Videos Reveal Police Search of Marshawn Kneeland Before His Death

Police Videos Reveal Details of Marshawn Kneeland Search

The Texas Department of Public Safety released body camera and police vehicle videos documenting the search for Dallas Cowboys player Marshawn Kneeland, hours before he was found dead. The recordings show the operation from the moment Kneeland was pursued for speeding to the discovery of his body. The videos, obtained from 10 agents and a drone, cover the period from 10:30 p.m. on November 5th to 1:30 a.m. on November 6th. During the pursuit, Kneeland crashed his vehicle into a pickup truck and fled on foot. The search extended through an office park in Frisco, near the Dallas Cowboys’ facilities. Officers, some accompanied by K-9 dogs, checked parking lots, buildings, and wooded areas. Initially, the agents did not know the identity of the suspect. Information about Kneeland’s identity arrived during the search, approximately one hour after it began. Kneeland’s body was finally found in a portable toilet in a parking lot.

The Accident and the Initial Reaction

The recordings show the scene of the crash, which occurred around 10:40 p.m. on November 5. An officer approached the driver of the impacted truck, who reported that Kneeland’s vehicle had hit her at high speed.

“It hit me out of nowhere,” the woman told an officer.

Accident Witness

The woman described the driver as a Hispanic man. Officers found that Kneeland’s vehicle had no plates, but upon verifying the identification number, they discovered it had a personalized plate with the inscription “IDNTSPD”.

Interactions with Kneeland’s Girlfriend

At approximately 11:10 p.m., an officer stopped a white Buick, in which Catalina Mancera, Kneeland’s girlfriend, was traveling. The officer forced her out of the vehicle and handcuffed her, believing she was involved in the incident. Mancera explained that her GPS wasn’t working. The officer released her after checking the vehicle. Later, the same agent met with a Frisco police officer, who informed him that they were trying to get Mancera to contact Kneeland. Around 1:00 a.m. on November 6, the agent confronted Mancera, who denied having lied. A retired officer intervened to calm the situation.

Search in the Pipeline System

The videos reveal that officers searched an office park duct system. A Frisco police officer urged the suspect to come out, threatening to send in a K-9 dog. Alleged sounds were heard inside the pipes. The agents launched pepper spray into the duct system. Subsequently, they received information that the suspect’s phone was located near the area.

Confirmation of Kneeland’s Identity

The videos show the officers confirming that the suspect was Kneeland. At 11:31 p.m., two agents searched for information on the player on the internet. At 11:55 p.m., a Frisco police officer reported that the Plano police were in contact with the NFL and with Kneeland’s family, who was sending farewell messages. The news that the suspect was Kneeland generated surprise among the agents. An agent commented: “They don’t want him to die. That will be broadcast everywhere.”