Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant said police drew a firearm and ordered him to the ground in front of his daughters after a parking-lot argument that began with allegations of reckless driving.
The incident occurred Sunday in the parking lot of Chiloso Mexican Bistro at 2251 E. Southlake Blvd. Bryant told OutKick he was driving toward the restaurant when two vehicles cut him off and drove recklessly. He confronted the occupants at a traffic light, leading to an argument with one of the young men.
Bryant said the man threatened to shoot him. Bryant replied, according to his account: “You pull that gun, I’m telling you right now, you better use it because if you don’t I’m going to do something to you.” The man did not display a firearm and instead pulled out his phone to record. Bryant said he then knocked the phone from the man’s hand.
🚨OUTKICK EXCLUSIVE: A confrontation with alleged reckless drivers ends with Dez Bryant on the ground in handcuffs.
Police point a gun at the former Cowboys star as his daughters watch. Bryant was cited for assault following the incident. pic.twitter.com/DOpnR4WMLP
— OutKick (@Outkick) October 26, 2026
Police responded. An officer drew a weapon and ordered the men to the ground, Bryant said. His girlfriend arrived with his two daughters, who witnessed the encounter. Bryant was handcuffed along with the other men, briefly placed in a police vehicle, and questioned. The other men were released; Bryant received a citation for Assault by Contact, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 under Texas law. He was instructed to appear in Southlake Municipal Court on or before Nov. 20.
Bryant disputed the citation, saying he acted in response to a threat and that the investigation felt one-sided. He said officers relied on the other man’s recording and told him to be “the bigger person,” without thoroughly reviewing surveillance footage. “I was really more so concerned about my children, you know, looking at their dad, you know, being on the ground with a gun pointed at me,” Bryant said.
He added that he has previously had positive interactions with local officers, including conversations about football with one who is around his son’s Southlake Carroll high school team, and described the situation as “extremely unfortunate.” Bryant said his reputation matters and called for fair treatment and a full investigation.
OutKick reported that it reached out to the City of Southlake for comment on behalf of the police department. No public police statement was available as of Monday. Video provided by Bryant shows an officer aiming a firearm in his direction while he was on the ground in handcuffs with the other men.
Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who played primarily for the Cowboys from 2010-17, remains active on social media commenting on NFL and high school football matters. His son, Dez Bryant Jr., plays for the Southlake Carroll Dragons.
