ARLINGTON – Jonathan Paul, 42, thrashed, wept, and cursed non-stop in the back of an Arlington police car on March 9. He told officers he loved them.
He was experiencing acute psychosis, according to an autopsy report issued weeks later.
Police encountered him on a disturbance call, but arrested him for outstanding traffic tickets. Two Arlington jailers, detention officer Pedro Medina and former lead detention officer Stephen Schmidt, were indicted by grand jurors Monday on charges of criminally negligent homicide for what happened next.
Paul was jailed for about 24 hours, and his bizarre behavior continued inside. Jailers subdued him and moved him after Paul flooded his cell with his toilet.
Then came the critical moment, as shown on videos released by Arlington police.
"Calm down. Calm down," jailers told Paul as they knelt over him.
One suggested the 42-year-old would fight if let loose. Officers held him down, dosed him with pepper spray, and left.
Jonathan Paul lay naked and motionless on the floor. According to video time stamps, 24 minutes passed before jailers and paramedics enter to find him unresponsive.
"We're trying to figure out if he's breathing," one said.
"You got a pulse?"
"Got no pulse."
"Full arrest," a medic calls out.
Jonathan Paul technically died three days later, when removed from life support.
"The hardest part is to watch him lying lifeless," said his uncle, Marvin Phillips, during a press conference Tuesday.
Jonathan Paul's family and Arlington NAACP leaders praised the Tarrant County District Attorney's Office and grand jury for indicting Medina and Schmidt for criminally negligent homicide.
Schmidt retired in October. Medina is now on administrative leave.
"The indictments give us a glimmer of renewed hope in the justice system," said Arlington NAACP leader Alisa Simmons.
But only a glimmer. She and family members wanted murder charges, and wanted more officers disciplined.
According to indictments, the two civilian detention officers interfered with Paul's breathing, excessively used pepper spray, and failed to recognize he needed medical help.
"We should always give them prompt medical treatment," said Arlington Police Lieutenant Chris Cook on Tuesday afternoon. "So we'll be looking at that as part of the administrative process."
Lt. Cook said the administrative investigation should be complete in about two weeks. He said some officers could face discipline, while others could be exonerated.
Cook also pointed out that police shared key portions of the video with the family in April, shortly after Jonathan Paul's death in March. He said the department's investigation has been thorough, which can take a long time.
