Indicted Austin officer says Soros-funded DA is focusing on police: ‘This has nothing to do with justice’

An Austin police officer stated indictments introduced in opposition to him and 18 different officers over their conduct throughout George Floyd protests are “politically motivated” and “don’t have anything to do with justice.” 

A Texas grand jury indicted 19 Austin cops Thursday on prices of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon throughout the Could 2020 protests. Additionally on Thursday, town council permitted a $10 million settlement for 2 protesters who suffered head accidents from beanbag rounds fired by police throughout the riots.

“This has nothing to do with justice, has nothing do with any wrongdoing,” Justin Berry, one of many indicted officers and a Republican candidate for the Texas Home of Representatives, advised Fox Information. “That is merely about politics and a political agenda that has taken place with these radical liberal district attorneys.” 

Berry harassed that he and the opposite officers acted lawfully of their try and quell the violent riots. He stated Travis County District Lawyer Jose Garza was utilizing the indictments as a tactic to strip native legislation enforcement of their potential to uphold the legislation. 

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“This merely about politics and a political agenda that’s happening with these radical liberal district attorneys,” Berry stated. “If they’ll’t defund us and eliminate us that means—now they’re going to attempt to de-police us by sending us to jail and indicting us.”

Garza, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America occasion, received workplace in 2020 after promising to crackdown on police misconduct.

Earlier than Thursday, Garza had already charged seven officers. His workplace additionally rejected 735% extra felony instances over a four-month interval in comparison with the identical timeframe a yr prior, an area information investigation discovered.

Berry has criticized Garza and his insurance policies, which he believes made him a goal of the liberal DA. 

“He’s had two years to undergo and transfer ahead with this, however he waits until proper now, waits till a major that’s happening,” Berry stated. “I’m not gonna be intimidated by that.”

Austin agreed to pay $8 million to Justin Howell, who, in line with members of the family, suffered from a cracked cranium and mind injury after police hit him with a beanbag spherical throughout the protests. One other $2 million will go to Anthony Evans, whose jaw was fractured by a beanbag spherical.

“We had been responding to a riot,” Berry advised Fox Information. “Individuals throwing Molotov cocktails at us, frozen water bottles, bottles crammed with urine, bottles stuffed with gasoline, and so they had been participating in felony exercise by obstructing the passage street that goes to the principle hospital.”

“Our actions weren’t illegal by any means in any respect,” he continued. 

Berry was charged with aggravated assault by a public servant, a first-degree felony which may carry as much as a life sentence in jail.

“An intensive investigation was performed earlier than our workplace’s presentation to a grand jury,” Garza stated Thursday. “The details found in that presentation are disturbing.”

“Our group is safer when our group trusts enforcement,” he continued. “There can’t be belief if there is no such thing as a accountability when legislation enforcement breaks the legislation.”

Each the Austin Metropolis Police chief and Austin Police Affiliation president have come out in assist of the indicted officers. 

“I’m not conscious of any conduct that, given the circumstances that the officers had been working below, would rise to the extent of a felony violation by these officers,” stated Austin Police Chief Joe Chacon. 

The 19 indictments are the very best variety of prices introduced on officers in a single U.S. police division over ways used throughout the 2020 protests. Berry stated the transfer was half of a bigger political agenda to strip police of their potential to uphold the legislation and push comfortable on crime insurance policies. 

“Take a look at our murder charges,” Berry stated. “They’re by the roof proper now.”

“Take a look at anyplace George Soros has planted considered one of his DAs in there,” he added. “It’s gone to chaos and destruction.”

George Soros contributed $652,000 to the Texas Justice & Public Security PAC within the months main as much as the 2020 Travis County DA election, in line with marketing campaign finance data. That very same PAC spent nearly $1 million on digital and mail commercials to assist Garza’s marketing campaign. 

“This conflict on policing is actual,” Berry stated. “They couldn’t get away with defunding us, so now they’re attempting to indict us.” 

The Austin Police Division has confronted scrutiny in recent times after practically a 3rd of their price range was reduce or reallocated in August 2020. The Austin Metropolis Council restored police funding the following yr after new state laws threatened cities with penalties for decreasing law-enforcement funding. 

“I didn’t suppose morale might get any decrease, but it surely simply did,” stated Berry.

“I don’t know who desires to return to a metropolis like Austin, be advised to go on the market, swear an oath to guard and defend this group … solely to go on the market and just do that, to be advised, ‘you already know what, we’re going to indict you and doubtlessly put you away for the remainder of your life in jail,’” the 13-year APD veteran advised Fox Information. 

“Each cop proper now in the US of America is watching what’s happening as a result of if it’s occurring right here, it very nicely might occur there, too,” Berry continued.

Garza’s workplace didn’t reply to a request for remark.