A recent incident involving a sheriff’s deputy’s pickup truck has sparked controversy in Fort Worth, particularly among local activists. A video has emerged showing the vehicle allegedly forcing a cameraperson off the street, prompting a sharp reaction from District 4 Councilmember Charlie Lauersdorf.
In a late-night email response to the individual who shared the video, Lauersdorf expressed his disdain for the situation. His message, which was sent to fellow council members, Mayor Mattie Parker, Police Chief Eddie Garcia, Sheriff Bill Waybourn, Tarrant County commissioners, and several news outlets, stated, “This is pretty embarrassing footage if a citizen clearly breaking the law is claiming something went wrong. I’m sorry she/he/they/them/it didn’t get the likes and subscribes [they] were hoping for, but maybe they should not get in the middle of a street? Surely they’ve heard ‘fuck around and find out,’ and that obviously means getting in the way of traffic.” He concluded with a call for better behavior among residents.
The sender of the video, identified as Erin Hickey, has not yet responded publicly. In her initial email, she condemned the behavior shown in the video, stating, “There is absolutely NO … excuse for this disgusting behavior. As a city, we seem okay to let people die unnecessarily in jail. I guess now we are okay trying it in the streets. The video shows an assault with a deadly weapon. This SHOULD result in criminal charges.”
Hickey contested Lauersdorf’s assertion that the cameraperson was positioned in the street, clarifying that they were actually near parked vehicles along the roadside. “I expect nothing,” she continued in her email. “And that’s disgusting. I expect this kind of absolute garbage to continue. … ‘The Fort Worth Way’ with a spit on the ground and a shit eating grin. Fuck you right back.”
