Woman Claims Police Used Fire Ants During Arrest
A Texas mother, Taylor Rogers, is suing the Santa Fe ISD Police Department after a 2021 arrest where she claims officers used excessive force and subjected her to a painful ordeal.
Lawsuit Details Alleged Brutality
According to Rogers’ lawsuit, officers with the Santa Fe ISD Police Department handcuffed her and held her face down on a mound of fire ants during an arrest for a traffic violation. The lawsuit further alleges that officers twisted her leg, hog-tied her, and inflicted unnecessary pain.
Attorney Calls Arrest “Torture”
Civil rights attorney Randall Kallinen, representing Rogers, stated at a press conference that officers detained Rogers “for no reason” and then “threw her on the ground right into a bed of fire ants in the middle of the day and then held there while screaming.”
Bodycam Footage Shows Arrest
Dramatic footage captured by police body cameras shows an officer restraining Rogers on the ground. The lawsuit claims she fled from officers who attempted to pull her over for an illegal turn in a school parking lot.
Photos Show Bite Marks
Images taken after the arrest depict numerous fire ant bites on Rogers’ face, neck, chest, and shoulders. Her attorney considers these marks evidence of excessive force and compares the ordeal to “torture.”
Police Dispute the Claims
Santa Fe ISD Police Sergeant Ruben Espinoza disputes Rogers’ claims. He alleges the bodycam footage shared by her attorney is misleading as it cuts out the portion where officers assist Rogers in standing up after she calms down. He maintains that officers treated Rogers with “respect and dignity” throughout the arrest.
Conflicting Accounts Spark Legal Battle
Rogers pleaded guilty to charges stemming from fleeing the police, but maintains she panicked and drove away after fearing for her safety when Sergeant Espinoza allegedly banged on her car and pointed a gun at her.
