Texas officer suspended indefinitely for cursing outburst caught on tape

This screenshot taken from a cell phone video by 17-year-old Jordan Rojas shows Officer Disraeli Arnold. / CBS/DFW

A police officer from Hurst, Texas, is suspended indefinitely for violating department rules with a profanity-laced outburst caught on tape, CBS DFW reports.

An investigation included that the officer, Disraeli Arnold, was extremely unprofessional when repeatedly cursing out a 17-year-old being arrested for an outstanding warrant. The video, taken by a friend of the arrested teen's, can be seen here.

Arnold "was disrespectful to a citizen, used indecent, profane and harsh language in the performance of his duties, and conducted himself in a manner which brought discredit to himself and the Hurst Police Department," according to a release by the City of Hurst.

The Hurst Police Department, however, said Arnold used a reasonable amount of force "based upon his perception when he arrived to assist Officer Jimenez."

Assistant Police Chief Steve Niekamp told CBS DFW that the suspension is the equivalent of a termination from the department.

According to Police Chief Steve Moore, Officer Miguel Jimenez told the teen suspect, Andrew Rodriguez, he was going to jail when Rodriguez began to walk away and call his mother. Jimenez then called for back-up for resisting arrest.

The teen's friend, 17-year-old Jordan Rojas, took video on his cell phone of Officer Arnold running to the teenager and tackling him while he was already on the ground. The video shows Arnold repeatedly cursing at the teen and asking him at least three times if he wanted to die.

Rodriguez's mother, Kelly Pope, told CBS's Dallas Fort-Worth affiliate the warrant was from a ticket her son received four years ago for trespassing on school property after hours.

CBS DFW reports that Arnold has received mostly positive reviews for his work, referred to by superiors as a "team player" interested in being promoted to supervisor. Some reviews, however, had mentioned that the officer could get "overzealous" and lose sight of the "big picture."

[2Panther]

What is wrong with you people defending punks and thugs rather than a police officer? This punk was breaking the law, had an outstanding warrant and was resisting arrest. The first officer had not yet had him "under control" as he was not yet cuffed - the second officer was coming to his aid. How are the police to know whether these punks (or anyone else hey come into contact with) are armed? The number one job for these officers is to protect us (even you morons) and themselves. These punks and you morons defending them are what is wrong with this country, no respect for authority: police , teachers, coaches, parents, employers.

[aubfmet]

For every criminal who attacks a police officer, another officer should get a 'get free out of jail ticket'. It would all work out.

[joesapper]

Most of these posters here should shelter USA troops from such profane speech and threats both from peers and instructors , but these same posters here would disrespect the military in a moment .

Believe me there are those not commenting that view this as no big deal because it isn't . So Mom would you rather a cop intimidate your beloved kid with harsh words , and not have to resort to physical force ?

It is all about making someone to comply with instructions , I don't know about you but I would rather meet a cop with a strong intimidation ability of speech rather than a cop with either a heavy hand for a taser or physical restraint .

[joesapper]

OK Mat , just as I have pointed to good points , you also have a good point , in the last remarks ,WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT TIME , or in other words what will this lead to ?

Well I think we can both agree that will be confronted by his Boss. But other than the ability of cops able to turn it off as quick as they can turn it on , the risk everyone is seeing here as you have pointed to , where could have this escalated to .

That is why overwhelming measures are taken sometimes , so that the nobody gets hurt . I am not a cop but I totally understand that there was one cop and two or more others , so perhaps the over zealous approach of the cop , should be viewed , that the cop was securing the situation with such speech to repel others from fleeing and so forth . I am not defending the cop , however I am defending the outcome of control at the cost of harsh speech , with no one hurt . Do you know what others had on their person as the cop secured one that had distanced himself from the first point of contact , as the "cop did run" after the kid , with others at his back ? The cop was speaking aloud to all , and that intimitation secured and controlled the situation .

Just a point of view , like you also have a point of view .

[canislupus16]

"Arnold "was disrespectful to a citizen, used indecent, profane and harsh language in the performance of his duties, and conducted himself in a manner which brought discredit to himself and the Hurst Police Department," according to a release by the City of Hurst."
Of course, if he had actually effin killed someone without justification it would be an internal matter, bolstered by the blue wall, an ensuing investigation would have cleared him, and he'd be back in the saddle in 90 days. Conclusion: it's okay to kill someone without justification but don't be "disrespectful to a citizen" while you're doing it.

[twmat311]

Cursing is one thing, but I don't know how you can get around "do you want to die" (in context) - at minimum, that's legally assault, and in some places it's both assault and battery. Caught on recording, pretty tough to get off the hook.

Not that I'd have any better judgement skills; police face some off-the-wall people out there, with and without video cell phones.

[myopinionpal]

Whats law enforcement coming to I saw on GMA a female officer in Utah writing bogus DWI tickets and now a Texas officer cursing and this is the nice guy with a gun the NRA want to watch our schools.

[rwsmith29456]

I think I saw the Texas office one. I was horrible, drawn out with the policeman repeatedly telling the guy he was going 'blanking' kill him. The guy was trying to give the cop his concealed weapon permit to show that he was carrying heat but the cop never gave him a chance to talk and threatened him all the more. It was awful.

[rwsmith29456]

I think I saw the Texas officer one. I was horrible, drawn out with the policeman repeatedly telling the guy he was going 'blanking' kill him. The guy was trying to give the cop his concealed weapon permit to show that he was carrying heat but the cop never gave him a chance to talk and threatened him all the more. It was awful. I think I'm talking about ANOTHER case, so this makes three.

[myopinionpal]

Whats law enforcement coming to I saw on GMA a female officer writing bogus DWI tickets and now a Texas officer cursing and this is the nice guy with a gun the NRA want to watch our schools.

[Bob Fitz]

How come when the tv show "Cops" is on that this type of language is rarely seen? Probably because the officers/deputies know that they are being filmed. I'm not saying that the police don't have dangerous jobs - just that sometimes they go over the top in their response to petty offenses.

[CBSTV]

Smartphones are the citizen's weapon when the police conduct wrongful acts.

[joesapper]

Did the cop keep his hands and boots to himself and in control ? Yes he did , enough said .


If every cop was to be confronted for threats and profane speech , every country would be without cops .

[Charley Burford]

We don't need cops like that, and we don't need cops who think they can get away with the other unethical, immoral, abusive behavior that goes on day in and day out as a matter of routine. And when they get caught the punishment should be 10x worse than for regular citizens. High responsibility and power go hand in hand with higher punishments--they asked for the responsibility and they took pledges and swore to uphold the highest standards.

[CBSTV]

Perhaps the ranks of some U.S. police forces would be reduced if reckless individuals were removed. The United Kingdom and Canada have much more civilized law enforcement workers.