Travis County Grand Jury Clears Officers Kerlin, Zavala, and Bradley in Use of Force Case

Travis County, TX — Today, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, a Travis County Special Grand Jury concluded its review of the June 12, 2022, use of force case involving Austin Police Department Officers Dennis Kerlin (#7427), John Zavala (#6707), & Spencer Bradley (#6757) and did not return an indictment for the officers.

On June 12, 2022, Mr. Carlos Eli Chacon-Castillo died after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds during an incident in which Austin Police Department officers Kerlin, Zavala, and Bradley discharged their firearms.

“The District Attorney’s office takes the work of presenting all facts and evidence to a grand jury very seriously,” said District Attorney Garza. “In this case, an independent group of members of the Travis County community heard the evidence and law and decided that Officers Kerlin, Zavala, and Bradley’s conduct was not unlawful.”

Since January 1, 2021, 94 cases against law enforcement officers have been presented to a grand jury, and including these cases, 61 times the grand jury has returned a no bill.

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