumpers says Daniel Reynosa, a second officer present during the beating, was suspended then cleared of wrongdoing. Bumpers says Reynosa will return to duty and undergo additional training.
Prosecutors will review the incident.
-With files from The Associated Press.
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