Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza is facing calls to resign from prominent law enforcement groups after a motion filed in his office allegedly revealed undisclosed meetings with Austin city officials regarding criminal charges linked to a 2020 police incident during George Floyd protests.
Motion Alleges Withholding of Evidence and Secret Coordination
Attorneys for Austin police officer Chance Bretches moved to dismiss aggravated assault charges against him, citing constitutional violations tied to withheld evidence. Bretches faces charges for his role in crowd control during the 2020 Austin protests. His defense contends that defective “less-lethal” beanbag rounds issued by the police department contributed to the injuries involved.
The motion claims Garza’s office held undisclosed meetings with city officials in 2023 to discuss possibly indicting the city as a corporate entity, which the defense argues should have been disclosed as exculpatory evidence under Brady v. Maryland and the Michael Morton Act. Sworn declarations from a former Austin city manager and former city council member support the assertion of these “secret meetings.”
Defense attorney Doug O’Connell stated that the undisclosed communication could have made the city an alternative suspect or unindicted co-defendant, making the failure to disclose a violation of the defendant’s constitutional rights and court orders.
Law Enforcement Groups Demand Resignation of DA Garza
Two major police organizations, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) and the Austin Police Retired Officers Association (APROA), publicly called for Garza’s resignation, citing his alleged punitive approach toward officers and this latest controversy as the “final straw.”
APROA spokesperson Dennis Farris told Fox News Digital that the political targeting of officers like Bretches—who were acting in accordance with their training—has heightened tensions between the DA’s office and local law enforcement. This is the first time APROA has formally urged Garza to step down after years of criticism.
Implications for Local Justice and Transparency
The Michael Morton Act requires prosecutors to share most evidence with the defense, including any that might mitigate guilt. O’Connell emphasized that Garza’s failure to disclose the city’s potential criminal culpability not only jeopardizes the integrity of the case but could constitute official oppression if the indictment threat was used to pressure city officials without sufficient evidence.
The case highlights ongoing disputes over the management of police prosecutions in Travis County and could impact both the city’s legal exposure and public trust in prosecutorial transparency.
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