Duncanville Police Victim Discharged from Hospital, Begins Recovery from Fractured Spine

The 21-year-old man hospitalized with serious injuries after he was taken into custody by Duncanville police Friday was discharged Wednesday afternoon.

Keandre Green was jogging, his family says, when a 911 caller reported a man with his description had urinated in an alleyway. After police chased and apprehended Green, he suffered acute anterior compression fractures or spinal fractures, according to his attorney Justin A. Moore.

“He has a long road ahead of him,” Moore said.

Although Green left he hospital with the use of his extremities, Moore said he has a back brace on and needs assistance to lift himself.

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Green spoke to reporters Wednesday outside of Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Of his encounter with police, Green said he only remembers his face being planted into the ground and “excruciating” pain in his back.

He said police grabbed him from the front and he “folded like a flip phone.”

“The only thing I remember is them breaking my back,” he said from his mother’s car parked outside the hospital.

Keandre’s mother, Lucretia Honore, said her son can’t eat at the moment and can barely talk. A GoFundMe says he has a “catastrophic” spinal injury in three places.

Green described himself as a runner who goes jogging almost every day. Green told reporters his doctors believe his stitches can be removed in two weeks and his recovery will be about three months, but he will suffer long-lasting back problems.

“I’m in pain every day,” Green said. “I’m in pain right now. It hurts to talk.”

‘He deserves justice’

Green said when he was out jogging, he ducked into an alley way to “handle my business.” He described getting out of the way and waiting for a car to pass by him before urinating. He believes the driver, who he described as possibly an elderly Black woman, was the person who called 911.

Police said Monday when officers responded to the 900 block of Wayne Avenue, Green ran from officers them. Moore said it was out of fear.

Green was arrested after warrant check revealed an active warrant on a family-violence charge, police said. Moore said the warrant wasn’t signed by a judge.

Green refused to comply with officers’ demands when caught, police said, and kept his left hand near his waistband. An officer, who has not been identified, punched Green at least twice. Police have not said how Green could have obtained his spinal injures. Police called for ambulance after Green complained of back pain, the department said.

“I just know my perspective on police changed a lot,” Green said.

Green told reporters he was apprehended by the officers in a nearby park — and not in the alley — shortly after he urinated. Moore said police need to release body camera footage and other records, including how long it took between the 911 call and when police apprehended Green.

“A young man had his spine crushed for jogging,” Moore said. “Indecent exposure is a minor offense that shouldn’t lead to a very brutalized response.”

Moore said Green is not currently facing any charges in relation to Friday’s events. He was handcuffed to his hospital bed, but the restraints were later removed. Duncanville police, who initially said Green faces a charge of evading arrest, did not immediately confirm this information.

Green’s attorney also said the Texas Rangers are investigating the officers involved. Neither Duncanville police or the Texas Rangers immediately confirmed or denied an investigation.

“He deserves justice, he deserves transparency,” Moore said. “And these officers deserve to be held accountable.”