(WBAP/KLIF News ) – The Fort Worth Police Department released body camera footage Monday night after a video of officers arresting counter-protestors from the Elm Fork John Brown Gun Club went viral over the weekend.
The three people who were taken into custody claimed they were abused by officers.
The incident happened around 12:50 p.m. Sunday. The department was operating a city camera which showed about five protestors from “Protect Texas Kids” outside the Fort Brewery and Pizza near University Drive and White Settlement Road.
The group was protesting a drag show brunch at the restaurant. The gun club members showed up to counter that protest.
Video shows one of its members spraying a person what police said was pepper spray protesting the drag show.
The individual using the pepper spray was identified as Samuel Fowlkes. The footage shows officers approach Fowlkes to arrest him but he walked and eventually runs away.
Another protestor, identified as 33-year-old Christopher Guillott, hit an officer with an umbrella, according to police.
The department said Fowlkes was arrested on four counts of assault causing bodily injury, evading arrest, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer, a second-degree felony.
Guillott faces the charge of assault on a peace officer and interfering with public duties.
Fort Worth PD and the John Brown Gun Club put out video of another arrest.
The gun club said their video shows part of their group attempting to reach Fowlkes, who called out for help.
A woman yelled that she’s a medic. 37-year-old Meghan Grant was taken into custody for resisting arrest and for interfering with public duties.
Police accuse her of attempting to charge back officers several times to get to Fowlkes and Guillott.
The department issued a statement in addition to the video about the incident:
The Fort Worth Police Department respect everyone’s constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. Our main goal during any protest event is to provide a safe environment that respects all participant’s constitutional rights, while effectively maintaining public peace and order. However, those who choose to violate the law and assault others will be arrested and charged.”
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