The Dallas Morning News – by Tristan Hallman
Update, Jan. 6: Davidson’s charge has been increased to aggravated assault on a public servant. That also means his bail amount for that offense has shot up to $125,000.
In response to an inquiry, AT&T spokeswoman Gabriela Andersson suggested in an emailed statement that cash was not the primary issue. The incident happened at an AT&T store.
“We accept cash from our customers,” she said. “However, we don’t discuss personal account details.”
She said any other questions would have to be handled by Dallas police.
Original post, Jan 5: Police say a 26-year-old Florida man beat an officer who tried to get him to leave a Far North Dallas cellphone store.
Thomas Landell Davidson of Lake Wales, Fla., has been charged with assaulting a public servant and criminal trespass. Police say the officer suffered multiple cuts and bruises and showed signs of a brain injury.
Police say Davidson tried to pay for three cellphones in cash Sunday at the wireless store in the 13700 block of Dallas Parkway. The cashier declined and asked Davidson to leave, making him upset, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
The officer, who was working off-duty security at the store, walked over to Davidson and grabbed him by the arm to get him to leave, police said.
Police said the officer escorted Davidson out, pushed him out the doors and told him he was no longer welcome in the store. Police said that is when Davidson turned around and clocked the officer “at least three times.” Davidson is listed at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds.
After throwing the punches, Davidson grabbed the cop’s uniform and pulled him outside, police said. The two tried to take each other down; Davidson succeeded.
Police said Davidson straddled the officer’s chest and began beating him. A pair of onlookers came over and tried to pull Davidson off of the cop.
The officer managed to sit up and use his Taser on Davidson, but only one prong made contact, and didn’t appear to have an effect, according to the affidavit. The officer then took Davidson down, straddled him and used his stun gun repeatedly on Davidson’s back.
Davidson was taken to Medical City Dallas Hospital. The officer went home, and then was taken to an Arlington hospital after showing brain injury symptoms.
Davidson has no apparent criminal history. He is in Dallas County jail in lieu of $5,500 bail.
The officer, who is 30, is a five-year veteran of the department. He is assigned to the metro task force.
Dallas Fraternal Order of Police President Richard Todd said Monday that he was upset the police department has mostly remained silent on the case. The department put out a news release later in the afternoon.
He also said he was grateful to the witnesses who helped pull Davidson off the officer.
AHHHHHHHHHH
WTF
Was he “off duty security” or an “officer” or “cop”? HE CANT BE BOTH.
The fraternal order of…..suck my fart hole Fisty McGee. You want to know how much the FOPs opinion on this story matters? absolutely NONE.
“He also said he was grateful to the witnesses who helped pull Davidson off the officer.”
notice the use of a legal term witness [as in -one whom is compelled to testify on behalf] and how this person was allowed to physically assault an american national because the COPS SAY SO.
“WTF
Was he “off duty security” or an “officer” or “cop”? HE CANT BE BOTH”
My thoughts exactly!
If he is an off duty officer, you can’t be charged with assaulting an officer because he is OFF DUTY, DUH!!! That would be like charging someone for assaulting a movie theater employee when the employee was being assaulted at home. WTF?
It’s funny how he had to use a tazer to take down one unarmed person. So much for police hand to hand combat training.
So they wouldn’t sell the guy three cellphones because he was using cash only.
Unfrigginbelievable…….
And how was this guy supposed to know that the security guard was an off-duty cop? Did he flash his badge? And how can you be a cop when you are off duty and working as a security guard?
Since when do we merge state and corporate jobs?
Oh yea, I forgot. We have a FASCIST GOVERNMENT, THAT’S WHY!!!!
I know it’s not the main issue, BUT…the store didn’t accept cash??? That’s how it started? Can you not pay in cash anymore?
“Police say Davidson tried to pay for three cellphones in cash Sunday at the wireless store in the 13700 block of Dallas Parkway. The cashier declined and asked Davidson to leave, making him upset, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.”
I guess he’s a “TERRORIST” because he tried to pay in cash!!! Isn’t that on DHS list of red flags for terrorists?
It’s illegal to refuse cash here. I am surprised that it can be refused in the US.
your correct, AFAIK it’s an offence to refuse to accept legal tender.
the victim was black, so maybe the “community” can call for a boycot of the store.
i mean it’s not like they wanted to sell stuff anyway!
incidentally, grabbing somebody by the arm constitutes an assault,
so the cop/guard/assailant commited an offence first.
hope he can afford a lawyer