The attorneys for teenagers involved in the now infamous McKinney pool party incident are demanding charges be filed in connection with the June 5 incident that was caught on cell phone video and went viral.
The attorneys held a news conference Friday calling for charges against former McKinney police officer Cpl. Eric Casebolt as well as a civilian seen standing around Casebolt.
Civil attorney Kwame Thompson and criminal attorney Darrell Jordan said Thursday they had been retained by the Bakari, Gray, McKeever and Hudson families to represent six teens -- siblings Jahda and Dahja Bakar; Ladariene McKever; siblings Jordan and Jayden Gray; and Maxwell Hudson.
"These students were battered and assaulted, they were not involved in any fray and they were not involved in any illegal activities, My clients are residents of Craig Ranch and they had every right to be there, present, on June 5 and they had every right to be at the swimming pool on that day," said Thompson. "So they posed no threat to the officer, so really any use of force against our clients is constitutionally unreasonable and illegal and unjust."
Flanked by the families they represent, Thompson and Jordan held a news conference Friday.
Thompson said he will file an administrative grievance with the McKinney Police Department against Casebolt for police misconduct. Casebolt resigned from the police department four days after the video went viral.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"We understand that he is no longer an employee, however he was an employee of the police department when the actions took place." said Thompson.
Thompson also wants Casebolt to face criminal charges.
"We will not rest stop or back down until former officer Casebolt is arrested, tried and convicted for crimes against children of McKinney," Thompson said.
Criminal attorney Darrell Jordan is also calling for charges against a civilian seen standing by in the video, for touching teens when it was unwanted.
"An investigation will be done, and if it's determined that he has broken the law, then he needs to suffer the consequences," said Jordan.
Jordan said because of legal requirements, the attorneys must move forward to preserve their right to sue and seek justice.
"If there's some monetary damages that come on the back end, then that's great, we'll take that too, but that's not our primary purpose. Our primary purpose is to ensure that Officer Casebolt is never referred to officially as Officer Casebolt again," said Jordan.
But not everyone on the steps of the police department Friday was convinced charges should be filed.
"I think we really have to wait and see the results of the internal and external investigations that's going on right now," said McKinney resident John Mohnickey.
The teens parents said the video is all the proof they need that additional action is needed and plan to do whatever it takes push the investigation along.
Thompson said investigators haven't talked with his clients about the indent, but there are plans to do so.
The attorney said they planned to meet with the McKinney Police Department, the Collin County District Attorney's Office and the Texas Rangers, which are now investigating the case.
McKinney Pool Party Incident (Text)
NBC 5's Meredith Yeomans contributed to this report.
CLICK HERE to read more from our media partners at The Dallas Morning News.
