A police officer from Texas has been forced to take leave after video emerged of him using excessive force and drawing his gun on teenagers at a pool party.

Footage of the incident shows the police officer aggressively pulling a 14-year-old to the ground face-down, kneeling on top of her to restrain her and pulling his gun on several teenagers who run to her defence.

During the ordeal, the teenager can be heard screaming and calling for her mother.

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The officer has been identified as Eric Casebolt, according to a local reporter at Fox 4, and it’s also reported he is the vice president of a police union and won Patrolman of the Year in 2008.

Brandon Brooks, who posted the video on YouTube said “the cops just started putting everyone on the ground and in handcuffs for no reason”.

“This kind of force is uncalled for, especially on children and innocent bystanders,” he said.

A McKinney Police Department’s statement on its Facebook page from police chief Greg Conley, said an investigation had been launched into the matter.

“Several concerns about the conduct of one of the officers at the scene have been raised,” he said.

“A formal investigation into the incident has been started and the officer involved has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.”

Police officers were called to the Craig Ranch North Community Pool in McKinney late on Friday afternoon (local time) to settle a disturbance which “involved a group of juveniles and a number of local residents” at the property, Chief Conley said.

“Private security and home owners were pointing out juveniles who were creating the disturbance, fighting and refusing to leave,” he said.

“A 14-year-old female was temporarily detained by one of the officers. She was ultimately released to her parents.”

– with ABC