Travis County Grand Jury Clears Officers Taylor and Wesley in Use of Force Case

TRAVIS COUNTY, TX — Today, Travis County District Attorney José Garza announced that a Travis County Special Grand Jury has concluded its review of the March 6, 2022, shooting incident involving Austin Police Department Officers Britton Taylor # 8615 and Charles Wesley # 9389 and did not return an indictment for the officers.

On March 6, 2022, Austin Police Department officers, including Officers Taylor and Wesley, were in the Interstate-35 and East St. Johns Avenue area investigating a separate, unrelated shooting incident. While on the scene, Officers Taylor and Wesley heard three gunshots. Officers Taylor and Wesley ran to the sound of the shots and encountered Mr. Miguel Ruiz-Rivera. Mr. Ruiz-Rivera failed to comply with multiple commands from officers before discharging a handgun in the direction of officers. Officers Taylor and Wesley discharged their firearms toward Mr. Ruiz-Rivera, striking him multiple times. Officers attempted life-saving measures, but Mr. Ruiz-Rivera ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

“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 Taylor’s and Wesley’s conduct was not unlawful.”

Since January 1, 2021, 69 number of cases against police officers have been presented to the grand jury, and including this one, a 38 number of times the grand jury has returned a no true bill.

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