64 Deaths Inside A Texas Jail Are Increasing Scrutiny Of A Right-Wing Sheriff

Jacqualyne Johnson took her son to a mental health hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 19. Anthony Johnson Jr. had not slept for two days, and he suffered from schizophrenic episodes. This time it was “hot and heavy,” she said, and Anthony was trying not to harm himself.

Anthony always wanted to be a trusted man among his family, his sister Chanell said, and planned to earn college degrees. He wanted to fix his mental health issues and have a home for his family. But this was his second recent trip to a hospital; a prior manic episode spurred a visit in February.

After a 15-minute assessment, medical officials decided not to keep him at the hospital, saying it was best if he stayed with his family. When they arrived back home, Anthony got two bags of clothes and left. That was the last time Jacqualyne Johnson saw her son. Less than 24 hours later, her son called and said he had been arrested and was in the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth. The 31-year-old Marine veteran was held on charges of evading arrest and drug possession.

“I told him to be safe in there, and we will work on getting you out of there on Monday,” Jacqualyne Johnson remembered.

But he died on April 21 inside the jail. According to authorities, a struggle took place between Johnson and several officers as deputies were conducting a routine contraband check .

Surveillance footage and a cellphone video show several officers struggling with Johnson while attempting to handcuff him outside of his cell. Officer Rafael Moreno knelt on Johnson’s back. Johnson can be heard responding: “I can’t breathe.”

The footage did not show the full encounter, according to Daryl Washington, the attorney representing Johnson’s family. This month, the Tarrant County