Security Guard Accused of Excessive Force at High School Basketball Game

Khandiese Cooper and her sister, Moni, planned to attend the Killeen (Texas) High School basketball game at Ellison High School, but while Khandiese had a ticket, Moni did not. When they were informed that the game was sold out, Khandiese tried negotiating with the ticket-taker to get her sister in the door. Khandiese was approached by Kenneth Edmiston, a Killeen Independent School District police officer, at which point things really got out of hand. Edmiston and Khandiese Cooper scuffled and ended up on the ground, and Khandiese was charged with criminal trespass and interference with public duties (the charges were later dropped). Khandiese sued the district and Edmiston (Cooper v. Killeen Independent School District) for violating her Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, and for assault and battery. The district was granted qualified immunity because Khandiese failed to connect a specific district policy with the alleged excessive force and assault and battery. The case against Edmiston continued, however, since there was a genuine issue of fact regarding exactly what took place, whether the officer used excessive force, whether Khandiese actually trespassed, and whether qualified immunity applied to the assault and battery claims. Khandiese eventually accepted an undisclosed settlement.

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