CALDWELL OFFICER SHOWN ON VIDEO PUSHING INMATE IN JAIL
The attorney representing a Somerville man put on life support after a short time in the Burleson County Jail has shared video evidence of him being pushed to the ground in handcuffs by a Caldwell police officer.
The body camera video, which can be viewed here, shows two times where Chester Jackson, Jr. falls to the ground in the county jail. The first time, an officer lets go of Jackson’s arm, causing him to fall to the floor. The second fall shows Jackson as he appears to be shoved into a metal bed, hitting his head against a toilet. After the second fall, an officer tells Jackson, “Hey, you fell”.
The video was obtained Friday and released Tuesday by U.A. Lewis, the Jackson family attorney, after she filed an open records request with the county. The video shows the incident occurring Saturday, April 20th at 11:23 p.m.
Lewis said the video shows the Caldwell officer who was suspended throwing Jackson, causing him to hit his head. She also said the video shows the officer, whose name has not been made public, denying claims that he threw Jackson, instead saying he fell.
According to Caldwell Police Chief Charles Barnes, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. The Texas Rangers are assisting with the investigation.
The 30-year-old Jackson remains in an Austin hospital in critical condition, unable to speak but improving. Jackson was arrested April 19th on a public intoxication charge near his home by a Burleson County deputy. During his stay in the county jail, he was taken by a deputy to the hospital in critical condition.
Lewis does not believe this incident shown in the jail caused the severely injured condition that family members found Jackson in at the hospital.
The Burleson County Sheriff’s Office issued statements last week denying any wrongdoing in the case, and saying it is “committed to conducting a full and complete investigation”.