Portland, Texas police terminate corporal after internal review of December arrest captured on body camera

Termination follows complaint and administrative leave

The Portland Police Department in Portland, Texas, has terminated a corporal after an internal investigation into a December arrest involving a bystander who recorded police activity. The department said the disciplinary decision followed a complaint filed on January 5 and an administrative review that resulted in the officer being placed on leave.

The department identified the former officer as Cpl. Alexander Vallejo. Police said the internal investigation concluded two days after the complaint was filed and found that Vallejo violated departmental policies, procedures and standards. The department did not publicly specify which policies were violated.

What the body-camera footage shows

The incident occurred on December 23 during a traffic stop. Body-camera footage from the scene shows Vallejo interacting with a second man who arrived on a bicycle and began filming. In the footage, Vallejo repeatedly orders the man to move away and warns him that he could be taken to jail, describing the conduct as interference.

Video from the encounter shows Vallejo approaching the man, taking hold of his arm, and attempting to place it behind his back. The man asks repeatedly what he did wrong and says he is in a public space. The footage also shows Vallejo placing the man in handcuffs and later removing a phone from the man’s hands while he is being escorted to a patrol vehicle. The two continue arguing while the man is seated in the back of the squad car.

Case referred for further review

Portland police said the matter has been forwarded to the Texas Rangers for additional review. No public determination from the Texas Rangers has been announced in connection with the referral.

Public recording and police encounters

The episode highlights a recurring point of friction in police-public encounters: how officers manage scenes when bystanders record enforcement activity. Civil-rights guidance in Texas has generally emphasized that people lawfully present in public spaces may photograph or record matters in plain view, including police activity, so long as they do not physically obstruct or otherwise unlawfully interfere with officers performing their duties.

What is known and what remains unclear

• Known: The department says the complaint was filed January 5, the officer was placed on administrative leave, and the internal investigation concluded January 7 with termination.

• Known: The body-camera footage depicts the arrest of a bystander who was filming and shows the officer taking the phone from the man’s hands during the arrest sequence.

• Unclear: Whether any criminal charges were filed against the bystander, whether any charges were dismissed, and whether any disciplinary or criminal findings will result from the Texas Rangers’ review.

In a public statement about the case, the police chief said the officer violated departmental policy and was terminated.

The Portland Police Department has not released additional details about the internal findings beyond the conclusion that departmental standards were violated and that the case was referred for outside review.