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Texas cops disciplined over tactics in high-profile pursuit

Officer has been removed from the SWAT team and a second cop has been stripped of his badge and gun while the department investigates

By KXAS-TV
The Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Fort Worth police officer has been removed from the SWAT team and a second officer has been stripped of his badge and gun while the police department investigates their roles in a highly publicized car chase last Wednesday, according to multiple law enforcement sources.

The chase dragged on for about two hours until a SWAT member rammed the suspect’s car on Interstate 30 near Six Flags Over Texas to end the pursuit.

Officer Dennis Alice was driving an armored vehicle known as a BearCat when he performed a “pit maneuver” — an unauthorized move — to force the driver to crash and end the pursuit.

A second SWAT officer, Brian Gentry, was removed from active duty while the department investigates whether he used excessive force against 42-year-old Joe Gonzales.

In footage of the chase, Gentry appears to strike the driver with the butt end of a weapon. Sources familiar with the investigation say it was a tear gas launcher.

Copyright 2015 The Dallas Morning News