Daniel Wilson, a former Texas police officer, has been charged in connection with the disturbing arrest of Victoria Lang.
According to Atlanta Black Star, Lang is a Black autistic college student whose 2025 arrest at a McDonald’s has sparked much outrage.
According to court documents obtained by News 6, body camera footage was disclosed on May 6. Records show Wilson used “inappropriate force, carry methods, and body positioning” during the encounter, and his actions were described as “excessive.”
Lang was 19 years old when she was arrested, and she had gone to the Wichita eatery after arriving in Wichita Falls and discovering that her dorm room was unavailable, according to reports. Lang then went to McDonald’s to change her clothes and refresh up while waiting.
A manager eventually contacted 911 to complain that woman had spent too long in the restroom, presuming she was destitute. In the video, she is seen doing her hair in the restroom when officers ask for her name and birth date; she declines, and the situation quickly escalates.
Wilson was eventually dismissed, and another officer involved, Douglas Gulley, resigned, according to the report. According to local officials, the incident prompted an internal assessment and the renewal of training in de-escalation, crisis response, and arrest tactics. Community advocates and local authorities had also pressed for the video’s release and accountability as the case progressed through the legal system.
“The actions alleged in this case are not reflective of the values of the Wichita Falls Police Department or the men and women who serve this community every day,” said interim police chief Mitch Bates in a public statement. “Our focus remains on building on the work we’ve already started, supporting our officers as we strengthen trust with the community to ensure the department moves forward stronger than before.”
Wilson’s indictment is one step forward in a story that has reverberated well beyond Wichita Falls. The criminal charges were not immediately released, but the case has already resulted in disciplinary action, public outrage, and a bigger discussion about how officers handle vulnerable people in sensitive situations.
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