Jury selection begins in first Austin police officer trial under DA José Garza

Jury selection began Monday for the trial of former Austin police officer Nathaniel Stallings, who was indicted on multiple misdemeanor charges four years ago after being accused of forcefully arresting a woman. Although Stallings, who resigned from the Police Department, was indicted under the former Travis County district attorney, this case will be the first time a police officer will be on trial under DA José Garza's administration. The office's civil rights unit is handling the case. During the 2018 arrest, Stallings grabbed the woman's hands and body, causing her head to strike against a car, a grand jury determined. Then-Police Chief Brian Manley said in a disciplinary memo that the level of force was unnecessary. The woman arrested was a sex worker, and the officers let the man who was allegedly soliciting her leave with a warning — a decision that Manley lambasted in his memo.

Stallings is facing one count of abuse of official capacity and three counts of official oppression. Each charge is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable with a jail term of up to one year and a maximum fine of $4,000. This is the first trial to be held in person in state District Judge Brad Urrutia's courtroom in two years, since Travis County courtrooms were shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Officials on Monday selected six jurors and one alternate. The trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday. Defense attorneys Brad Heilman and Terry Keel are representing Stallings. Heilman, a former Austin police officer, previously faced an official oppression charge — and was acquitted in 2006 — over use of force during an arrest. Keel was Heilman's attorney at the time. During jury selection, Heilman told the courtroom that the experience in part inspired him to become a defense attorney.