Fort Worth officer fired over use of force in woman’s ‘Cop Watch’ video arrest
Frank Heinz 12/18/2024
Fort Worth police fired an officer Wednesday after an investigation into a complaint about the use of force.
The department said Chief Neil Noakes terminated Officer Matthew Kreuger after they said the level of force used to arrest a woman last summer was unjustified and violated departmental policy.
Kreuger was among a group of officers responding to a hit-and-run call on Foch Street at about 3:30 a.m. on June 23, where police said someone crashed into a vehicle and building before running away on foot.
As police investigated the crash, they said the officers were approached by Carolyn Rodriguez, a woman who said she regularly films “cop watch” videos in the Entertainment District.
In the video, the woman and officer referred to each other by name. Police said Kreuger asked the woman to move across the street “multiple times” and that when she didn’t do so, he used force to arrest her.
Carolyn Rodriguez filming a “cop watch” video moments before being arrested in Fort Worth, June 23, 2024.
Fort Worth Police Department
Carolyn Rodriguez filming a “cop watch” video moments before being arrested in Fort Worth, June 23, 2024.
The police department shared the officer’s body camera video, which included audio. In that video, an officer exited his police SUV and said, “Caroline, we’re busy. Go to the other side of the street.” She responded, “No, I’m not going to. What for? There’s no investigation, no nothing.” The officer told her to go to the other side of the street or get arrested and that he wouldn’t warn her again. The woman replied, “What are you talking about?” He again told her to go to the other side of the street, and she responded, “Why? Wait. Tell me why first?” The officer then told the woman she was under arrest and told her to put her arm behind her back and turn around. The woman can be heard saying, “No, no, no, no, OK,” as the officer puts her arm behind her back, and she falls to the ground. A few moments later, as the officer told the woman to stop resisting, snoring was heard, and one of the female officers said the woman was bleeding.
The arrest ended up putting Rodriguez in the hospital. During an interview, she told NBC 5 that her eye socket and cheeks were bruised black and yellow and that she suffered a concussion in the arrest. She said she needed stitches on her lip and that her elbow and shoulder were knocked out of joint. She said she felt sore in her neck, arm and back.
After she received medical care, Rodriguez was booked into jail and charged with interference with public duties, resisting arrest and/or detention, evading arrest, and making a false alarm or report.
Fort Worth police opened two investigations into the incident and Kreuger was transferred from patrol to a unit without public interaction.
“After a thorough review of the Internal Affairs investigation, Officer Krueger’s chain of command determined that the level of force used was unjustified and violated departmental policy,” the department said. “Police Chief Neil Noakes concurred with the chain of command’s determination and terminated Officer Krueger’s employment with the department.”
Police said Krueger had been with the department for about eight years and was assigned to the patrol bureau at the time of the incident.
“The Fort Worth Police Department is committed to excellence, with officers dedicated to serving our community with integrity every day,” police said. “We will continue to hold all employees accountable to the high standards expected of Fort Worth police officers, ensuring transparency and openness within our community.”
WHAT IS A ‘FIRST AMENDMENT AUDIT’ OR ‘COP WATCH’ VIDEO
“First Amendment audits” are when people exercise their right to record video in public places while also trying to solicit responses from officials.
Sometimes, the videos appear provocative to test whether a public official violates a person’s constitutional rights.
Videos of this type of interaction have become popular on social media, where they can amass millions of views.
source
Thank you for work. I have been waiting for this report.
This demands a lawsuit for excessive force… Needs criminaly charged …. Needs prison time in general population ….Fired due to his personel file violations… Personal loss of qualified immunity and financial responsible for all damages…
Youtube censorship is getting ridiculous. About time to change to another platform.
Being fired isnt enough that mans an animal
But mofos cry about thugs being treated the same way
Callig her a journalist.😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
How much is this going to cost?
How long before the ultra corrupt police union get him his job back or like a priest is moved to a new area to continue their evil
When it comes to the police, fired just means hired somewhere else. Anyone who doubts that need only look up the term “gypsy cop”.
It obviously took them 4 months to see if they could weasel their way out of having to fire him.
Officer Kreuger had every reason to expect that he would be commended for his actions, video evidence made all the difference.
This is what the police really are, pure evil psychotic corruption
Well she did yell fire fire fire and that is very illegal in fact that Is one of the only things you can't do. Freedom of speech is very tolerant of speech but not to yell fire when there is none. With that said she definitely didn't deserve what happened to her
He will get a job at the next cop shop. Carolina was found guilty stemming from that incident.
Sean Reyes needs to take another trip down to Texas. He was funny when he confronted the Police Chief about the infidelity and other allegations.
So this cop was fired!!! Big fuycking "WHOOP"!!! When a cop get "FIRED" means little to nothing!!! He/she/it will go to another department and be hired the next day and be hired with open arms and be given a pay raise and or a promotion!!! Only if the cops certification is removed and is arrested, convicted and emprisoned is justice partially done!!! Typically when a cop is convicted for a serious criminal act a cop will at worse the cop will get about 1/5 the charge as a citizen would get for the same crime!!! Cops should get longer cituzens because they have been "TRAINED" in the laws they ate charged to enforce!!!
Hope she is going to sue that 🐖 🐷 🐽 and take everything he has 🐖 🐷 🐽
Where are the criminal charges?
Freddy will be back.
The stop resisting order :a very transparent ploy to beat up people….
Fired is one thing but Has his LE certificate been PERMANENTLY REVOKED ? If NOT this PIG will just move to another town and continue his complete IGNORANCE of the LAW !!
But yet again multiple cops there and None, Would stop their Violent Blue Gang Member… Proof again (on video) that there are Very few, if any good apples.
How about way less of your personal opinion, and more raw unedited video
IF COPS AND CITIZENS HATE AUDITORS ALL THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IS IGNORE THEM IF THEY GOT NO ATTENTION WHAT SO EVER THERE WOULD BE NOTHING TO FILM NOTHING AT ALL BUT SINCE COPS ARE CRIMINALS THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN
Another tyrannical idiotic thinking hypocrite wearing badges of shame in public places,over a person with a camera in public places even worser uses of force from the law enforcement officer themselves, wake up America.
So glad Krueger is finally off the force and is receiving some sort of accountability now let’s see if the DOJ will charge him Carolina certainly didn’t deserve this
100% could have been avoided if she had backed off the first time she was told to move. She wasn't almost "unalived" she was just knocked out. That happens when you face planted into the ground when trying to pull away.
Horrific ! How was this man not immediately arrested?
No Justice until officer conviction and jail time and charges to other officers for not intervening!
She was absolutely NOT standing there filming. She was antagonizing them trying to force something for her channel. That's her MO and thats why i quit following her channel…she was obviously going to get hurt and i didn't want to see it.
It is weird that MSM tries to bash First Amendment Auditors, when both the MSM and Fist Amendment Auditors are able to function off the same laws… 😅😅😅
were coming for ya Freddie , told you so!!!!!!
hes a lifetime violator…..
ah. she tripped and feel. looked like she was drunk. and i don't even back the blue. she got what she has been begging for, for a long time.
Love your work Leroy. Keep fighting the good fight.
Im trying to make sure they keep free speech legal on line by buy up shares in their corperations, and holding them accountable.
Much ❤ and Merry Christmas friend
Thank you for the update, hopefully he's sent prison into general population for what he did to this woman