Two 18-year-olds face charges including assault on a public servant, and a Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave after a use-of-force incident early Thursday morning near the intersection of Key and North avenues.
A video posted on social media shows an officer — who Sheriff Jess Ramos confirmed is LCSO Deputy Logan Jones — throwing punches at one of the men while using his legs to pin him to the ground. As the deputy swings, several times at the man — who Ramos identified as Quinton Eldridge Cruce of Copperas Cove — the subject holds up his hands, appearing to guard his face.
The 29-second video is part of what Lampasas police officials said was a 48-minute call. To provide perspective on the use-of-force incident, the Dispatch Record has filed an open records request to obtain the full video footage — with audio — from patrol vehicles and officers’ body cameras.
Ramos said Jones was assaulted during the incident. In addition, Lampasas Chief of Police Sammy Bailey said a Lampasas police officer was assaulted.
About 3:15 a.m., according to a sheriff’s office press release, LCSO assisted the police department with a dispatched call about an erratic driver southbound on U.S. Hwy 281.
The driver, Cruce, was arrested on charges of assault on a public servant, interfere with public duties, resisting arrest and driving while intoxicated.
Passenger Gage Neely Blackwell, 18, of Copperas Cove, was charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, interfering with public duties and minor in consumption of alcohol.
Another passenger, a 17-year-old female, was not arrested.
Ramos’ office released the following statement:
“The Lampasas County Sheriff’s Office is aware of a video that has been circulated on social media. The sheriff’s office has contacted the prosecutor’s office and has requested the assistance of an outside law enforcement agency to review and thoroughly conduct the use of force in making these arrests.””
The statement added that, as is standard practice, Jones “has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of this investigation.”