Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Progressive Christian
Religion News
Fighting for Joseph Hutcheson: The Battle for the Tape

Fighting for Joseph Hutcheson: The Battle for the Tape

Last updated on: August 28, 2015 at 3:19 am by Jeff Hood

Fighting for Joseph Hutcheson: The Battle for the Tape 2015-08-28T03:19:38-06:00 Jeff Hood

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Desperate for help, Joseph Hutcheson parked his truck on the curb of the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas and ran inside. Upon entering, Hutcheson screamed, “Don’t hurt me, I just need some help.” The deputies tackled him. As Hutcheson screamed that he couldn’t breathe, a witness described one deputy restraining Hutcheson with “a knee on his back” and another deputy restraining him “with a knee on his throat.” Hutcheson’s face turned from white to blue. Around 11:30am, Joseph Sheldon Hutcheson was pronounced dead.

Through blogs, microphones and bullhorns, I have told the story over and over again. Immediately after learning of the incident, I wrote a blog entitled Joseph Sheldon Hutcheson Dies in the Custody of the Dallas Sheriff where I first publicly asked the question, “How does someone rush into a jail asking for help and end up being killed?” It would not be long before the Dallas Sheriff had to admit that her department lied about there being narcotics in Hutcheson’s truck. I wrote about this development in Protect and Serve the Badge: The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Lied.

On August 3, we held a huge rally that brought out a broad diversity of people. Person after person shouted into the bullhorn, “Say his name!” To which the crowd thundered back, “Joseph Hutcheson.” We marched right up to the lobby where Hutcheson got a knee to the throat and shook the foundations of the place.

At the end of the first week, Dominique Alexander and I set up a small press conference to call for the release of the tape and an investigation of the Sheriff’s Department by the Texas Legislature. We pushed and pushed.

The next morning, exactly one week after Hutcheson’s death, I stood in the exact spot of the jail lobby where Hutcheson died, lowered my head and prayed.

After our actions, I thought for sure the Dallas Sheriff would make a statement of condolence or something. We didn’t hear anything.

When Hutcheson’s family contacted me and asked for my help, I didn’t hesitate. We immediately set up a press conference and rally for the following Friday. The emotional press conference moved me deeply. Compounding pain upon pain, Nicole Hutcheson revealed that her husband’s neck organs were not returned. The Hutcheson’s pain and anguish couldn’t be ignored. I prayed that God would grant swift justice to this family. For the first time, we got a direct response. The Sheriff argued that she couldn’t release the tape until the investigation was finished. That wasn’t enough for me.

The rally was electric. I had never seen so many white people show up to fight police brutality before. After the speeches, we marched right into the lobby to demand justice. The Sheriff responded by sending out deputies in riot gear. Facing them down and screaming her son’s name, was Ruth Boatner in her wheelchair.

Throughout the day, Joseph Hutcheson was the top story on every major news outlet in Dallas.

We also learned that all six deputies involved in the incident were placed on restricted duty. I couldn’t believe it took so long.

We waited another week for the tape. Nothing.

On August 22, we gathered for another prayer vigil. This time there were close to 30 people who joined me in my sojourn up to the spot, including the Hutcheson family. I wore my robe and led the procession. The Spirit was with us.

Just last Tuesday, I spoke before the Dallas County Commission to demand the tape. Clutching the podium, I could feel the anger rising within. Why was it taking all of this to see a tape that belonged to the people anyway? After the meeting, Eddie Hutcheson and I had a direct confrontation with the Sheriff. Again, she made the excuse of needing more time to investigate. I didn’t buy it. I consistently kept asking for the tape.

Three days later.

I was just told part of the tape is about to be released.

Amen.

fresh writings

Thoughts

Dallas County Commission

Previous Post

August 24, 2015

The Homophobia of Sandra Bland

Next Post

August 29, 2015 The Consequences of the Tape: Pursuing Justice for Joseph Hutcheson

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Danny & Jeff fresh writings latest poetics north texas fellowship of reconciliation Sermon theology from death row Thoughts Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 July 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How many books are in the Bible?

Select your answer to see how you score.

70 27 66 39