Fort Worth Police Officer Figueroa Removed From Uniformed Patrol Duty After Macing Bikers On U.S. Highway 287

A Fort Worth police officer was placed on administrative duty after videos show him spraying mace at bikers on the highway.

By H. Nelson Goodson

Hispanic News Network U.S.A.

March 14, 2016

Fort Worth, Texas - On Monday, Fort Worth Police Officer W. Figueroa was removed from uniformed patrol duties after allegations surfaced that he sprayed mace (pepper spray) at a group of bikers on the highway, according to the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD). Officer Figueroa was placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation of the incident.

The FWPD received a copy of a video from social media showing Officer Figueroa getting out from his squad holding a can of mace and then began to spray bikers as they rode by on highway U.S. 287 near I-35W north on Sunday afternoon. The video went viral on social media.

Officer Figueroa had pulled over a red Dodge Ram truck for stopping on the side of the highway to video record the bikers doing stunts. The passengers of the truck were struck by mace from blow back wind as well.

The FWPD says, no one had come forward to file a complaint, but took action after the video showed Officer Figueroa macing bikers. FWPD internal affairs investigators confirmed that Officer Figueroa filed a report admitting that he sprayed bikers and have acquired camera footage from his body camera and squad. Police are now trying to locate the bikers involved.

Police reported that drivers along highway 287 called 911 on Sunday to report that bikers were blocking the highway, going in and out of traffic recklessly and making stunts.

The video that police received was posted on Facebook by Chase Stone showing a FWPD officer holding a can of mace and spraying bikers. Stone added the cop deliberately maced the bikers to cause an accident.

Video posted on Facebook showing Fort Worth Police Officer W. Figueroa macing bikers https://youtu.be/JCe9NJX3SqU