Following multiple requests under the Public Information Act, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has determined that the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office can withhold the full video of the events leading to the death of a county inmate.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Anthony Johnson Jr., 31, died in April after detention officers sprayed him with Oleoresin Capsicum when Johnson refused to exit his cell during a routine search.
While being examined by medical staff, Johnson became unresponsive. The medical team transported him to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Despite demands from the Johnson family that the full video be released, the Texas Rangers investigating Johnson’s death opposed the full release of the video, arguing it could interfere with the ongoing investigation, reported KERA News.
Paxton sided with the Rangers in a letter sent to the Tarrant County District Attorney’s office.
“In this instance, the sheriff’s office states the Texas Rangers Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety (the “Texas Rangers”) objects to release of the information at issue because it relates to an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Texas Rangers, and release of that information would interfere with the investigation of the case. Based upon this representation, we conclude the release of the information at issue would interfere with the detection, investigation, or prosecution of crime,” the attorney general’s letter states.
Following Johnson’s death, several community leaders, including Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, have called for the release of the full video. Johnson’s family has regularly attended the Commissioner Court meetings ever since his death in April, reported KERA News.
There have been 65 deaths in the Tarrant County Jail since 2017, reported KERA News.
In neighboring Dallas County, two inmates died in the Dallas County jail in the summer of 2023. Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins criticized the jail, calling it a “mess.” As previously reported by The Dallas Express, The jail hit 97% capacity, prompting Dallas County officials to release inmates despite increased crime in Dallas.
The Dallas Express reached out to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office for a comment on Paxton’s ruling, but did not receive a response by publication deadline.