County Commissioner John Wiley Price of Dallas County under accusation for physically assaulting an election worker
A Dallas County election judge is accusing Commissioner John Wiley Price of a physical altercation.
Cynthia Stairs, the accuser, submitted a police report with the Dallas Police Department following an incident at Friendship West Church polling location on May 3rd. According to the Dallas County Republican Party chairman, Stairs reported that Price demanded her departure and forcefully knocked her phone out of her hands.
Dallas Police spokesperson Corbin Rubinson confirmed the incident report, stating that the victim's allegation would be classified as Class C assault - a misdemeanor that doesn't necessarily require the victim to sustain injuries.
Initially, Stairs contacted 911, but subsequently decided that she no longer required police assistance during the incident, thus no report was filed that day.
DPD has limited jurisdiction over polling sites, so the investigation was transferred to the Dallas County Sheriff's Office for their examination. Sheriff spokesperson Doug Sisk mentioned that investigators will assess the report and determine if any offense indeed took place.
In comparison to more severe forms of assault, a Class C assault charge carries lighter penalties. Investigations like these follow a process similar to dealing with a persistent barking dog complaint. Officers would take the report, submit it to the court, and require the complainant to file a formal complaint for an officer or marshal to issue a citation and subsequent court hearing[1][2][4].
In a statement, Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Allen West highlighted the potential disparity in reactions if a white Republican male commissioner assaulted a Black woman, predicting a "national outcry" for prosecution and resignation.
Commissioner Price did not respond to contact attempts via phone or text messages.
Investigative tip? Reach out to Marina Trahan Martinez at [email protected]. Follow her updates at @HisGirlHildy.*
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[1] Class C Assault Definition: https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/PE/htm/PE.12.02.htm
[2] Assault in Texas: The Different Classes of Assault and How They're Determined: https://www.longstreetlaw.com/2020/06/22/assault-in-texas-the-different-classes-of-assault-and-how-theyre-determined/
[4] Dallas County Sheriff's Office Jurisdiction Over Polling Locations: https://www.co.dallas.tx.us/department/sheriffs-office/election-security-chief/
- The incident of alleged assault on a Dallas County election judge by Commissioner John Wiley Price is being investigated by the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, as the Dallas Police Department has limited jurisdiction over polling sites.
- The alleged assault, which is classified as a Class C misdemeanor, is different from more severe forms of assault as it carries lighter penalties.
- After the incident at Friendship West Church polling location on May 3rd, Cynthia Stairs, the accuser, submitted a police report to the Dallas Police Department.
- Following the altercation, Dallas County Republican Party Chairman Allen West has raised concerns about potential disparity in reactions if the roles were reversed, predicting a "national outcry" if a white Republican male commissioner assaulted a Black woman.
