Former NFL star Dez Bryant says an officer aimed a gun at him in front of his daughters in Southlake, Texas

Former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant has said that a police officer aimed a gun at him in front of his two daughters on Sunday in Southlake, Texas. The incident followed an argument with two men over alleged reckless driving; Bryant says one of the men threatened to shoot him.

Bryant received an assault citation over the incident. Footage he provided to OutKick shows an officer aiming a gun in his direction, and Bryant lying on the ground in handcuffs alongside the two other men in Southlake.

Bryant acknowledged knocking a phone from one man's hand during the argument, but disputed how police handled the encounter and questioned why he received a citation after reporting that he had been threatened. He said: '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.'

The citation reviewed by OutKick lists 'Assault by Contact' and gives the incident location as 2251 E. Southlake Blvd., the same address listed for Chiloso Mexican Bistro. It marks 'Arrest: No' and instructs Bryant to appear at Southlake Municipal Court on or before 20 November at 5pm.

Bryant said the confrontation began after he encountered two vehicles whose occupants appeared to be interacting with one another at a traffic light. He accused the drivers of cutting him off and continuing to drive recklessly as they arrived at the restaurant, where he was also headed.

Bryant said he told them to stop, acknowledging that he used profanity. An argument followed with one of the men, whom he described as a young adult. Bryant said the man threatened him and insinuated that he would shoot him, and that he answered with a warning of his own. Asked whether the man actually drew a weapon, Bryant said: 'No, he didn't pull a gun out on me.'

Bryant said the man instead pulled out his phone and began recording him. He said he told the man to get the phone off him and ended up knocking the phone out of his hand. The man then said he would call police, and Bryant said he encouraged him to do so because he believed officers would investigate the alleged threat.

Bryant said a responding officer drew a gun and ordered them to the ground. His girlfriend then arrived with his two daughters and began recording the encounter. 'I get on the ground,' Bryant said. 'My lady pulled up, she got my children, and they seen everything that's going on.'

According to Bryant, officers handcuffed the men, questioned them separately and placed him in a police vehicle before releasing him with the citation, while the other men were allowed to leave. He alleged that police relied on the other man's phone recording without adequately investigating what preceded it, and said he asked officers to review surrounding surveillance footage. He said an officer told him he had to be 'the bigger person'.

Under Texas law, assault involving offensive or provocative physical contact is generally a Class C misdemeanour, punishable by a fine of up to $500. The citation does not identify a specific statutory subsection. Bryant repeatedly described his actions as self-defence.

Bryant emphasised that he has longstanding positive relationships with individual Southlake officers, including one associated with his son's Southlake Carroll football team. 'My reputation mean everything to me,' he said. Asked what he wanted from law enforcement, he called for fairness and a thorough investigation: 'Treat everybody fair. Treat everybody fair. Treat everybody with respect. Do your due diligence on what's actually going on.'

Bryant played eight seasons with Dallas, earning three Pro Bowl selections and All-Pro honours in 2014. He finished his Cowboys tenure with 531 catches, 7,459 receiving yards and 73 receiving touchdowns. OutKick has reached out to the City of Southlake for comment on behalf of the police department.