Men, woman arrested during Baytown bar fight claim excessive force by officers

Activist Quannell X along with local community leaders and hip-hop stars had a protest that began at the Byrd Funeral Home on Wheeler and ended by blocking the South Freeway at the Southmore overpass, July 15, 2013 in Houston. Protesters were calling for justice for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The shooter, George Zimmerman, was recently acquitted of the shooting. less Activist Quannell X along with local community leaders and hip-hop stars had a protest that began at the Byrd Funeral Home on Wheeler and ended by blocking the South Freeway at the Southmore overpass, July 15, ... more Photo: Eric Kayne Photo: Eric Kayne Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Men, woman arrested during Baytown bar fight claim excessive force by officers 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Bar patrons involved in a fight inside a Baytown wing house are crying foul on how the city's police officers handled the situation.

The incident happened inside Baytown's Bayou City Wings during the Houston Texans vs. Dallas Cowboys game on Oct. 7, according to Baytown police.

A heated argument about the game turned physical when several women began brawling inside the bar, a fight that eventually spilled into the parking lot of the restaurant, according to community activist Quanell X.

During the fight, Dennis Walker – who was a restaurant patron – tried to break it up, he said.

"You can see me separating people," Walker said of a bystander's video provided to Chron.com. "I was doing their job."

In the video, Walker is seen lying on his stomach outside the restaurant in handcuffs as an officer punches him in the back.

Walker said the officer had just thrown him up against the glass walls of the restaurant moments before the video started.

"It hurts me how they treated me," Walker said. "I didn't do nothing. I didn't do anything but break up a fight. I went to jail for breaking up a fight."

Walker said he was eventually arrested for public intoxication and has since been released from jail.

Two others involved in the altercation, Corrine Hopson and Michael Hopson, also claimed the

Baytown officers used excessive force during their arrests.

Corrine Hopson said she was never involved in the fight but was arrested instead.

Baytown Police Department spokesman Lt. Steve Dorris declined to comment on the case, but said no one has filed an official complaint with the department.

Quanell X said he doesn't trust the department to perform an internal investigation but instead called upon the Harris County District Attorney's Office to investigate the incident.

"Excessive use of force ... was used," Quanell X said. "That cop should be investigated should be relieved of duty."

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Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com