Officer Goes on Tirade After Yanking Man From Drain

Railroad reviews incident, places its officer on administrative leave

A police officer went on a profanity-laced tirade after nabbing an escaped suspect, a handcuffed man who sought refuge in a muddy drainage ditch.

The driver, 19-year-old Manlio Salazar, was handcuffed by a state trooper responding to a report of a car that needed assistance on Stemmons Freeway near the American Airlines Center. While handcuffed, Salazar broke free and fled on foot -- eventually taking cover in the large drain.

After about 30 minutes, Salazar  was located in the tunnel by Josh Phillips, a Union Pacific Railroad officer. Salazar had slipped his handcuffs underneath his body and had his arms back in front of him.

He then tried to flee for a second time, but wasn't successful. The railroad cop triumphed, and Salazar was handily dressed down as he was dragged him from the gritty, dark tunnel. (Edited and unedited videos are below. The unedited version contains A LOT of foul language.)

Photojournalist Terry Van Sickle shot footage of the officer first entering the drain with his gun drawn and the man's eventual recapture. Van Sickle also caught the railroad officer verbally assaulting the driver and even threatening to kill him if he had a weapon.

Union Pacific said Friday Phillips used "inappropriate language" and has been placed on administrative leave while the railroad reviews the incident. He was still on administrative leave Sunday night, a Union Pacific spokesman said.

"We apologize to anyone who may have been offended by the agent's language," the company said in a statement.

Union Pacific said it will take "appropriate action" if it finds the officer violated company policy.

The driver is once again in custody and faces a charge of felony escape.

The Department of Public Safety originally identified the driver as Enrique Franco. That's because Salazar had a stolen ID on him when he was arrested.

The ID belonged to an 18-year-old Garland man. His mother said she had doubts for a split second after hearing about the arrest of Enrique Franco and asked her son if he had snuck out of the house.

"I was in shock. I didn't know what to think," she said.

Soto said Salazar stopped by their Garland home Saturday to apologize. Soto said Salazar told her and Franco he had three ID's on him when he was arrested. Salazar told them authorities used Franco's ID because he most resembled Salazar.

Once in jail, officials were able to figure out Salazar's real name using a fingerprint database.

We want to know your opinion. Do you think the railroad officer was verbally too hard on the driver, or did the guy get what he deserved for running from the police? Leave your comments below.

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