Dallas man says he wants justice from police after being hit, losing eye during protest
A Dallas man had his left eye surgically removed after he says he was hit by a projectile during a protest in downtown Dallas on Saturday.
Brandon Saenz is calling for Dallas Police Chief Reneé Hall to denounce the incident.
Saenz said he was looking for a friend when he saw a line of police and was hit with “less-lethal ammunition,” which sent him to the emergency room. It’s one of two use-of-force altercations Dallas police are investigating. The police are asking anyone with video of the incidents to contact the department.
“All of a sudden, I heard a boom, and I got hit and I put my hands up and I put my hand on my eye and took off running,” Saenz told KDFW/Ch. 4. “And that’s when someone came and surrounded me and told me to lay down on the ground.”
Saenz, 26, also suffered a fracture on the left side of his face and lost seven teeth. He told the Dallas Morning News that he was near the downtown public library across from City Hall where a peaceful demonstration was taking place when the incident happened.
Two Dallas officers talked with Saenz on Wednesday, according to the Dallas Morning News.
Attorney Daryl Washington said witnesses saw a Dallas officer shoot his client in the face with a projectile.
“It was unjustified use of excessive force and we feel that somebody needs to be held accountable for Brandon losing the vision in his eye,” Washington said. “We are committed. We are working alongside police oversight to make sure we hold whoever is responsible accountable.”
This story was originally published June 3, 2020 at 10:30 PM.
