A couple in Krum in Denton County is looking for an explanation and an apology after an officer forced his way into their apartment in the middle of the night.
The incident happened early Monday morning.
Krum police said their officer was responding to a report that a man was beating a woman at an apartment complex. The police say they did not have a unit number, but when they arrived the only unit where he heard noise was in Unit ‘G’. That is why he attempted to enter, officials said.
James Betsinger and his wife were up late. His wife has a progressive form of multiple sclerosis. Betsinger said they try to go to sleep around 3 a.m., and that’s when the officer started banging on the door.
“He said ‘Open your door.' I said ‘No. What are you here for?’ He said ‘Open your door,'" Betsinger said.
Betsinger said he cracked the door open, but when the officer didn't explain what he wanted, Betsinger closed the door.
“He shoved his way into my house,” Betsinger said. “The officer pushed both hands on the door and pushed me out of the way.”
“He pointed his light at my wife and said ‘Are you OK?’ Did not address me. Did not announce why he was here until after he asked her if she was OK,” Betsinger said.
Betsinger said neither he nor his wife were fully dressed as they were getting ready for bed. He said he feels violated by the incident and plans to file a formal complaint with the Krum Police Department.
“He should have announced who he was, why he was at my door,” Betsinger said. “I would have asked him to give me a minute and make sure I was decent and my wife was decent, because we were not at the moment.”
The police officer was supposed to enter the unit next door. He eventually resolved that situation, police said.
The Krum police chief said he is reviewing the incident but has not launched a formal investigation. So far the officer in question has not been disciplined.