A Crystal City mother has filed a police report after what began as a felony arrest warrant service turned into a backyard confrontation with teenagers that she describes as frightening and unnecessarily aggressive. The teens say officers grabbed them, forced them to the ground and, in one account, pointed both a pistol and an AR-style weapon toward their heads. The Crystal City Police Department, in a written statement, said the juvenile involved had “failed to identify herself” and had “resisted and assaulted officers.”
According to KSAT, police said they were serving a felony warrant when “multiple individuals fled to the back of the (residence)” and that officers then “made contact with civil individuals” in order to “secure the safety of everyone involved.” One of the teens, identified as Jabbar, told the outlet an officer “had his gun pointed directly at me.” Padilla says that after her daughter was released, she went straight to the department and has now filed a complaint against two officers, alleging staff initially refused to provide her a copy of the incident report.
Family says officers were overly forceful
Padilla told KSAT that Officer J. Garcia told her he “did not know that they were children” and that Garcia “has been violent with other people.” Her 14-year-old daughter, Audrina, was released to a guardian, then taken to a hospital after noticing marks and redness on her arms. Padilla says she wants an explanation for why several officers tackled a child who, according to the family, was asking why she had to give her name.
Complaint process and legal framework
According to the City of Crystal City, residents can file a complaint against an officer either in person at the police department or through the city clerk, and the city hosts an “Officer Complaint Form” online for that purpose. The city page notes that filing a false report is a Class A misdemeanor under state law; see Texas Penal Code §37.08 for the statute on false reports. The department’s claim that the juvenile “resisted” would fall under Texas Penal Code §38.03, which defines resisting arrest.
Local context
The complaint lands at a time when the Crystal City Police Department is already under a cloud of scrutiny. In March 2025, a Crystal City officer resigned and was arrested amid an investigation into alleged child exploitation and misuse of official information, according to reporting by KTSA. That earlier case, along with other county-level probes, has left some residents more inclined to demand clear answers when officers use force while serving warrants.
What’s next
Padilla says she has submitted her complaint and is waiting for a formal response. The municipal website lists the city clerk as the administrative contact for records and officer complaints. As of publication, city officials had not released further details about any internal review related to this incident. Residents who want to file a complaint or request records can find the officer complaint form on the city’s police page.
