Activist calls for federal investigation, outside party to manage Tarrant County jail

NORTH TEXAS — Cory Session isn’t biting his tongue about the investigation into the death of Anthony Johnson Junior in the Tarrant County Jail.

“It was absolutely disgusting and unacceptable,” Session said. “Any person involved should have been suspended or even fired.”

Session said he watched Sheriff Bill E. Waybourn’s jail release video, which shows the fight that led to Johnson’s death. He said it reminded him of his brother Timothy Cole, who was imprisoned for 25 years for a rape he did not commit and died of a medical problem in 1999 before DNA exonerated him 10 years later.

“My own brother, who died in prison, was left unattended,” Session said. “They didn’t reach him in time. This one, they caused this death.”

He believes Johnson’s death and more than 60 other deaths over the past seven years warrant a closer look.

“There needs to be a federal investigation,” he said. “And the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department should welcome this investigation because its own internal investigation cannot prevent this.”

The Texas Rangers are already investigating Johnson’s case. TCSO told CBS News Texas the jail investigation is ongoing. The district attorney’s office said it had not received the case but would have no further comment.

On April 21, Waybourn said prison staff routinely conduct contraband searches at the prison. The sheriff said employees found a razor and blade in Johnson’s cell. He said Johnson became combative when he was asked to come out of his cell.

According to the sheriff’s office, jail employees fought, sprayed him with pepper spray and continued to fight with the Marine veteran until his hands were cuffed.

Waybourn said officer Rafael Moreno placed his knee on Johnson’s back for nearly ninety seconds.

“Can’t breathe,” Johnson said in the video before becoming unresponsive and dying. His cause of death is not clear.

The sheriff said kneeling on someone to gain compliance is only allowed if the person is not restrained. He said Johnson’s case violates TCSO policy.

“And not one person there said, ‘Wow, that’s not possible.’ He was already in handcuffs,” Session said.

Moreno was fired. After the incident, the sheriff also fired Moreno’s supervisor, Lt. Joel Garcia.

“They definitely shouldn’t have a job,” said Anthony Johnson Sr. “Now I have to live with the rest of this and figure out a way to hold everyone accountable.”

Johson’s father, mother Jacqualyne and sister Janelle watched a longer version of the jailhouse video last week at the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office.

“We want to bring charges against the people who took his last breath,” said Jacqualyne Johnson.

Attorney Daryl Washington said the family hopes Waybourn will bring about changes at the prison, such as faster access to video recordings of incidents.

“We believe the treatment Anthony endured is the treatment inmates deal with every day,” Daryl Washington said.

TCSO said it has recorded 63 in-custody deaths since 2017. The most common deaths are from natural causes and diseases such as cancer, heart attacks and chronic diseases.

During the same period, 66 percent of inmates suffered from mental health issues, TCSO said.

Session said the prison should hire an outside management company to run the facility.

“The sheriff can handle it. He can’t handle it,” Session said