A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was relieved of his duties during the Texas A&M vs. South Carolina game after a confrontation with South Carolina players, in an event that is still being talked about several days later.
The incident, which occurred after South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor scored a long touchdown, was captured on video by ESPN and quickly gained national attention. The trooper appeared to elbow his way through Harbor and teammate Oscar Hadaway III, prompting criticism from many, including NBA star LeBron James, who called for the trooper’s suspension.
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Craig Greaves, a criminal defense attorney and third-generation Aggie, expressed strong feelings about the incident. “That guy should never step foot on Kyle Field again, in my opinion,” Greaves said. He described the trooper’s actions as “just literally tries to bulldoze both of these kids,” and in his observation, called it “a class C assault” and referred to the trooper as “a bully with a badge.”
Texas A&M Police confirmed the trooper was removed from the game following the interaction. South Carolina head football coach Shane Beamer appreciated the handling of the situation, stating, “I appreciate them handling that the right way and sending him home.”
Former Texas DPS lieutenant Erwin Ballarta said, “That’s not reflective of law enforcement that I know of as DPS.” As the Executive Director of the Texas Police Association, Ballarta says they “always focus on character building. And that’s the main thing, is the character, honesty, courtesy, all those things are so important in law enforcement, but also as an individual,” he said.
The Texas Department of Public Safety has yet to identify the trooper involved, and Greaves added that the Texas A&M Police Department has the jurisdiction to file a criminal complaint. The situation remains under review.