MESQUITE, Texas — The Mesquite Police Department has released a Critical Incident Community Briefing video detailing an in-custody death that occurred December 29, 2025, following a traffic stop in Dallas.
Because the incident occurred within Dallas city limits, the Dallas Police Department is leading the investigation. The case remains a Mesquite Police Department incident.
Click here to view the briefing video
According to police, officers were dispatched at approximately 8:28 p.m. to a theft at a Family Dollar located at 3200 Military Parkway. The caller reported that three people stole laundry detergent and left in a purple Ford Crown Victoria.
At about 8:34 p.m., a Mesquite officer located a vehicle matching that description traveling southbound on North St. Augustine Road. The officer initiated a traffic stop after the vehicle pulled into an apartment complex in the 2300 block of St. Augustine Road in Dallas, approximately eight miles from the store.
Police identified the driver as Willie Rose, 55, of Dallas. Officers instructed the occupants to place their hands outside the vehicle. Rose exited the vehicle and was ordered to get on the ground. Police said he was not fully compliant and appeared to throw an object later determined to be an inhaler.
While officers gave commands to the other occupants, Rose told the officer multiple times that he could not breathe. Police said Rose then stood up and fled on foot into the apartment complex. The officer pursued and caught up to him, at which point Rose fell to the ground.
The officer attempted to handcuff Rose, giving multiple verbal commands to surrender his hands. The body-worn camera captured repeated instructions to comply. The officer struck Rose several times while attempting to gain control and warned he would deploy a Taser if commands were not followed. Rose was placed in handcuffs.
Approximately 15 seconds after handcuffing Rose, the officer called for an ambulance. When the officer rolled Rose over, he appeared unresponsive. The officer performed a sternum rub and then removed the handcuffs to begin CPR. Dallas police officers and Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel continued life-saving measures. Rose was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Police said Rose was in handcuffs for approximately one minute before they were removed to begin CPR.
Two of the other three occupants in the vehicle were arrested on charges related to the incident and traffic stop.
The involved officer is a four-year veteran of the Mesquite Police Department. The Dallas County District Attorney’s Office has launched an independent investigation, and Mesquite Police Internal Affairs will review whether department policies and use-of-force procedures were followed.
The investigation remains ongoing.
