The family of Anthony Johnson Jr., who died by mechanical and chemical asphyxia in the Tarrant County Jail earlier this year, sued the county and a group of jailers Monday.
The lawsuit accuses former Sheriff's Office jailers Lt. Joel Garcia, Rafael Moreno and other jailers listed as "John Doe" of, "inhumane treatment, lack of compassion, egregious and unconscionable actions, inexcusable neglect and cowardice acts" for their alleged role in Johnson's death three months ago.
The Johnson family's attorney, Daryl K. Washington, spoke to reporters in downtown Dallas Tuesday afternoon.
"We know that we can't bring Anthony back, but the family does not want Anthony's death to be in vain," he said. "The family wants to get changes."
The lawsuit also lists Tarrant County, specifically the county jail, as a defendant in the case.
Bill Hanna, Tarrant County communications manager, said in an email that the county does not comment on pending litigation.
Washington announced the lawsuit Tuesday morning, calling Johnson's death "not an isolated incident" but a pattern under the leadership of Sheriff Bill Waybourn and Executive Chief Deputy Charles Eckert.
More than 60 people have died in county custody since Waybourn took office in 2017. Eckert was the chief deputy in charge of jail operations from the end of 2020 until this year. He retired shortly after Johnson's death.
At the press conference, Washington pointed out the Tarrant County Jail's restraint and use of force policies have not been revised in more than 15 years, a fact originally reported on by KERA.
"The reason why it's a major problem is because we know Anthony's death was similar to George Floyd's death," he said.
In video of the incident, Moreno can be seen kneeling on Johnson's back for more than a minute. Johnson was also allegedly pepper sprayed and can be heard saying "I can't breathe" at least once during the video.
Johnson's family has demanded the release of the full video showing the events before and after his death. They have consistently spoken at Tarrant County Commissioners Court meetings asking for the full video's release and accountability in the Sheriff's Office.
"We will find the underlying cause of it," Washington said. "There are families who are still trying to figure out what happened to their loved ones, which is unacceptable. We want that to change immediately."
Calls for Waybourn’s resignation ignited following the release of five minutes of video showing events preceding Johnson’s death. Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons is among those who have called for his resignation.
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