A mistrial declared in Fort Worth Tuesday had nothing to do with what happened inside the courtroom. Instead, it was the result of a growing problem outside the Tarrant County Courthouse.
The ruling came after a juror involved in the trial was attacked by a homeless person outside. Now, another judge is calling for more security at the courthouse.
Judge Daryl Coffey sees the growing problem with homelessness in downtown Fort Worth.
"I walk to work, 390 steps, and then I walk three to five miles about every day around here," said Coffey, who retired in 2014, but still frequently sits on the bench when the caseload is especially heavy.
"People live here in these commons," Coffey said. "They live on the deck in this pavilion, they defecate and urinate, some are aggressive panhandlers, some are just aggressive people."
On Tuesday, one homeless person allegedly hit a juror in the back of the neck, as she was walking into the courthouse.
A mistrial was then declared in the case, which was for a charge of misdemeanor unlawful carrying a weapon. John Newbern was the prosecutor.
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"She was clearly distraught, she was crying, visibly shaking, and the judge basically asked her if she was OK to proceed with the rest of the trial and she just wasn't," Newbern said.
In another incident this summer, homeless man Billy Gene Dowdy stabbed another homeless person outside the courthouse.
Coffey says something has to change.
"I think the jurors and the people who come here to work deserve a safe and secure area," Coffey said.
Several people said the homeless have been gathering there more often since folks started dropping off food for them nearby.
But NBC 5 spoke to one homeless woman who said she sleeps outside the courthouse because the shelters are too crowded.
"There's a lot of good people homeless, and we're just like the rest of y'all," said the woman, who is known as "Mom." "We didn't make this decision to be out here. Everybody has their different story."
Coffey says the answer has to be more support in shelters and areas designated for those in need.
"I'd like to see the nonprofits get the people directed back to the places that can help them on Lancaster that we have set up for the homeless," he said.
The man accused of attacking the juror was not arrested, despite the juror reporting it right away.
Fort Worth police say that is because it wasn't a felony offense and no law enforcement officer witnessed the alleged assault. But there was another witness, and the incident is being investigated for possible charges.
