Video shows Dallas paramedic kicking homeless man several times in the head
Dallas Fire-Rescue put paramedic Brad Cox on administrative leave after the video became public
By Leila Merrill
DALLAS — A newly released video shows a paramedic kicking a homeless man several times in the head before police arrived at the scene, according to the Dallas Observer, which obtained the video.
The Dallas Fire-Rescue Department has put the paramedic, Brad Cox, on administrative leave since the video surfaced, WFAA reported. Cox, who has training in mixed martial arts, has a history of disciplinary matters dating back to 2016.
On Aug. 2, 2019, Cox and other firefighters were responding to a report of a grassfire. In body camera footage from that day, Cox says that he thinks a homeless man named Kyle Vess started the fire. Dallas sheriff’s deputies and police officers arrived to arrest Vess after Cox began kicking Vess.
Vess had facial fractures, a black eye, a bloody nose, and a swollen ankle, according to police documents. Vess has filed a lawsuit against Cox for detaining him and using excessive force.
“The fact remains, Mr. Cox basically bludgeoned my client, sent him to Parkland Hospital and kicked him with a firefighter boot,” attorney George Milner told WFAA.
Dallas paramedic, Brad Cox is on administrative leave after video surfaced of him kicking a homeless man in the head. And it’s not the first time he’s been in trouble. https://t.co/xAdgPA9OVE
— WFAA (@wfaa) October 20, 2021