DPS Video shows Congressman Ronny Jackson belligerent toward law enforcement officers and first responders

The Carson County Sheriff's office and Texas DPS released reports earlier this week that contain video and audio footage that reveals Congressman Ronny Jackson ignored orders to step away from a medical situation and then showed aggressive, belligerent behavior toward law enforcement, which required him to be forcibly removed from a medical incident at the White Deer Rodeo on July 29, 2023.

The Reporter Statesman got a tip about the videos, and we submitted a DPS open records request for the information. We received dash cam and body cam videos and the law enforcement incident reports on Monday. We have written this report based on our investigation.

The incident reports and the body and dash cam footage indicate that the problems began when Jackson was asked to "step back" by law enforcement and the EMTs who arrived on the scene and were providing care to the young woman. The responding EMT Emily Thomas reported that she did not know Jackson was a doctor until after his removal and the Sheriff said that two of the EMTs were in plain clothes, which likely added to the confusion.

The law enforcement reports state that Jackson and two individuals on the ground attending to the girl were asked to get back and allow EMS to take charge of the scene. There was then a reported disagreement over the condition of the patient and the treatment required as the EMTs were attempting to stabilize and move the patient to the ambulance.

Cassi Haegen, the EMS Director for White Deer, said she was the one who asked law enforcement to intervene. “I felt that the individual (Jackson) was impeding our ability to provide care and I also felt it was an unsafe situation for both the patient and my EMT providers.”

In the video, Jackson can be seen arguing with one of the first responders and then being pulled back by a Deputy and another bystander. The video then goes back to the patient and within a few seconds, two law enforcement deputies, one male and one female, can be seen in the video taking Jackson to the ground.

Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry's report states that Jackson had shoved and pushed one of the deputies and then moved aggressively toward Officer Young. The deputies reportedly used Jackon's force to take him to the ground, where they subdue and handcuffed him.

DPS Officer Caden Young’s report states that the doctor (Jackson) became “agitated at me and state (d) he would F me up.

Sheriff Deputies Colten Daniels and Deputy China Elizande-Alexander from the Carson County Sheriff’s office restrained the Doctor from coming towards me as he attempted to do so. Deputy Daniels and Deputy Alexander escorted the individual out of the area where he was released.

Our review of the video, which has only limited audio, confirms Jackson cussed out the DPS officer calling him a “full-on D*ck” and “Mother F’r” on multiple occasions. The video also confirms Jackson’s aggressive behavior toward officials on the scene.

Jackson’s office offered in their statement following the incident that Jackson “had not been drinking” at the event, but Trooper Young stated in his report that he believed Ronny Jackson had been drinking “due to his belligerent actions” and deputies Alexander and both wrote in their reports that they believed Jackson had been drinking. Thomas, the EMT on the scene, also believed he “did appear drunk”.

Carson County deputy Blackburn noted in his report “I told them that I knew he (Jackson) has been drinking alcohol due to he was backstage earlier in the evening drinking alcohol while I was working security in that area.” A test to determine alcohol was not conducted on Jackson so these statements are speculative.

Jackson insisted that the incident happened while he was rendering aid, but according to the reports and what we saw in the videos, the major altercation between Jackson and law enforcement officers happens as EMS are loading the patient, away from the medical scene, and then again after Jackson has been escorted to his vehicle.

Jackson responded on social media to the release of the videos on Monday saying “I am glad the video is out. It shows the incompetence of the authorities and their complete disregard for the young girl in distress. We have the best Sheriffs in the country here in the panhandle and north Texas. Unfortunately, the Sheriff in Carson County is not among them.” He then added “I will apologize for my language, but I will not apologize for getting upset and speaking my mind considering the circumstances. If I had to do it all again, I would still step up and act in a life-threatening situation. I will ALWAYS help someone in need. I WILL NOT apologize for that.

Following the incident, Sheriff Terry contacted Texas Ranger Scott Swick to conduct a review of the actions of his deputies and render an opinion. According to Sheriff Terry’s report, Ranger Swick confirmed that “under the circumstances, the actions of the Deputies were appropriate and necessary.”

Congressman Jackson, who represents the 13th Congressional District of Texas, was elected in 2022 and re-elected and will face re-election in 2024.