Community members call for prosecution of jailers in Tarrant County inmate's death
FORT WORTH, Texas - Community members are calling for the prosecution of two fired Tarrant County correction officers.
The Friday news conference was held a day after the release of video of the incident leading up to the death of Anthony Johnson at the Tarrant County Jail.
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office announced it had fired two corrections officers for their conduct during the incident on April 21.
"It's a crying shame that we have to stand up here today and still beg for Anthony Johnson's humanity to be recognized," said Pamela Young with United Fort Worth.
"The Tarrant County Jail has become a killing field," said Michael Bell of Unity in the Community Justice Coalition of Tarrant County. "[The officers] were too comfortable while they were watching the breath being forced from Mr. Johnson’s body."
The video shows a struggle with officers during a routine contraband check. During the struggle, the sheriff says two officers failed to follow department policies.
Video shows one fired jailer, Rafael Moreno, putting his knee on Johnson's back. The sheriff says his supervisor, Lt. Joel Garcia, also delayed getting Johnson medical care.
"If you're arresting someone, you're fighting them. It's okay to put a knee in a back until you get them restrained," said Sheriff Bill Waybourn on Thursday. "What you do after that is immediately put them in the recovery position. Immediately. That didn't happen."
The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating whether criminal charges could be filed in Johnson's death.
Community leaders don't think that's enough.
The video cut off after Johnson became unresponsive. The community members called for the release of the full video.
Bell said the incident shows the "depraved indifference" at the center of the jail's culture.
"It starts at the top with Sheriff Bill Waybourn," said Bell.
Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons wants answers, too.
"Admit the fault," she said. "Identify the problem and come up with solutions."
Simmons says the DA's office has denied her request twice to allow the commissioner's court to view the entire video in a closed executive session. She added that she'd been in touch with the Department of Justice and hopes to have a meeting with them soon.
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner has not released Johnson's official cause of death.
Johnson's family said the 31-year-old Marine veteran battled mental health issues but sounded normal in a call hours before his death.
Johnson was originally arrested in Saginaw after he was seen with a knife behaving erratically at an intersection. The sheriff’s office says he was booked for drug possession and evading arrest.
Johnson is the fifth inmate to die at the Tarrant County jail this year.
