Friends, Family Want Answers in Death of Arlington Inmate

Family and friends of Jonathan Paul say they’re frustrated. It’s been a week since detention officers at the Arlington City Jail found Paul unresponsive in an isolation cell and still no one can tell them what happened to him.

“I’m hurt,” said Kevin Gibson, a close friend of Paul’s. “I got a lot of pain right now and I’m hurt.”

Paul was arrested last Monday on several outstanding misdemeanor warrants. Police officials say he became agitated and was uncooperative with officers, which is why they restrained him and moved him into an isolation cell at the jail. A short time later they found him unresponsive. Paul died Friday at the hospital.

“We just need to know what happened,” said Gibson. “The facts – that’s all we’re asking for are the facts. That’s all we can ask for.”

Investigators are now reviewing surveillance video from inside the jail. That’s something Paul’s friends and family desperately want to see.

“If there was no wrong doing, show the tape," said Gibson. “If there’s nothing to hide, show the tape.”

Police said they won’t release the video until the investigation is complete.

Tuesday morning, Gibson and more than a dozen others held a peaceful demonstration outside the Arlington Police Department urging officials to release the video.

“You’ve had the thing for at least five or six days,” said Thomas Kelly, another friend of Paul’s. “We just want five minutes.”

Police said they’ve met with Paul’s family multiple times, most recently Monday, and are keeping them updated on the status of the investigation. There is no set timetable for when that investigation will be complete.

“We need answers,” said Kelly. “And we’d like to get them as soon as possible.”

The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet released a cause or manner of death.

Gibson said he and others will hold demonstrations outside police headquarters daily until they release the video.

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