Austin Police Officer Indefinitely Suspended After Sixth Street Punching Incident
AUSTIN, Texas — An Austin police officer has been indefinitely suspended following an internal investigation into a viral video showing him punching a man on Sixth Street in October 2025. The incident has sparked public outcry and a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on October 10, 2025, outside a bar on East Sixth Street. Officer Andy Garcia was responding to a reported fight and was detaining two teenagers when the altercation with James Rodriguez occurred. According to a lawsuit filed by Rodriguez, Garcia punched him in the face without provocation, causing him to fall to the ground and suffer a brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder [KXAN], [CBS Austin].
Prior to the punch, the lawsuit alleges that Officer Kenneth Leger threw one of the teenagers to the ground and began punching him, while Garcia threw the other teenager to the ground and pushed his face into the concrete [KVUE]. As Garcia was escorting a woman away in handcuffs, he allegedly punched Rodriguez.
Investigation and Suspension
The Austin Police Department (APD) launched an internal investigation following the incident. APD’s Internal Affairs Division found that Garcia’s actions violated several department policies, including “response to resistance,” “acts bringing discredit upon the department,” and “neglect of duty” [KVUE].
During an interview with investigators, Garcia reportedly justified his actions, claiming Rodriguez was displaying “preparatory signs of aggressive behavior” [FOX 7 Austin]. He stated that, given the circumstances, the use of force was “100% objectively reasonable and within APD policy and within the law.”
Despite Garcia’s claims, APD recommended his indefinite suspension, which has now been implemented [CBS Austin]. The complaint against Officer Ledger was closed with no policy violation found.
Legal Action
James Rodriguez has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Austin and Officer Garcia, alleging excessive force and civil rights violations [FOX 7 Austin]. His attorney, Jeff Edwards, of Edwards Law, has stated the video clearly shows an unprovoked attack. “The events, fortunately, were captured on video, and they just saw a police officer brutally punching an innocent individual in the head,” Edwards said [KXAN].
Edwards likewise noted that the Austin Police Department has a history of excessive force incidents and a failure to adequately discipline officers, particularly in the Sixth Street entertainment district. Records indicate the city has settled nearly 80 civil lawsuits related to police misconduct, totaling over $37 million in the past five years [FOX 7 Austin].