Chief: Texas City officer cleared of wrongdoing in parking lot arrest that went viral EDITOR’S NOTE: The attached 11-minute video has been edited for time by i45NOW to show only relevant events. The full 32-minute version will be available for i45NOW+ members to watch later today. WARNING: The video contains cursing and racial epithets. Texas City Police Chief Landis Cravens announced on Wednesday (8/20/2025) that the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office and the FBI informed his department that an officer in a viral TikTok video, which shows a forceful takedown of a suspect at a Kemah shopping center parking lot, is unlikely to face investigations. Outgoing Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady was less definitive when asked about the case, acknowledging that no one had forwarded it to his office for review. However, Cravens emphasized that his department was told the DA’s office saw no issues with the police-recorded video of the incident, which the department released. Officer Peter Behler, assigned to the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Crime Suppression Unit, was involved in a physical confrontation with La Marque resident Weston Mabee, 25, on August 11. While all use-of-force incidents by Texas City officers are always internally reviewed, Cravens said that after examining body and dash cam footage, there was no indication that the officer broke the law or department policy. Cravens also noted that no complaints had been filed with his department by anyone, including Mabee or his behalf. Roady confirmed the same for his office. The FBI’s Houston Office Public Affairs Officer Connor Hagen did not respond to requests for comment. According to agency policy, the FBI rarely publicly confirms or denies investigations. A TikTok video posted by Mabee’s girlfriend shows part of the altercation with Behler and Mabee on the ground, with the officer throwing punches while the suspect is on the ground. The incident started when Behler ran Mabee’s license plate after the vehicle passed in front of his patrol car in the parking lot. Court documents state the plate returned as fake or not in the state system. Mabee was in a shopping center parking lot at 400 FM 518 in Kemah with his girlfriend and three children, who remained in the car during the encounter. Behler approached Mabee, and police reports say Mabee refused to comply with commands to step away from his vehicle. Dash and body camera footage from the confrontation from the confrontation starting with Mabee telling the officer he knows his rights and that this wasn’t a traffic stop. Mabee claimed he knew his rights because he “spent four years in prison.” Although Mabee’s vehicle was on private property, Texas law considers retail parking lots and similar areas public places, making them accessible to police surveillance. Federal courts have also ruled that such locations are public places. Legal experts confirmed to i45NOW that police in Texas do not need a traffic stop to run a license plate or question a driver. Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey said his department regularly patrols the shopping center parking lot. Sheriff Jimmy Fullen said his task force routinely patrols public parking lots to deter crime. Many retail property owners encourage or have formal agreements with law enforcement to patrol their parking lots. After a verbal exchange, Behler grabbed Mabee’s arm and tried to take him into custody. Mabee went to the ground, and a physical altercation ensued. Video shows Mabee throwing a punch that reportedly struck Behler and kicking at the officer while on the ground. Behler responded by punching back, attempting to control Mabee as Mabee used his arms to cover his face. After cuffing Mabee, Behler called for backup, leading to Kemah Police, Clear Lake Shores police, and sheriff’s deputies arriving. Authorities stated that police used a full-body restraint on Mabee because he was “combative.” During the fight, Mabee repeatedly tells the officer he will “sue and that the officer’s career is “over with,” and at one point threatens the officer, claiming, “if you didn’t have that badge I swear to God you’d be over with today probably.” Mabee also complained that he was burning while face down on the asphalt. Mabee was charged with assault of a police officer and remained in Galveston County Jail on Wednesday (8/21/2025) on $100,000 bond. The status of the license plate that triggered the incident has not been confirmed. i45NOW staff covered the incident that day about 30 minutes after the arrest. While other media outlets used the viral TikTok footage, i45NOW’s policy is that those involved must be contacted or give permission to use such videos for reporting and to provide information about the incident. Attempts to reach Mabee’s girlfriend or the person who recorded the video after the incident were unsuccessful. Mabee could not be contacted because he was in jail. This arrest marks the second viral incident involving a Texas City Police officer who is under internal review and garnered widespread attention. Jahiel Freeman shared a video of his encounter with a Texas City police officer in a shopping center parking lot on July 17. Officer Michael Turner pulled Freeman over in the 200 block of State Highway 3 for failing to signal 100 feet before a turn. Refusing to exit his car, Freeman’s video shows Turner unbuckling Freeman’s seatbelt, grabbing him by the arm, pulling him out of the vehicle, and taking him to the ground. Unlike the Behler case, the Texas City Police Department will not release dash and body cam footage from that arrest due to an ongoing internal investigation. No formal complaints have been filed in that case either, Cravens said. Behler and Turner remain on full duty during the internal reviews.

Posted by i45NOW TJ Aulds at 2025-08-21 12:48:51 UTC