“The report states when officers returned to the vehicle, they noticed Surratt had something in her mouth and tried to make her open her mouth. The report states Officers used pressure to the side of Surratt’s jaw and left side of her neck to get her to open her mouth. A lawsuit filed by Surratt’s sister, Linda, claims the officers used excessive and deadly force. It states officers began to strike her with an open fist and flashlight to get her to spit it out, and says officers waited for 20 minutes or more to call for medical help once they realized she swallowed the bag. In the video officers can be seen trying to get Surratt out of the vehicle, pulling her across the other passenger, Monica Garza, in the process. The report states once Surratt was pulled out of the vehicle, officers began to use life saving measures to help Suratt breathe. The report and lawsuit both state that Surratt later died at Texas Health Presbyterian- Wilson N Jones Hospital, and an autopsy revealed she had died from asphyxiation. While the lawsuit claims officers used excessive force, Sherman Police Chief, Otis Henry, says his officers did nothing wrong. “The actions of our officers were investigated by an outside agency, the Texas Rangers,” said Henry. “The results of their investigation were presented to a Grand Jury and they reviewed the evidence and investigation, and they determined there was no wrongdoing.” Sherman City Attorney, Brandon Shelby, says both parties plan to meet next month.”
— Police dash cam video released in Sherman Police Department civil lawsuit