Disturbing photo of Texas horseback officers parading black suspect down street with rope sparks anger

People are enraged over a photo that has circulated of a black man from Texas, who was seen being led by police officers on horsebacks while he was in handcuffs.

The black man, 43-year-old Donald Neely, was detained for criminal trespassing at 306 22nd Street in Galveston, Texas.

While the patrol vehicle expected to pick him up delayed, two officers, mounting horses, decided to clip a rope to the pair of handcuffs and had him walk along the streets with them, while they were still on top of the horses, the New York Times reported.

According to officers, he was being led to 21st and Market, where the mounted patrol unit was stationed.

The criticism led to an apology being issued by Galveston police chief Vernon Hale, who described the use of rope as a “trained technique and best practice in some scenarios.”

“First and foremost I must apologize to Mr. Neely for this unnecessary embarrassment,” Hale said. “I believe our officers showed poor judgement in this instance and could have waited for a transport unit at the location of the arrest. My officers did not have any malicious intent at the time of the arrest, but we have immediately changed the policy to prevent use of this technique and will review all mounted training and its procedures for more appropriate methods.”

However, people have poured onto social media in rage and expressing disgust at the situation. Here are a few of them.