It started as a heated argument — and ended in a viral moment that would land a sheriff’s deputy under indictment.
In 2018, Deputy Ellison Collins, a 39-year-old Harris County Sheriff’s deputy in Texas, found himself in the middle of a confrontation with a 61-year-old man during what should have been a routine encounter.
Video footage later released showed Collins taunting and daring the man to slap him.
“Go ahead, hit me!” the deputy can be heard saying repeatedly — his voice calm but provocative.
After a long moment, the older man slowly raised his hand, seemingly confused or intimidated.
Before his hand even made contact, Deputy Collins struck first — slapping the man so hard he fell to the ground.
The deputy then arrested him on the spot for assaulting a police officer.
The footage spread quickly online, sparking outrage. Critics said the deputy had baited the man into reacting, only to use it as justification for violence and an arrest.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office placed Collins on leave while investigators reviewed the incident.
Months later, a grand jury indicted Collins on a charge of assault, accusing him of using excessive force under color of authority.
Civil rights advocates and community members called the footage “a disturbing example of police provocation.”
One local official said:
“No officer should create a situation that ends in violence — especially against an elderly man who posed no threat.”
As of the indictment, Collins faced both departmental discipline and potential criminal consequences.
The 61-year-old victim, whose name was withheld for privacy, suffered bruises but survived the incident.
For many watching, it became a symbol of the power imbalance between citizens and law enforcement — and the cost when that power is abused.