One of Four Houston Police Officers, Andrew Blomberg, Goes On Trial for Videotaped Beating of Teenager

Houston Police Officer Andrew Blomberg

Houston, Texas

Four Houston police officers are accused of brutally beating a teenager named Chad Holley during an arrest in 2010. The beating was captured on video.

On Monday, a trial for the first officer will begin. Andrew Blomberg is charged with official oppression, a misdemeanor that could earn the officer up to one year in jail.

Defense lawyers for Blomberg claim he was trying to detain several suspects fleeing a burglary scene without drawing his gun.

Attorneys for Holley said Blomberg was the first to begin beating the teen, then a 15-year-old Elsik High sophomore, creating a "snowball effect" that led to a barrage of fists and boots.

"The beating starts with Blomberg," said Ben Hall, one of Holley's attorneys. "Whether it is one lick, five licks, whatever, someone started this slew of attacks on Chad."

"This is just a horrible example of conduct that goes too far," Hall said. "I'm just glad that some court is moving forward in prosecution of some of these claims."

He said the beating injured Holley's brain, slowing his cognitive capacity.

"That's going to be a lifelong difficulty," he said.

Despite efforts by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston police Chief Charles McClelland to keep the videotape from becoming public, community activist Quanell X and local television stations exposed the tape.

The recording shows a police cruiser clipping Holley as he hurdles the hood to avoid a chain link fence. The teen who flips over on his stomach and puts his hands behind his head as several officers descend on him as they take turns kicking and stomping him.

Blomberg is the first of four former officers to go to trial for their behavior during the arrest. Trials are pending for Phil Bryan, Raad Hassan and Drew Ryser, all of whom were fired. Bryan and Hassan also were charged with violation of the civil rights of a prisoner, a misdemeanor.