Former Baytown Police Officer Indicted for Assault in the Videotaped Arrest

A Harris County grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Baytown Police officer who was fired for striking a bystander who was with a person recording video of a traffic stop.

Nathaniel Brown was indicted for Assault, which is a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and/ or a $4,000 fine

“The grand jury has made clear that our community won’t tolerate unnecessary violence by anyone including police officers,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “We need one standard for everyone and the law must be applied equally in order for people to continue to believe in our justice system.”

Brown, a nine-year veteran of the Baytown PD, was fired after the incident on June 2. The confrontation began when Brown and other officers were arresting the driver of a Mercedes-Benz sedan who stopped outside Baytown Market, a convenience store at 2900 Market St. in Baytown.

Officers detained, then handcuffed a 23-year-old man for an alleged traffic violation after he parked near the gas pumps at the store. As officers handcuffed that man, eyewitnesses under the awning in front of the store commented about the arrest. One of the witnesses began filming the entire episode on his cell phone.

After showing the driver being handcuffed, the video then shows Officer Brown walking across the parking lot and confronting the witnesses. Brown asks one witness, 24-year-old Skylar Gilmore, to put his hands behind his back then throws him to the ground. The officer then used a knee to strike Gilmore in the shoulder and face. Gilmore and another witness, 23-year-old Isaiah Phillips, were arrested for disorderly conduct-language, for their public use of profanities while watching the arrest. The officers also filed a charge against Gilmore for interfering with public duties.

When the facts surrounding the incident, including the video, came to light, the District Attorney’s Office dismissed the charges against the two witnesses. Brown was fired from Baytown PD days later.

You can see the prior stories that we covered by clicking here: https://nnbnewstoday.com/?s=Nathaniel+Brown

Statement from a spokesperson of the Baytown Police Department; "A few months ago, after conducting a thorough investigation into the June 2nd arrest of 24- year-old Skylar Gilmore by former Officer Nathaniel Brown, who was relieved of his duties by Chief Dougherty as a result of the internal review of the incident, the Baytown Police Department presented their findings to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for their review. Today those findings were presented to a Harris County Grand Jury who handed down an indictment against Mr. Brown on Class A Misdemeanor Assault charges. We have faith and trust in the Grand Jury process and respect their work and decision in this first step of the judicial process on this matter. We hold all of our officers to very high moral, ethical and professional standards and are committed to holding accountable those who fail to adhere to those standards. As we wait for this case to proceed through the judicial system, we ask that our community continue to have faith and trust in the Baytown Police Department and the dedicated, professional men and women who are committed to serving all members of our community with integrity, compassion and professionalism."

 BMPA President Bill Nelson:

“The Baytown Municipal Police Association is disappointed in the decision to indict officer Brown. His termination was politically motivated and thus his indictment is just an extension of that political gamesmanship. This sends a horrible message to law enforcement, “if you proactively police your jurisdiction and confront known criminals, your career is in jeopardy.” Currently, there are hundreds of cases presented to Harris County DA, daily. If you’re lucky enough to get them to file charges, it takes months if not years to see a Grand Jury or trial. Somehow, they were able to get an indictment on officer Brown in record time. I have no doubt, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, will indict as many officers as possible, before the November elections. Our officers come to work every day, trying to make a difference in their community, but it is very disheartening to see the policy makers holding criminal behavior up on a pedestal, while trying to criminalize officers. Unfortunately, our citizens will suffer, as more and more officers see the writing on the wall and leave this honorable profession.”