DALLAS COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF) – Police Chiefs in Garland and Dallas are reacting to indictments against three Police Officers surrounding Downtown Dallas protests in the summer of 2020.
DPD Senior Corporal Ryan Mabry was indicted on six counts of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant, and two Deadly Conduct charges. Former DPD Senior Corporal Melvin Williams faces four indictments of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant, and two indictments of Deadly Conduct. Garland Police Officer Joe Privitt was indicted on one count of Aggravated Assault by a Public Servant.
“I’m astonished and disappointed to learn that Officer Privitt of the Garland Police Department was indicted by a Dallas County Grand Jury this week related to actions he took in assisting the Dallas Police Department during riots that occurred in Dallas almost two years ago,” said Garland Police Chief Jeff Bryan. “On May 30, 2020, Officers of the Garland Police Department, including Officer Privitt, responded to Downtown Dallas at the urgent request of the Dallas Police Department, after earlier protests that afternoon had deteriorated into rioting during the later hours. As the Garland Police Chief, I authorized our officers to assist the Dallas Police Department in an effort to prevent the loss of life and property threatened by the riots.”
With dozens of Garland Officers standing behind him during a press conference on Friday, Chief Bryan said Garland Officers were met with aggressive displays of violence against police officers during the protests and were placed into a rapidly evolving, chaotic, and dangerous situation.
“During the course of that evening, officers faced numerous threats, including people brandishing firearms, lighting fires, destroying property, and throwing make-shift weapons at officers, including bricks, frozen water bottles, rocks, and bottles filled with urine,” Chief Bryan said.
According to Chief Bryan, Officer Privitt is a highly decorated officer who served the Garland community as a police officer for over 32 years with no disciplinary record.
“Given the dangerous circumstances faced by our officers on the night of the riots, I have not seen the evidence against Officer Privitt that rises to the level of the criminal conduct that has been alleged by the Grand Jury, which is Aggravated Assault, by threat, from a public servant,” Chief Bryan insisted.
Officer Privitt will be placed on administrative duties until this matter is concluded.
In a statement issued late Friday, Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia said indictments against officers are difficult for any department.
“This process has been unprecedented,” said Chief Garcia. “The negative light that has been shown on our department today is difficult for the brave men and women who protect our city day in and day out.”
Chief Garcia said the message to the community should be in light of the riots and protests, there were hundreds of officers that were professional and did their duty to defend this city. According to Garcia, the whether or not actions that day rose to criminal intent, is for a jury to decide.
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