DRIVEWAY AMBUSH? Texas Man Hits Police with Federal Lawsuit After Alleged Handcuff Chokehold!

SOUR LAKE, Texas — The City of Sour Lake says it has requested an independent review of a police encounter in which a man alleges an officer choked him while he was handcuffed. Officers involved will be assigned to non-patrol duties while the investigation is pending, according to the city.

Civil rights activist Dr. Candice Matthews announced Tuesday that Houston attorney U.A. Lewis had filed a federal lawsuit against the city and two officers on behalf of Kendrick Bates.

At a press conference with Matthews and community activist Quanell X, Bates said plainclothes officers approached him outside his home after he parked in his driveway. He alleged they did not initially identify themselves or explain why they were approaching him.

Bates said an officer choked him after he was handcuffed. According to Matthews, the encounter ended with citations for a stop-sign violation and an expired driver’s license, rather than an arrest. Bates disputed running stop signs.

Quanell X called for a Texas Rangers criminal investigation. Matthews also sought broader scrutiny of department practices.

The city issued the following statement:

“The City of Sour Lake is aware of an incident involving the Sour Lake Police Department. The city is taking this matter seriously and we are looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident. The city has reached out to a neighboring law enforcement agency and the Texas Rangers for independent review of the incident. During the pendency of the investigation, the officers involved will be assigned to non-patrol duties. At this time, the city has no further comments as it is an ongoing investigation.”

The statement acknowledges the incident and outlines the city’s response, including its request for outside review. It does not address Bates’ specific allegation that he was choked while restrained or provide the city’s account of the encounter.

The city did not identify the neighboring law enforcement agency it contacted. Its statement also does not establish whether that agency or the Texas Rangers has accepted the request or begun an investigation.

The temporary assignment to non-patrol duties applies during the investigation, according to the statement. The city did not describe those assignments, give a timeline for the review or announce any findings regarding the officers’ conduct.

The city cited the ongoing investigation in declining further comment.