Disturbing new surveillance footage obtained by The Dallas Morning News shows a paramedic kicking a homeless man nine times in two minutes. According to the paper, the encounter took place in August 2019.
The footage—which is a compilation of nine different clips provided to the newspaper by Dallas police—showed Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedic Brad Cox kicking Kyle Vess, who "suffers from a schizophrenia-like illness," reported The Hill.
The Independent said that Vess "suffered multiple fractures and swelling," as a result of the incident.
In the first clip provided to The Dallas Morning News, Vess can be seen "sitting on a curb along an Interstate 30 frontage road in West Dallas" at around 1 p.m., said the paper. The fire department was reportedly called about a grass fire, which Cox can be seen stomping out in the second clip.
Next, Vess throws an object at Cox and the two disappear from the camera's view. When they reappear, however, Cox can be seen repeatedly kicking Vess, who is lying on the ground. At multiple points, other medics attempt to step in, but Cox continues to kick Vess.
Eventually, a Dallas County Sheriff's deputy arrives at the scene and the video ends.
Cox alleged that Vess attempted to fight him, so Vess was charged with assault on a public servant and placed on house arrest, The Hill reported. Vess's family is suing Cox and the state.
"Mr. Vess and his family are grateful the Dallas Police Department has finally released these videos and made known to the world what we have known for some time. Mr. Cox savagely beat Mr. Vess and he should be prosecuted," George Milner III, Vess' lawyer, told The Dallas Morning News.
Cox was placed on paid administrative leave in September, the paper also reported.
Dallas-Fire Rescue declined to speak on the matter.
"The department is unable to address your questions, as we do not discuss personnel matters, matters that are under investigation and those that are the subject of ongoing litigation," department spokesman Jason Evans told The Dallas Morning News.
The same statement was also given to The Hill.
Last year, it was announced that the Dallas Police Department would "release videos when police shoot people or are accused of using excessive force within 72 hours of someone being hurt or dying," KERA News reported.
However, The Dallas Morning News also reported that the policy does not "waive the department's right to withhold other audio or video recordings or investigative materials."
The incident concerning Cox and Vess was captured on bodycam footage; however, the footage did not appear in the media until September of this year.
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