This archive report was first published on 26 September 2021.
Published on September 26, 2021, a review of Texas Rangers' handling of police-related deaths revealed disturbing patterns of inaction and lack of transparency.
One such case involved Lorenzo Juarez, a 47-year-old man who died in 2018 after being subdued by Bastrop County Sheriff's Office deputies. An autopsy report showed petechial hemorrhaging, a sign of strangulation, but the Ranger investigating the case, Brent Barina, failed to re-interview the deputies or seek an explanation for the burst capillaries in Mr. Juarez's eyes.
Another case, that of Wesley Manning, 40, who died in 2015 after being shocked with a stun gun, doused with pepper spray, and restrained by sheriff's deputies and police officers, also raised concerns. The Ranger investigating the case, Antonio DeLuna, noted that the medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, but he failed to include a crucial detail from the forensic exam: a fractured piece of cartilage around Mr. Manning's voice box.
Despite the thorough investigations, the outcomes were the same as in the other cases: no charges were filed. The lack of specialists and the Rangers' generalist approach to investigations have been criticized, with some arguing that the agency's small size and limited resources contribute to its inability to effectively investigate police-related deaths.
A Lack of Specialists ¶
With only about 165 Rangers statewide, the agency's small size and limited resources have raised concerns about its ability to effectively investigate police-related deaths. In contrast, the Houston Police Department has 5,300 sworn officers, highlighting the disparity in resources between the two agencies.
