AUSTIN, Texas — The Austin Police Department (APD) has reached a $55,000 settlement with a woman who was thrown to the ground by an officer during racial justice protests in August 2020.
Attorneys for Eli Winkelman claim that she was filming a demonstration against police when she began filming a protester being arrested. While she was filming the arrest, an officer knocked her phone out of her hand.
Winkelman then claimed that when she asked for the officer's badge number, he shoved her, then she was grabbed by the neck and thrown to the ground by another officer.
Videos began circulating on social media shortly after the incident.
Winkelman's lawyers claimed she suffered from post-concussion syndrome and severe lingering pain as a result of the incident.
“This settlement is a crucial step in enabling Ms. Winkelman to move forward from this traumatic event,” one of Winkelman's attorneys, Maff Caponi, said. “But this is an unfortunate reminder of the disturbing behavior that APD exhibits to peaceful protests against police violence — which was to respond with more police violence. We believe lawsuits like this one are important and necessary tools to hold the City accountable for violations of people’s constitutional rights, and to send a message that the people of Austin expect better from its officers.”
A spokesperson for the City of Austin said the city felt the $55,000 payout was appropriate after reviewing the details of the case.