Officer Caught Assaulting Black Man Now On Trial
A Texas police officer is on trial after video confirmed him punching and choking a person in a hospital foyer.
Jon Preston Romer Jr. allegedly turned violent with Henry Newsom within the foyer of the Texas Well being Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Price on November 5, 2016, and is now on trial in State District Decide David Hagerman’s courtroom, going through an aggravated perjury cost for allegedly mendacity to investigators and the grand jury, the Fort Price Star Telegram reviews.
Romer faces as much as 10 years in jail and a $10,000 advantageous if convicted, the Star Telegram reviews.
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Newsom, 20, was arrested and charged with resisting arrest and felony trespass on the day of the incident, however these costs have been dismissed in March 2017 at prosecutorial discretion, the Star Telegram reviews.
Romer reportedly approached Newson within the hospital foyer and put his hand on his chest and shoulder to escort him out of the constructing after hospital safety requested for police help.
As much as that time, Newson hadn’t damaged any legal guidelines that Sgt. Scott Sykes, who testified Thursday (Dec. 5) on behalf of Romer, may see from reviewing the bodycam video footage of the incident, the Star Telegram reviews.
Nonetheless, Sykes referred to as the escort maintain Romer positioned on Newson a low-level management method, the Star Telegram reviews.
“Our aim is to make use of the least quantity of pressure wanted,” Sykes mentioned, in keeping with the Star Telegram.
Whereas within the escort maintain, Newson was allegedly instructed to get off the telephone by Romer, who mentioned, “Let’s go.” However when Newson pivoted towards Romer and tensed his muscle mass, that’s when Skyes mentioned he would name that motion an lively resistance, the Star Telegram reviews.
“I may articulate a felony trespass,” Sykes testified, in keeping with the Star Telegram.
Fort Price Police Capt. Shawn Stone echoed Sykes’ testimony, saying, “Mr. Newson pivoted 180 levels and planted his toes firmly and was ready to strike. All indications of lively resistance,” the Star Telegram reviews.
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Stone additionally mentioned that Romer punching Newson within the face and punching to the midsection that Romer and two hospital safety officers delivered whereas Newson was on the bottom have been intermediate makes use of of pressure, the Star Telegram reviews.
Sherry Kelly, the detective investigating the case, who reviewed the video, mentioned she by no means heard Romer inform Newson that he wanted to depart the premises earlier than Romer punched Newson within the face and midsection and pinned him to the bottom, the Star Telegram reviews.
Kelly additionally mentioned she by no means heard Romer inform Newson that he was beneath arrest earlier than hitting him, the Star Telegram reviews.
Whether it is confirmed that Romer lied to investigators and the grand jury in regards to the arrest of Newson, he could possibly be discovered responsible of the costs he’s going through, in keeping with prosecutors, the Star Telegram reviews.
In 2011, Romer allegedly killed a Black man in entrance of his kids.
Romer had pulled Charal Thomas over and mentioned he “feared for his life” after Thomas allegedly rolled up his automotive window, trapping Romer’s arm.
Romer was by no means indicted, NewsOne reviews.
Testimony within the present trial is predicted to renew Tuesday (Dec. 10), the Star Telegram reviews.
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