Fort Worth Police Investigate Use of Force Incident Involving Cop Watcher | Texas

FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth police are investigating the use of force after a “cop watcher” was arrested while filming the investigation into a hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning.

On June 23, 2024 at 3:26 a.m., officers responded to a hit-and-run crash near the 1000 block of Foch St.

“While officers were conducting their investigation, Carolyn Rodriguez, a local resident who had no connection with the accident and was broadcasting live on her social media page, approached officers. An officer repeatedly asked Rodriguez to move to the other side of the street. When she failed to comply, she was arrested,” Fort Worth police said in a statement.

“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. Rodriguez was later released from the hospital and taken to jail,” the department said.

The Fort Worth Police Department’s Major Cases and Internal Affairs Divisions are investigating the incident, including the use of force, to determine compliance with policies and procedures. The Office of the Police Monitor has been granted access to the investigation to ensure transparency and accountability.

The officer in question, who has worked for the department for seven years, has been removed from patrol duty until the investigation is completed.

The department released video footage from two cameras: a parking lot video with no audio from a nearby business and the officer’s bodycam footage.

“We are releasing the footage provided to fulfill our commitment to transparency with our community,” the department said.

Fort Worth police stressed that they will hold their employees accountable and ensure that all officers adhere to standards. “Due to due process and the ongoing investigation, there will be no further comment until there is an update on the status of the investigation,” police said.