The criminal charges against Charles Hermes, who was arrested for clapping at a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting, have been dismissed. Hermes was charged with hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct after he clapped despite being warned not to by County Judge Tim O’Hare. While the case was dismissed in exchange for Hermes completing an online class and making a donation, his attorney expressed concerns about free speech at county meetings. Another individual, Carolina Rodriguez, was convicted of a similar offense, and a lawsuit was filed by CJ Grisham for his expulsion from the meeting.
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Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn announced he would no longer participate in briefings about jail deaths called by County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, citing the commissioner’s “hostile and unprofessional” treatment of county staff. Waybourn’s decision came after multiple missed briefings and followed public criticism of his handling of over 70 in-custody deaths since 2017, including cases that have led to lawsuits and criminal charges. The sheriff’s office maintains it already releases information via press releases and public records requests, while Commissioner Simmons argued the briefings are for the public and that the sheriff should be present to answer questions. Recent events such as the starvation and dehydration death of Kimberly Phillips and the suicide of Charles Stephen Johnson, have fueled the call for more action.
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John Q. Hosedrinker