Well, that de-escalated quickly (we hope). Cpl. Eric Casebolt, the McKinney, Texas, police officer who was recorded throwing a 15-year-old girl to the ground and kneeing her in the back following a disturbance at a pool party, abruptly resigned on Tuesday. Casebolt's actions following the party are still under investigation, and while he'll keep his pension and benefits, he could face criminal charges. No, really, even in Texas!

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Casebolt's letter of resignation was a model of both concision and dickishness, reading, in full, "I resign." No apology, admission of wrongdoing, or for that matter evidence that he could pass a Turing test. Casebolt's attorney, Jane Bishkin, said that Casebolt and his family have gone into hiding after receiving death threats, because nothing in America happens anymore without somebody receiving death threats -- thanks a hell of a lot, Internet.

McKinney Police Chief Greg Conley said at a Tuesday news conference, "The actions of Eric Casebolt are indefensible," adding that Casebolt was "out of control during the incident ... I had 12 officers on the scene, and 11 of them performed according to their training[.]" Oh, sure, but you violently take down one girl in a bikini -- and scream and swear at a bunch of other teens, and pull a gun on two more kids -- and suddenly you're made out to be the bad guy who's out of control. As of yet, the poor "hero" hasn't got a GoFundMe page going, but give him time; we see a possible Fox News guest expert job in the guy's future.

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In other McKinney developments, charges have been dropped against 18-year-old Adrian Martin, the only person actually arrested and charged in the incident, for misdemeanor counts of "evading arrest" and "interfering with police." Martin was one of the two teens seen on the video approaching Casebolt and then running away when Casebolt pulled his gun on them:

Martin said he only wanted to reassure the girl, who goes to school with his brother, that he would call her mother. He said he didn’t mean to infringe on the officer’s space, but his friend bumped into him, knocking him toward Casebolt.

Martin said he feared for his life when he saw the gun; multiple commenters on rightwing websites have expressed disappointment that Casebolt did not shoot the thug, because someone has to teach these people some respect for authority.

Also, too, at least one black resident of the Craig Ranch subdivision said the incident "was not a racially motivated event," so that should end all discussion on the matter forever, OK?

[Dallas Morning News / WFAA / CNN]