Use of force incident under investigation in Fort Worth | Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas — According to Fort Worth police, a suspected drunk driver fled the scene of a hit-and-run crash early Sunday, resulting in an incident involving violence toward a bystander.

The incident occurred at 3:26 a.m. near the 1000 block of Foch St. Officers were investigating the hit-and-run incident when Carolyn Rodriguez, a local resident unrelated to the accident, approached them during a live social media broadcast. Despite repeated requests to cross the street, Rodriguez failed to do so and was subsequently arrested.

During the arrest, an officer used force to take Rodriguez into custody. She sustained injuries and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment. After being released from the hospital, Rodriguez was taken to jail.

The Fort Worth Police Department’s Major Cases and Internal Affairs Units are investigating the incident, including the use of force, to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. The Office of the Police Monitor has also been granted access to the investigation to ensure transparency and accountability. The officer involved, a seven-year veteran of the department, has been administratively removed from patrol duty pending the outcome of the investigation.

The department has released video footage from two cameras: a parking lot video with no audio from a nearby business and the officer’s bodycam footage. This release is part of the department’s commitment to transparency with the public.

“The Fort Worth Police Department remains committed to holding our employees accountable and ensuring that every Fort Worth Police officer meets all standards,” the source said. No further comment will be made until there is an update on the investigation.