A former Wichita Falls, Texas police officer has been indicted for the excessive use of force during the arrest of a 19-year-old, autistic Black college student, Victoria Lang.
The arrest, which took place on August 26, 2025, sparked outrage and led to significant public outcry after newly released body cam footage showed disturbing images of Lang being dragged from a McDonald’s restaurant and pinned to the ground by the officer, with his hand pressed against her neck.
The Incident: Unnecessary Force and Controversial Arrest
The incident occurred at a McDonald’s in downtown Wichita Falls, where Lang, a sophomore at Midwestern State University, was approached by officers after a McDonald’s manager called 911.
Lang had been in the restroom for an extended period, and staff had grown concerned, mistakenly thinking she was homeless. The body camera footage from former officer Daniel Wilson showed Lang looking into a mirror and adjusting her hair under a black bonnet.
When Wilson asked for her name and identification, Lang initially did not respond and eventually declined to provide her identification, stating she had no ID on her.
Wilson informed Lang that she would be arrested if she did not comply with his request, which led Lang to sarcastically offer to be arrested by holding out her wrists. Wilson then proceeded to cuff her hands behind her back, despite her request to close her purse.
The situation escalated when Lang attempted to retrieve her belongings, which fell out of her purse, and Wilson denied her request to zip it up.
Lang, who had been sitting down in the restaurant, refused to stand up when ordered to do so, which led the officers to carry her out of the McDonald’s, facedown.
The video shows Wilson placing his hand on Lang’s neck while she was pinned to the ground outside. Lang can be heard in the video crying out, “My neck … This is illegal … You’re literally trying to choke me.”
Dragging and Hogtying: Escalating the Situation
After Lang was pinned on the ground, Wilson then dragged her across the asphalt to his patrol car, where he twisted her legs into a “figure-four hold position”, resembling a “human pretzel,” before stuffing her into the backseat, where a seatbelt hooked onto her feet, trapping her.
The footage, along with statements from eyewitnesses and advocates, reveals that Lang was not combative, not yelling, and not resisting arrest. The excessive force used against her contradicted Wilson’s earlier claim on his radio that Lang had been “combative.”
Indictment and Legal Action
The police body camera footage, which was released after pressure from community activists, shows a clear violation of police conduct.
Following the release of the footage, local community leaders and activists, including Crystal Washington, a community advocate, called for the firing and criminal prosecution of the officers involved.
Wilson was terminated from the Wichita Falls Police Department in November 2025, and Douglas Gulley, the other officer involved, resigned.
In response to the incident, the Texas Rangers began an investigation, and on May 6, 2026, Wilson was indicted on two counts of official oppression related to the excessive force used against Victoria Lang.
Official oppression occurs when a law enforcement officer abuses their power in a way that unlawfully mistreats, arrests, or searches someone. If the abuse causes bodily harm or threats of injury, the charges can be escalated.
While official oppression is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, the charges could be upgraded to a second-degree felony if the officer’s actions are deemed to have caused bodily injury or posed a threat of harm.
The case against Wilson is an important one, as it will set a precedent for how cases of police misconduct are handled in the future, particularly involving excessive force against marginalized groups.
Public Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The footage of Victoria Lang’s arrest caused an immediate and widespread backlash, with many in the community and across the nation expressing their outrage at the treatment of the young woman.
District 2 City Councilman Robert Brooks expressed his shock and anger, saying, “I watched that baby get drug out of McDonald’s and the parking lot. I watched that baby get choked. I watched that baby get told by the police officer he was going to punch her! You’re telling her you’re going to punch her? That’s crazy.”
Activist Crystal Washington has been vocal in calling for greater accountability for police officers involved in misconduct, saying, “The children in our community are scared of the police.” Washington also criticized the department for failing to address the actions of aggressive officers who had been allowed to act with impunity.
The release of the body camera footage and the subsequent indictment of Wilson represent a step toward accountability, but Washington emphasized that the conduct displayed in the video is unacceptable and should never happen again.
Internal Review and Reforms in Wichita Falls
In response to the incident, the Wichita Falls Police Department has initiated a full internal review to assess the training standards for officers, particularly concerning their interactions with individuals who may have mental health conditions or disabilities.
This includes revising how officers approach arrests, the use of de-escalation techniques, and the training of a crisis intervention team. The police department has also pledged to strengthen policies to clarify the difference between the authority to arrest and the necessity to arrest.
Wichita Falls Police Chief Mitch Bates, who took over from Manuel Borrego in February 2026, expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging that the actions of the officers involved were not reflective of the values of the police department.
A Broader Pattern of Police Misconduct
The indictment of Daniel Wilson highlights the growing concern around police accountability in cases involving excessive force, particularly against marginalized communities.
The police department’s previous history of suspensions and misconduct among officers, including Wilson’s suspension in May 2025 for inappropriate actions during an active shooter training and his involvement in a relationship with a confidential informant, suggests that this may be part of a broader issue within the force.
Activists and members of the community are calling for greater oversight and reform of police practices, particularly in communities that have experienced systematic abuse by law enforcement.
Washington has called for the establishment of community oversight boards to prevent further incidents like this one and ensure that police officers are held to the highest standards of conduct.
Conclusion: Moving Toward Accountability
The indictment of Daniel Wilson for official oppression marks a critical step in holding law enforcement accountable for excessive force and ensuring that victims of police misconduct receive justice.
The case also shines a spotlight on broader issues related to police training, the use of force, and how law enforcement interacts with vulnerable individuals, particularly those with mental health challenges or disabilities.
While the legal process will continue to unfold, this incident underscores the need for meaningful reforms in police conduct and greater accountability at all levels of law enforcement.
The actions of Wichita Falls Police will be closely watched as both the local community and the broader public seek justice for Victoria Lang and work toward ensuring that similar incidents are prevented in the future.
