Dallas, TX

Grand jury doesn’t indict officers in man’s death at Dallas hospital, family attorney says

Published

8 months ago

November 15, 2023

Grand jury doesn’t indict officers in man’s death at Dallas hospital, family attorney says

A Dallas County grand jury found Wednesday that no officer or officers will face charges in the death of a 41-year-old man who died last year in the custody of police at a Dallas hospital.

Kenneth Knotts died in police custody at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas on Nov. 29, 2022.

The Dallas County medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide in September, saying he died of sudden cardiac arrest after law enforcement restrained him in a “semi-prone position.” It’s not clear how many officers went before the grand jury related to Knotts’ death or what charges were considered.

Geoff Henley, the attorney for Knotts’ family, confirmed the ruling Wednesday afternoon.

“We don’t know how many officers, the identity or identities, any genders or the races, for that matter,” Henley told The Dallas Morning News.

Dallas police investigated the case and referred it to a grand jury in February, according to a spokesperson.

An email and phone call to the hospital’s Office of the Vice President for Legal Affairs after 6 p.m. Wednesday did not immediately draw a response.

Kenneth Wayne Knotts died in UT Southwestern police custody on Nov. 29, 2022. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office in August ruled his death a homicide caused by sudden cardiac arrest due to law enforcement physical restraining him in a semi-prone position.(Jocelyn Knotts)

For months, The News has tried to piece together what happened the day Knotts died. UT Southwestern declined to release details. The News filed record requests in September for more information, including for body-camera footage.

UT Southwestern and Dallas police have not answered numerous questions about the names of the officers involved, what de-escalation techniques were used in the treatment room, how police physically restrained Knotts and at what point he became unconscious. Jocelyn Knotts, Kenneth’s mother, said she was unaware her son’s death had been ruled a homicide until a reporter told her.

Hutchins police brought Knotts to the hospital about 7:25 a.m. Nov. 29. At about 11:43 a.m., a UT Southwestern report said, he fled a treatment room in the hospital, and officers handcuffed him five minutes later after finding him outside a nearby medical facility.

According to the report, they tried to place him in the back of a police vehicle, and police wrote he was “resisting by stiffening his body and using his legs to brace himself against the vehicle and going inside.” By 12:07 p.m., he was back in his treatment room and nearly 11 minutes later, medical staff saw his condition deteriorate and began life-saving procedures.

He was declared dead at 1:02 p.m. Knotts wasn’t suspected of criminal wrongdoing the day he died, and he didn’t try to assault officers, according to the report by UT Southwestern police to the attorney general.

Knotts’ family filed a lawsuit against the University of Texas system in federal court for excessive and deadly force. In the complaint, the family alleges that the police officers willfully and maliciously used force to restrain Knotts “despite having no legitimate reason for doing so.” It added that his autopsy showed a symptom of asphyxia, or lack of oxygen.

The lawsuit says authorities are well aware of the hazards of asphyxia when police use the prone restraint, or when someone is placed face-down. At a news conference in October announcing the suit, Jocelyn Knotts, said her son has four children of his own.

“I’m very upset. I’m angry, frustrated,” she said at the time. “I don’t know nothing.”

His family is seeking a trial by jury and unspecified damages. The civil lawsuit will move forward.

Dallas Morning News public safety editor Jen Emily contributed to this report.

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Dallas, TX

Stars announce 2024 development camp roster | Dallas Stars

Published

5 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

Stars announce 2024 development camp roster | Dallas Stars

DallasStars.com is the official Web site of DSE Hockey Club, L.P. The Dallas Stars primary logo is a registered trademark and the Stars name and secondary logos are trademarks of the Dallas Stars. NHL, the NHL Shield, the word mark and image of the Stanley Cup and NHL Conference logos are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks as well as all other proprietary materials depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective NHL teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. Copyright © 1999-2024 DSE Hockey Club, L.P. and the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

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Dallas, TX

Cowboy Roundup: Starters at risk of losing jobs; Liufau’s early impact

Published

12 hours ago

June 30, 2024

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Cowboy Roundup: Starters at risk of losing jobs; Liufau’s early impact

Let’s take a look at some of the Dallas Cowboys news and headlines making the rounds in Cowboys Nation as we wrap up the weekend on the final day of June.

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The Dallas Cowboys kick off training camp in late July, and there will be a number of highly-contested battles on the roster.

There has been a lot of talk about the WR3 competition, but there are other players on the roster who could find themselves fighting to keep their starting roles.

InsideTheStar.com looked at three players who could lose their starting jobs in 2024, including a running back, offensive lineman, and defensive back.

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Third-round pick Marist Liufau has been generating hype throughout OTAs and minicamp, and as he prepares for his first ever training camp, he is expected to make an early impact.

Not only will Liufau likely find himself in the linebacker rotation in his rookie season, he’ll be expected to contribute on special teams.

DallasCowboys.com identifies his instincts as a factor that makes him NFL ready.

His first step is decisive and impressive, and there isn’t a lot of guesswork in his game. On the reps wherein he does have a misstep, it’s because he hesitated before accelerating toward the play but, once he does, he’s a missile.
He plays to the whistle and takes attempted blocks as disrespect, violently shedding them en route to what is usually a sound tackle. Not many ball carriers can evade him in open space, or when he gets his hands on them. He’ll be looked upon to contribute heavily as a rookie third-round pick, on both defense and special teams in 2024.
– Patrik Walker, The Mothership
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The Cowboys hope Liufau will be able to make an early impact like his NFL record-setting cousin, Puka Nacua.

MORE: Cowboys’ Marist Liufau has family ties with NFL record-setting WR

Ranking the NFC East edge rushers from worst to first… Charlotte Jones addresses Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders pay
… Brandon Aiyuk names NFC East team as Top 3 likely destination… Meet Madeline Salter: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader… Dallas Cowboys’ second-year player named dark horse at WR… Which Dallas Cowboys player has the most to prove in 2024?

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Dallas, TX

RECAP | FC Dallas 0, FC Cincinnati 1 | FC Cincinnati

Published

19 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Press Room

RECAP | FC Dallas 0, FC Cincinnati 1 | FC Cincinnati

FC Cincinnati defeated FC Dallas, 1-0, Saturday night at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The Orange and Blue (13-4-3, 42 points) earn their eighth road win of the season, the most in MLS, and remain second in the Eastern Conference standings. Dallas (5-10-5, 20 points) suffered their first home loss since March 16.

Luca Orellano scored the only goal of the match in the 47th minute, his fifth of the season. Gerardo Valenzuela, making his seventh start of the year, assisted on the goal for his third over his last four appearances. Roman Celentano picked up his sixth clean sheet of the season, making two saves on the night.

AS IT HAPPENED
CIN: Luca Orellano, GOAL – 47’ (0-1) – Luca Orellano and the Cincinnati attack wasted no time in finding a goal coming out of the halftime break. Gerardo Valenzuela led a quick build and break out of Cincinnati’s own half, playing up to Orellano who weighed his options. An overlapping run from DeAndre Yedlin gave Orellano space to cut in on his favored left foot and sent a curling effort past Maarten Paes at the far post.

FC Cincinnati are back on the road Wednesday, July 3 at D.C. United. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from Audi Field at the match will air on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV and fans can also listen to the match on ESPN 1530 in Cincinnati and iHeart.

The Orange and Blue return home to TQL Stadium next Saturday, July 6 to host Inter Miami CF. Tickets are still available at FCCincinnati.com/Tickets or by calling (513) 977-5425 (KICK).

GAME NOTES
– FC Cincinnati won their sixth-straight road match of the season, extending their MLS-leading streak.
– With their sixth-straight road win of the season, FCC became the fifth club, all-time, to win six or more consecutive road games, and the third club to do so since 2000 and the end of the MLS shootout era.
– At kickoff, the temperature was 95 degrees, the hottest kickoff in FC Cincinnati history.
– With his goal in the 47th minute, Luca Orellano became the first player on the current FCC roster to score a goal against FC Dallas in their career.
– With his substitution in the 88th minute, Isaiah Foster made his MLS debut against FC Dallas.
– The Orange and Blue remained perfect against the Western Conference this season, as they improved to 4-0-0 (11-3-4 all-time under Pat Noonan).
– The Orange and Blue improved to 8-1-1 on the road this season, the most wins and best road win percentage in MLS.
– Cincinnati tied the MLS record for wins over two-straight seasons in one-goal games with their 25th … The club moved to 25-5 in one-goal games since the beginning of the 2023 season.

FC CINCINNATI GAME REPORT
FC Cincinnati at FC Dallas
Date: June 29, 2024
Competition: MLS Regular Season
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Attendance: 19,096
Kickoff: 8:40 p.m. ET/7:40 p.m. CT
Weather: 95 degrees, clear

SCORING SUMMARY: 1-2-F
DAL: 0-0-0
CIN: 0-1-1

CIN – Luca Orellano (Valenzuela) 47’

LINEUPS
DAL: Maarten Paes, Marco Farfan, Paul Arriola (C) (Sam Junqua 81’), Nkosi Tafari, Sebastien Ibeagha, Sebastian Lletget (Tomas Pondeca 81’), Asier Illarramendi, Liam Fraser (Nolan Norris 27’), Logan Farrington, Eugene Ansah (Tarik Scott 54’), Bernard Kamungo (Petar Musa 54’)

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Omar Gonzalez, Dante Sealy, Ema Twumasi

CIN: Roman Celentano, Yamil Asad (Alvas Powell 55’), Ian Murphy, Kipp Keller (Bret Halsey 78’), DeAndre Yedlin, Luca Orellano (Isaiah Foster 88’), Pavel Bucha, Yuya Kubo, Luciano Acosta (C), Gerardo Valenzuela (Aaron Boupendza 88’), Kevin Kelsy (Sergio Santos 78’)

Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, London Aghedo, Stiven Jimenez, Nicholas Benalcazar

STATS SUMMARY: DAL/CIN
Shots: 16 / 6
Shots on Goal: 2 / 2
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 1
Fouls: 16 / 14
Offside: 0 / 4
Possession: 51.3 / 48.7

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CIN – Yuya Kubo (Yellow Card) 18’
CIN – Alvas Powell (Yellow Card) 56’
DAL – Nolan Norris (Yellow Card) 58’
CIN – DeAndre Yedlin (Yellow Card) 61’
CIN – Kevin Kelsy (Yellow Card) 65’
DAL – Sebastien Ibeagha (Yellow Card) 82’
CIN – Roman Celentano (Yellow Card) 88’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (Yellow Card) 90’+4