A lawsuit has been initiated against the City of Austin, alleging excessive use of force by a police officer from the Austin Police Department during an incident that occurred in July 2024.
The incident in question took place on July 30, 2024, when Antonio Alexander was approached by Officers Ryne Kirchberg and Shalom Alvarez for allegedly crossing the street outside of a designated crosswalk. According to Alexander’s legal representatives, Officer Alvarez attempted to reach for Alexander’s waistband, which led him to step back in response.
In a swift escalation, Officer Kirchberg intervened and forcefully brought Alexander to the ground, resulting in serious injuries to Alexander’s leg. These injuries are reported to have the potential for long-term consequences and necessitated surgical intervention.
Alexander’s attorneys have raised concerns regarding Officer Kirchberg’s history, citing previous allegations of misconduct and excessive use of force, with multiple complaints lodged against him through the Office of Police Oversight. Internal Affairs has also conducted investigations into Kirchberg’s conduct.
Furthermore, Alexander’s legal team asserts that he was unarmed at the time of the incident and suggests that he was unfairly targeted due to his presence in an area of Austin identified as having a high crime rate.
Chas Moore, founder and co-executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition, expressed frustration over the lack of accountability from both the Austin Police Department and the City of Austin regarding this incident. He emphasized that this case is not an isolated occurrence, as the department has faced multiple lawsuits and investigations related to excessive force and misconduct by officers.
