TARRANT COUNTY, Texas — Nearly a week after being indicted on murder charges related to the death of inmate Anthony Johnson Jr., two Tarrant County jailers have been fired for the second time.
Rafael Moreno, a detention officer, and Joel Garcia, a lieutenant and supervisor, were "terminated for their involvement in the April 21 death of jail inmate Anthony Johnson Jr.," the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office announced in a press release Wednesday.
Moreno and Garcia were initially fired in May but later reinstated as the case was investigated.
Johnson, a 31-year-old former Marine, died April 21 in the Tarrant County Jail after a struggle with jailers outside his cell. Examiners ruled that Johnson died from mechanical and chemical asphyxia, meaning he could not get enough oxygen because his airways were restricted by a chemical and a physical force or object.
Video of the incident showed Moreno kneeling on Johnson's back for 90 seconds. Deputies also used pepper spray during the incident, Waybourn confirmed in May. The medical examiner's report did not name the chemical affecting Johnson's breathing.
Waybourn had fired but then reinstated Moreno and his supervisor, Garcia. He said Garcia should've stopped Moreno from kneeling on Johnson's back. Both were placed on paid administrative leave after their reinstatement.
Randy Moore, the attorney representing Garcia, earlier this month called for entire video to be released.
He said that Sheriff Waybourn mischaracterized Garcia’s actions during the use-of-force incident that resulted in Johnson’s death on April 21. He also said the full video will show that John Peter Smith jail medical staff appeared to initially think Johnson was faking a medical emergency.
Johnson was the seventh person to die in the Tarrant County Jail this year. More than 60 prisoners have died since Waybourn became sheriff in 2017.
Johnson’s family has called for accountability and community members have called for the jailers to be prosecuted and for Waybourn to step down after the release of the video showing the fight with officers that led up to Johnson’s death.
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials on Monday confirmed that both Garcia and Moreno turned themselves into authorities on the murder charges. Garcia turned himself in at the Parker County Sheriff's Office on Friday, while Moreno turned himself in to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office on Saturday.
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