TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — The outcry for justice is a plea for immediate change.
“This is unacceptable, and we are not taking it anymore,” said Pamela Young, United Forth Worth Executive Director. “Going to the county jail should not be a death sentence.”
Thursday, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office released a five-minute video showing the moments that led to the death of Anthony Johnson Jr. in jail.
Sheriff Bill Waybourn said during a fight with officers, jailer, Rafael Moreno, put his knee on Johnson’s back until he was unresponsive. Waybourn fired Moreno and his supervisor, Lt. Joe Garcia. He said Garcia told officers to hold Johnson down.
However, community members want the jailers prosecuted. They also want the Department of Justice to step in and for Waybourn to step down.
“He has turned that jail into a literal house of horrors,” said Young.
According to the Texas Custodial Death Report, Johnson is the fifth inmate to die in the jail this year.
"The problem is systemic and therefore cannot be pinned on any individual staffer alone. They were too comfortable while they were watching the breath flow out of or be forced out of Mr. Johnson’s body,” said Michael Bell, Unity in the Community Coalition.
Community members along with Tarrant County Commissioner (Precinct 2), Alisa Simmons, also want the full video released. Simmons said she requested that the video be shown during Commissioner’s closed session, but the request was denied.
“How commissioners aren’t able to view the video is beyond me,” said Simmons. “We are responsible or will be responsible for writing the check and the settlement of this case, so it is my belief that the governing body of this county should have an opportunity to view the video in its entirety.”
She also said there needs to be full transparency within the Sheriff’s office.
“Admit the fault. Identify the problem. Come up with solutions. Quit hiding, stonewalling and covering up,” said Simmons.
Johnson’s family told WFAA, Thursday, that Johnson battled mental health issues, so many want better inmate resources to address those needs as well.
“We live in a Tarrant County, a Dallas County where mental health is looked at as a criminal act versus a health care act,” said Dominique Alexander, Next Generation Action Network President.
“All of those who are supposed to comprise the criminal justice system, they just don’t give a damn. That’s just the bottom line, but we do,” said Bell. “This must end. This cannot be a comma. It must be a period.”
Simmons told WFAA she has been in contact with the Department of Justice. She said she is hopeful a meeting will happen soon.