Fort Worth Officer Punched, Choked Man, Then Lied About It, Authorities Say

A Fort Worth police officer choked and punched a man during a 2016 arrest, authorities say, then lied in an attempt to cover it up.Jon Preston Romer Jr., 38, was indicted last week on charges of official oppression, making a false report to a peace officer and aggravated perjury. He was booked into the Tarrant County jail and released Thursday after posting bond.Romer encountered Henry Newson at Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth on Nov. 5, 2016. According to the indictments, Romer — who was working an off-duty security job at the hospital — punched, choked and pushed Newson during the incident. Romer later lied when he told investigators in 2017 that the use of force had been approved, the indictments say, and then lied under oath last month when he said he told Newson he was under arrest before hitting him.Newson, 21, was arrested on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest, court records show, but the charges were dropped.Romer, who has been an officer for 15 years, has been placed on restricted duty, KXAS-TV (NBC5) reported.  Continue reading...