Tarrant County Jail Death Prompts Demands for Accountability and Reform
The family of Anthony Johnson Jr., a 31-year-old Marine veteran who died while in custody at the Tarrant County Jail, is demanding answers and accountability following his tragic death. Johnson, who suffered from schizophrenia, was arrested on Friday after allegedly brandishing a knife at a motorist. Two days later, he was transported from the jail to John Peter Smith Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, Johnson died from a medical emergency after being pepper sprayed during a fight with officers in his cell. The family has not received any specific information about his official cause of death or what occurred during the alleged fight.
Johnson’s death marks the sixth inmate death at the jail this year, raising concerns about the treatment and care of inmates with mental health issues. His sisters, Chanell and Janell Johnson, told WFAA that their brother had tried to get help in the days leading up to his arrest, but was unable to do so.
Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons has called for the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an investigation into Johnson’s death. “I want accountability, I expect transparency and I want a full investigation into everything that occurred before, during and after the altercation and the subsequent death of Mr. Johnson in our jail, including video footage,” Simmons said in a statement.
Johnson’s family has said they have more questions than answers, and they have been unable to see his body. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has not released his official cause of death.
“I can’t even grieve,” Chanell Johnson said. “We don’t know what happened, so how can we grieve?” The family is demanding an independent investigation into Johnson’s death and is calling for reforms to the jail system to prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.
