Depositions sought from Dallas mayor, police chief about Diamond Ross’ death in custody

by | Aug 18, 2022 | Dallas Local News | 0 comments

Ethelyn Ross, the mother of Diamond Ross, and her attorney Justin Moore filed the deposition notices for Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas police Chief Eddie García, Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Dominique Artis and interim city marshal David Pughes, according to the court documents. None of the four were in their current roles when Diamond Ross died in 2018, but the filings note them as representatives of institutions involved in the case. Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue declined to comment, the mayor’s office directed a request for comment to the city attorney’s office and the marshal’s office did not immediately respond. Depositions, where people answer questions from attorneys, are considered testimony and are similar to witnesses called to testify in court. Ross’ family and Moore have sought answers and disciplinary action against two officers involved in the case, Larry Moody and William Ortega. A grand jury declined to indict the officers on criminal charges last year. Ortega resigned during the internal police investigation and now works for the Allen Police Department, while Moody — a Dallas police sergeant — was issued an internal written reprimand. Ross’ family filed a federal lawsuit in 2020 against Dallas and multiple agencies, seeking compensatory, special and punitive damages, an acknowledgement that Ross’ rights were violated and a change in police policies related to mental-health and substance abuse intervention. The officers sought to have claims against them dismissed because of qualified immunity, according to court records. The judge granted them summary judgment earlier this year on one of the claims. The city earlier this month filed a motion seeking that other claims be dismissed. Qualified immunity is a controversial doctrine that holds that plaintiffs must find a similar case that demonstrates the officer’s actions were unconstitutional. Critics argue the doctrine shields bad officers, while supporters say it’s needed to allow officers to do their jobs and protect them from lawsuits. Moore said Tuesday in a written statement that although city leadership condemned their agencies’ mishandling of the case and instituted policy changes, the city then asked the city attorney to leverage qualified immunity “so they can hide from being held accountable.” “Diamond’s mother Ethelyn and other concerned citizens deserve to know the truth about why Diamond was treated like an animal instead of being treated with the dignity she deserved,” Moore said. “The mayor and other officials of the city’s law enforcement apparatus need to not only be transparent about why they allowed a woman to die while in the custody, care and control of the city, but they need to be individually held accountable for their failure to have policies in place to keep citizens safe,” he added. Ross was taken into custody Aug. 18, 2018, near her home in southern Dallas in the 1400 block of Exeter Avenue. Police said Ross had argued with her boyfriend and acted erratically, adding she punched through an air-conditioning unit and multiple officers had to subdue her. Dallas-Fire Rescue officials cleared Ross to take her to jail, but police instead took her about 8 miles away to the city detention center to book her on outstanding warrants. Once there, Ross was found unresponsive, and a different Dallas-Fire Rescue crew took her to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, where she died the next morning. The county medical examiner’s office determined Ross died from an accidental overdose of PCP, an illegal psychedelic drug also known as angel dust. The case spurred protests in Dallas and an internal police investigation. Police released videos in 2019 showing Ross repeatedly asked officers for water and help as she was placed in a patrol car and taken to jail. Jail footage shows she was dragged into a holding cell and placed in a wheelchair. Police later determined that Ortega and Moody, who was a senior corporal and was training Ortega at the time, had given “improper” transport to a prisoner and failed to provide medical treatment.

The family members of a female that died of a drug overdose in Dallas police safekeeping is seeking depositions from four top neighborhood officials as they search for solutions regarding the 34-year-old’s fatality to “hold accountable” the establishments entailed, according to their attorney and court records filed Tuesday.

Ethelyn Ross, the mother of Diamond Ross, as well as her lawyer Justin Moore filed the deposition notices for Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas cops Principal Eddie García, Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Dominique Artis and also interim city marshal David Pughes, according to the court documents. None of the four remained in their present functions when Diamond Ross passed away in 2018, yet the filings note them as reps of establishments involved in the situation.

Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue decreased to comment, the mayor’s office directed an ask for comment to the city lawyer’s workplace and the marshal’s workplace did not quickly respond. Depositions, where individuals respond to inquiries from lawyers, are thought about testament and resemble witnesses contacted us to testify in court.

Ross’ family and Moore have sought solutions and also corrective action against two policemans associated with the case, Larry Moody as well as William Ortega. A grand court declined to indict the policemans on criminal costs in 2015. Ortega surrendered during the inner cops examination and currently benefits the Allen Cops Department, while Moody– a Dallas police sergeant– was provided an inner created chiding.

Ross’ family members filed a government suit in 2020 against Dallas and several agencies, seeking compensatory, unique as well as compensatory damages, an acknowledgement that Ross’ rights were broken and a change in authorities plans related to mental-health and drug abuse treatment.

The police officers looked for to have insurance claims versus them disregarded because of qualified immunity, according to court documents. The court approved them summary judgment previously this year on among the claims. The city previously this month filed a motion looking for that claims be dismissed.

Qualified resistance is a debatable doctrine that holds that plaintiffs should locate a similar instance that shows the officer’s actions were unconstitutional. Critics argue the doctrine shields bad officers, while supporters claim it’s needed to enable police officers to do their work as well as protect them from claims.

Moore stated Tuesday in a written declaration that although city leadership condemned their companies’ messing up of the situation and set up policy changes, the city then asked the city attorney to utilize certified resistance “so they can hide from being held accountable.”

“Diamond’s mommy Ethelyn and also other worried people deserve to understand the reality regarding why Diamond was dealt with like an animal instead of being treated with the self-respect she should have,” Moore stated.

“The mayor and also various other authorities of the city’s law enforcement apparatus need to not only be transparent regarding why they permitted a woman to pass away while in the protection, treatment and control of the city, but they need to be independently held accountable for their failing to have policies in place to keep residents risk-free,” he included.

Ross was taken into custody Aug. 18, 2018, near her home in southern Dallas in the 1400 block of Exeter Avenue. Authorities stated Ross had actually suggested with her partner as well as acted erratically, including she punched through an air-conditioning system and also several policemans needed to restrain her.

Dallas-Fire Rescue officials cleared Ross to take her to jail, yet cops instead took her about 8 miles away to the city detention center to schedule her on impressive warrants.

As soon as there, Ross was discovered unresponsive, and a different Dallas-Fire Rescue team took her to Baylor University Medical Facility at Dallas, where she passed away the following morning.

The county medical supervisor’s office identified Ross passed away from an unintended overdose of PCP, an unlawful hallucinogen also known as angel dust.

The situation spurred objections in Dallas and also an inner cops investigation. Police released video clips in 2019 showing Ross continuously asked officers for water and aid as she was positioned in a patrol car and also required to prison. Jail video footage shows she was dragged into a holding cell and also positioned in a mobility device.

Cops later figured out that Ortega and Moody, that was a senior corporal and was training Ortega at the time, had provided “inappropriate” transport to a detainee and stopped working to supply medical therapy.

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Hello, my name is William T. Jarvis. I am a freelance writer, journalist, commentator and editor. I have been writing professionally since 2008 and have had over 500 articles published. My articles have appeared on sites like Time Magazine, NBC News, The Atlantic, and Fast Company.

I am a multi-Platinum recording artist. My work has spanned from classical to pop, rock, blues, jazz, and country. As a songwriter, I have written over 40 songs that have been performed by singer/songwriters, various big bands, and symphonies throughout the United States. I have also had several of my own albums released.

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William T. Jarvis

Hello, my name is William T. Jarvis. I am a freelance writer, journalist, commentator and editor. I have been writing professionally since 2008 and have had over 500 articles published. My articles have appeared on sites like Time Magazine, NBC News, The Atlantic, and Fast Company.

I am a multi-Platinum recording artist. My work has spanned from classical to pop, rock, blues, jazz, and country. As a songwriter, I have written over 40 songs that have been performed by singer/songwriters, various big bands, and symphonies throughout the United States. I have also had several of my own albums released.

I have 15 years of personal and professional experience. My hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, traveling, and working out at the gym.

https://newsofdallas.com/
[email protected]
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  • Ethelyn Ross, the mother of Diamond Ross, and her attorney Justin Moore filed the deposition notices for Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Dallas police Chief Eddie García, Dallas Fire-Rescue Chief Dominique Artis and interim city marshal David Pughes, according to the court documents. None of the four were in their current roles when Diamond Ross died in 2018, but the filings note them as representatives of institutions involved in the case. Dallas police and Dallas Fire-Rescue declined to comment, the mayor’s office directed a request for comment to the city attorney’s office and the marshal’s office did not immediately respond. Depositions, where people answer questions from attorneys, are considered testimony and are similar to witnesses called to testify in court. Ross’ family and Moore have sought answers and disciplinary action against two officers involved in the case, Larry Moody and William Ortega. A grand jury declined to indict the officers on criminal charges last year. Ortega resigned during the internal police investigation and now works for the Allen Police Department, while Moody — a Dallas police sergeant — was issued an internal written reprimand. Ross’ family filed a federal lawsuit in 2020 against Dallas and multiple agencies, seeking compensatory, special and punitive damages, an acknowledgement that Ross’ rights were violated and a change in police policies related to mental-health and substance abuse intervention. The officers sought to have claims against them dismissed because of qualified immunity, according to court records. The judge granted them summary judgment earlier this year on one of the claims. The city earlier this month filed a motion seeking that other claims be dismissed. Qualified immunity is a controversial doctrine that holds that plaintiffs must find a similar case that demonstrates the officer’s actions were unconstitutional. Critics argue the doctrine shields bad officers, while supporters say it’s needed to allow officers to do their jobs and protect them from lawsuits. Moore said Tuesday in a written statement that although city leadership condemned their agencies’ mishandling of the case and instituted policy changes, the city then asked the city attorney to leverage qualified immunity “so they can hide from being held accountable.” “Diamond’s mother Ethelyn and other concerned citizens deserve to know the truth about why Diamond was treated like an animal instead of being treated with the dignity she deserved,” Moore said. “The mayor and other officials of the city’s law enforcement apparatus need to not only be transparent about why they allowed a woman to die while in the custody, care and control of the city, but they need to be individually held accountable for their failure to have policies in place to keep citizens safe,” he added. Ross was taken into custody Aug. 18, 2018, near her home in southern Dallas in the 1400 block of Exeter Avenue. Police said Ross had argued with her boyfriend and acted erratically, adding she punched through an air-conditioning unit and multiple officers had to subdue her. Dallas-Fire Rescue officials cleared Ross to take her to jail, but police instead took her about 8 miles away to the city detention center to book her on outstanding warrants. Once there, Ross was found unresponsive, and a different Dallas-Fire Rescue crew took her to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, where she died the next morning. The county medical examiner’s office determined Ross died from an accidental overdose of PCP, an illegal psychedelic drug also known as angel dust. The case spurred protests in Dallas and an internal police investigation. Police released videos in 2019 showing Ross repeatedly asked officers for water and help as she was placed in a patrol car and taken to jail. Jail footage shows she was dragged into a holding cell and placed in a wheelchair. Police later determined that Ortega and Moody, who was a senior corporal and was training Ortega at the time, had given “improper” transport to a prisoner and failed to provide medical treatment.
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About Jarvis
William T. Jarvis
Hello, my name is William T. Jarvis. I am a freelance writer, journalist, commentator and editor. I have been writing professionally since 2008 and have had over 500 articles published. My articles have appeared on sites like Time Magazine, NBC News, The Atlantic, and Fast Company. I am a multi-Platinum recording artist. My work has spanned from classical to pop, rock, blues, jazz, and country. As a songwriter, I have written over 40 songs that have been performed by singer/songwriters, various big bands, and symphonies throughout the United States. I have also had several of my own albums released. I have 15 years of personal and professional experience. My hobbies include reading, writing, listening to music, traveling, and working out at the gym.

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