Black Man Handcuffed at His Texas Home Over Two Stop Signs by Plainclothes Officers as Police Chief Places Hand on His Neck

SOUR LAKE, Texas — A Texas police chief seen on video placing his hand against a Black man's neck while the man was restrained outside his home is facing an outside review over the confrontation. The city announced that Police Chief Aaron Burleson and another officer would be assigned to non-patrol duties while their actions are examined.

Burleson and the other plainclothes officer confronted Kendrick Bates on Oct. 5 over allegations that he ran two stop signs. The confrontation ended with Bates handcuffed against his pickup truck in his own front yard.

City officials announced Oct. 7 that they had contacted the Texas Rangers and Lumberton Police Department about an independent review. Their statement did not identify the second officer or explain what prompted the decision to place Bates in handcuffs.

Bates said he had already parked at home when two men wearing ordinary clothing approached from an unmarked pickup truck. He accused them of initially failing to identify themselves as police or activate emergency lights before physically restraining him.

His wife, Hailey Shelburne, began recording with Bates already against his truck and his arms being pulled behind his back. “He's not resisting; you all just threw him against the truck,” she told the officers.

The recording shows Burleson placing a hand against Bates' neck while reaching into his back pocket for identification. Shelburne immediately objected and told the chief to remove his hand.

Reaching into his pockets drew another objection from Bates, who said he had not consented to the search. Burleson demanded his driver's license and accused him of fighting as the detention continued.

Questions about the officers' identities persisted during the confrontation, with Bates mentioning Hardin County Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Mark Ames. “I'm the police chief, so deal with me,” Burleson responded.

Shelburne's recording runs approximately three minutes and 51 seconds and begins after the confrontation was already underway. The footage therefore does not capture the officers' arrival or their initial exchange with Bates.

Police eventually issued Bates citations for the two alleged stop-sign violations and removed the handcuffs. He was released at the scene without being booked into jail.

Speaking with Beaumont television station KFDM, Bates said he feared for his life while the officers restrained him. He maintained that even if he had run two stop signs, the alleged violations did not warrant being pinned against his truck with a hand near his throat.

Former Port Arthur Police Chief Mark Blanton reached a different conclusion after reviewing the footage for KFDM. He said the detention appeared lawful and characterized Burleson's hand placement as a control technique rather than choking.

Blanton also said police can follow a suspected traffic violator onto private property and take precautions while conducting a detention. He is not involved in the outside examination requested by the city.

Texas law requires motorists to display a driver's license upon the lawful demand of a peace officer. No official finding has determined whether the physical restraint or search shown on the recording complied with state law.

On social media, Bates said he intends to sue the Sour Lake Police Department over what happened outside his home. He also established an online fundraiser seeking money to pay for legal representation.

Officials have not announced when the outside examination will be completed or detailed how the Texas Rangers and Lumberton Police Department will divide their work. No determination has been released on whether the officers' use of force complied with department rules or Texas law.