TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — The families of two Tarrant County jail inmates, who died weeks apart while in custody, are desperate for answers. Both inmates died under different circumstances.
The latest is Chasity Bonner, 35, who jailers found unresponsive on the morning of May 27. She was pronounced dead at JPS Hospital around noon the same day. The cause of her death is still under investigation.
Chasity Bonner's family addressed the Commissioners Court Tuesday during the public comment session.
Pamela Taylor, Chasity's aunt, shared some of the questions they have about Chasity's death.
"What was her condition when she was brought to the hospital?" Taylor said. "You know, that that that's what we need."
Anthony Johnson died while in custody just five weeks before Chasity.
Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn released part of the video from inside the jail showing Johnson being restrained following a fight with his staff members.
It happened after a shakedown to remove suspected contraband from throughout the jail. Johnson reportedly refused to come out of his cell during the search. Because of the video, a jail supervisor and corrections officer are suspended by the sheriff with pay during the investigation.
Anthony Johnson's sister was overcome by emotions while addressing the Commissioners Court on Tuesday. This was not Janel Johnson's first time speaking at a Commissioners meeting, but this time she believed Judge Tim O'Hare was not being attentive to her while she was at the podium.
"Mr. O'Hare I need you to look at me," Janel Johnson screamed. "You guys killed my brother. No, no, You need to listen."
After insisting that Commissioner Judge Tim O'Hare look and listen to her, the judge ordered deputies to remove her from the courtroom. She didn't go quietly either. As three deputies assigned to the Commissioners Court escorted Johnson from the podium, she kept speaking loudly.
"Since JPS is here now, JPS is here now, how come they can't tell us what happened?" Janel Johnson said.
For the first time, Commissioners heard limited information from JPS Hospital, which is the jail's medical service provider.
Daphne Walker serves as the legal counsel for JPS Hospital. Walker explained she could not share any personal details on the Chasity Bonner death case due to privacy laws. She expressed condolences before offering more to the family on behalf of the hospital.
Daphne Walker said, "We are happy to sit with them and answer those to the best of our ability."
A spokesperson for Sheriff Waybourn explained he did not attend the Commissioners' meeting because of the ongoing investigation.
Now, one grieving family is trying to support another. The two families did not know each other before losing a family member who was incarcerated at the Tarrant County Jail.
Chanell Johnson said, "Fight for her because her death is something that should have never happened again."
"They can reach out to us for support because they're going to need it," said Jacquelyn Johnson.
Johnson's family is still waiting on a final cause of death from the Tarrant County medical examiner as well. They are also pushing for Sheriff Bill Waybourn to release the entire video of Anthony Johnson's interaction with his jail staff members. They believe more than just the jail supervisor and one corrections officer on suspension should be held accountable after seeing the entire video for themselves.
Following Commissioner Court Tuesday, Commissioner Alisa Simmons released the following statement concerning the removal of Janel Johnson during the public speaker portion of the meeting:
"I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for the utterly disrespectful treatment and removal of Ms. Janell Johnson. Ms. Johnson is the sister of Anthony Johnson Jr., who was killed in our jail.
The inability of the county judge to discipline himself—to sit and listen for a mere three minutes to the pain of a grieving family member—is insensitive.
As elected leaders, we open ourselves up to occasional criticism from constituents. It comes with the job we were elected to do. We can’t be so thin-skinned to the point where we’re tossing members of the public from the courtroom if they criticize us.
I am in awe of the families that have the fortitude to take the time to come address members of the County Commissioners Court during their time of grief."
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