Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Federal judge dismisses Tarrant County from lawsuit in jail death of Anthony Johnson Jr.

A U.S. district judge dismissed the claims against Tarrant County in the civil case brought by the family of Anthony Johnson Jr., who was killed at the county jail in April, according to the ruling issued Friday, Feb. 7.

In addition to the county, Judge Reed O’Connor dismissed six individual defendants named in the original case, the order states.

The lawsuit will continue against the nine jailers most directly involved with Johnson’s death, including two who face criminal charges. Partial video released by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office shows several jailers fighting with Johnson during a contraband search of his cell. Two jailers pepper-sprayed Johnson directly in his mouth, and after he was handcuffed face-down on the ground, a jailer kneeled on his back until he became unresponsive, according to the suit and video.

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Johnson’s death a homicide caused by mechanical and chemical asphyxiation.

“We hope the county, especially [the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office] does not interpret this dismissal as a blank check to keep engaging in policies and procedures that have led to serious harms and deaths,” said Krishnaveni Gundu, the director of the Texas Jail Project.