The Baytown Police Department has officially parted ways with two former officers involved in a 2019 assault on a man, as confirmed on Friday. Teddy Sims and Samuel Serrett, no longer part of the police force, have given up their Peace Officer Licenses for good, sealing their fate away from law enforcement duties in Texas. This development comes after an agreement that saw criminal charges against them dropped, according to FOX 26 Houston.
Back in 2019, the officers were accused of severely assaulting Kedric Crawford during a traffic stop. Footage from the incident, which shows Crawford being thrown to the ground and stunned with a Taser, was described by the victim as "disturbing and horrifying." As part of an agreement, which involved a pre-trial diversion program, Sims and Serrett will never again don the badge in the state, ABC13 reported.
Crawford himself, still disenchanted with the outcome, told ABC13, "Oh, no. I feel worse than the night it actually happened." The statement reflects a deep trepidation and dissatisfaction, with the victim expressing a heightened fear of police presence. Meanwhile, Baytown Police Chief John Stringer emphasized that the 2019 incident does "not represent our department today" and affirmed the commitment to integrity in community service.
Yet, the case still leaves behind threads undone, as a third individual involved, jailer Shane Dunlap, faces his own set of charges. Crawford and his attorney, Umeka Lewis, await the release of additional body camera footage that they believe will reveal more about that controversial night. In the shadow of these events, the pair prepares to confront an elusive adversary in their civil rights claim—the doctrine of "qualified immunity," which often shields government officials, including police officers, from liability.
For now, the Baytown community watches as these proceedings unfold, bearing witness to an ever-evolving narrative of justice and accountability within its law enforcement.
