Kingsville police are asking that FBI agents review its handling of the investigation
By Quincy C. Collins, The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
KINGSVILLE, Tex. -- Police have requested the help of the FBI as they continue their investigation into last Saturday’s incident involving a Kingsville officer accused of striking a man with his patrol car.
Police Chief Rick Torres said Friday the FBI in Corpus Christi has been contacted to review the incident and the police department’s internal investigation to determine whether excessive force was used.
“We’ll wait for the review; that’s why I have contacted the FBI,” Torres said.
Lee Arthur Coleman Jr., 20, was running north to evade arrest around 3:30 p.m. Feb. 28 in the 700 block of West Huisache when the incident occurred, according to the report. Witnesses say Coleman was assisting a stranded motorist when officers responding to a report of a car-jacking approached him.
Coleman struck the windshield on the passenger side of the cruiser, driven by police officer Benito Figueroa.
Coleman was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Kleberg, where he was treated and released.
Torres has said a police officer responding to the car-jacking report stopped to question Coleman and, after the officer spoke briefly with him, Coleman fled. Figueroa responded to a call for backup after the first officer began to chase Coleman. Coleman was not charged with an offense.
Coleman’s relatives said Coleman was attempting to help his female cousin, who was sitting in her parked car when police arrived.
Coleman was admitted to a Corpus Christi hospital Thursday and released later that day after experiencing chest pains, said his mother, Esmeralda Ledesma.
She said she wants the police to be accountable.
“He did not deserve to be hit like that. Nobody does,” Ledesma said.
Coleman’s father, Lee Arthur Coleman Sr., said police need to be accountable for what he called a mistake by officers. The family has hired an attorney.
Several neighbors who said they saw the incident called it an example of excessive force. Coleman’s family and community members met Thursday at a community center in the heart of the city’s historically black neighborhood to voice their opinions about the incident and organize a plan to help Coleman. Some residents there said they thought an injustice had occurred.
Kevin Houston, who lives on Armstrong Street where the incident started, said he saw Coleman attempt to help Coleman’s cousin, who appeared angry. When police arrived, he heard an officer tell Coleman that he was going to jail for a stolen car.
Houston said he saw Coleman run from the officer after the officer attempted to grab him. Houston watched Coleman run to the corner of Armstrong and Huisache and a police cruiser, which appeared to be traveling 35 to 45 mph, approached Coleman and swerved into him. Houston said the impact popped Coleman into the air.
“I yelled, ‘That’s harassment, you’re messing with the wrong guy!’ ” Houston said. “He didn’t do anything wrong. He was trying to help that girl out.”