Dallas DA Drops Charges Against Black Woman Beaten by a White Man

The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office on Wednesday dropped felony criminal mischief charges against a Black woman who was violently attacked by a White man last month, Dallas News reports.

Dallas police issued an arrest warrant for L’Daijohnique Lee, 24, on Tuesday after she admitted to smashing the window of Austin Shuffield’s pickup truck. Video footage showcased Shuffield, 30, viciously punching Lee after a parking dispute on March 21.

Kim Leach, a spokeswoman for district attorney John Creuzot, announced that the charges against Lee were recalled on Wednesday, the local news site reports.

The DA released a statement explaining his surprise at the arrest warrant. “The district attorney had no prior knowledge that an arrest warrant was issued. When and if charges reach the district attorney’s office, we will take appropriate action.”

Dallas Police Chief Renee Hell denied intentionally blindsiding the district attorney by filing charges against Lee.

According to the police, the charges and warrant against Lee took so long to be filed because investigators needed to determine the “extent of the damage” to Shuffield’s vehicle.

An estimate submitted by Shuffield confirming $3,000 in damages was submitted to officials on Monday. Texas law considers criminal mischief a state jail felony if the damage incurs costs between $2,500 to $30,000, WFAA reports.

S. Lee Merritt, the woman’s attorney, told reporters, “It’s not the role of the Dallas Police Department to come in and re-victimize the victim; she has gone through enough. She continues to live in fear, as the person who violently assaulted her and pulled a gun on her is free.”