The Hunt County grand jury might be presented with evidence this week concerning two controversial videos involving the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Randy Meeks said Tuesday his department had completed internal investigations into a video which shows a deputy hitting a pregnant woman, and another video which depicts deputies pushing an armed robbery suspect to the ground while handcuffed outside the Hunt County Courthouse.
“We have turned over internal affairs investigations to the Hunt County District Attorney’s Office,” Meeks said. “The Texas Rangers have turned their reports in as well.”
Meeks said it is possible the grand jury may review the cases when it meets Friday.
“And I’ll release our findings at that time,” Meeks said.
A widely circulated video depicts a deputy hitting the then-pregnant Deanna Robinson during an arrest on March 4.
Meeks previously indicated Deputy Joshua Robinson, no relation, had been removed from patrol after receiving death threats.
The 30-second video shows the deputy striking Robinson as he and a Quinlan Police Department officer attempt to restrain her, while an officer with Child Protective Services (CPS) serves an order to take custody of Robinson’s 18-month-old son.
Meeks has claimed an alternative narrative was that Robinson may have been going for his deputy’s gun, an assertion which she has denied.
Robinson was arrested following the incident and charged with assaulting a public servant, resisting arrest and interfering with child custody. No indictments have been issued in the case.
A video, released by WFAA, depicted Phillip Allen Jones, who was handcuffed at the time, being wrestled to the ground outside the courthouse by two sheriff’s deputies.
Jones was arrested on several felony charges, including drug possession and aggravated robbery charges, in November of 2014. Jones was later transported to the courthouse with several other inmates.
During his visit there, a man who knew Jones initiated a conversation with him. A deputy instructed the two men not to talk, escorting Jones’ acquaintance outside.
The video then depicts the deputy grabbing Jones and forcing him outside, where he and another deputy wrestled Jones against a car and then the ground.
Following the confrontation, both deputies received medical attention. Jones was charged with two counts of assaulting a public servant.
Should the grand jury complete its investigation into the incidents Friday, it can either issue indictments — or “true bills” — or determine its investigation did not find sufficient evidence to issue an indictment, in which case a “no bill” is issued.