Two Officers Fired, Two Disciplined in Death of Man While in Custody

Two police officers were fired and two others were disciplined Friday over the arrest of a black man who died in their custody earlier this month.

Interim Police Chief Lewis Palos said an internal investigation showed they had violated department policy, City Manager Kerri Donica said.

Officers Todd Morris and Jeff Schafer were fired. Officer Darrell Waller was suspended for three days without pay, while Sgt. Ladena Baggett was given a letter of reprimand, Donica said.

No action was taken against rookie Officer Greg Barlow. The five officers had been on administrative leave with pay.

Ronald McGaha, president of the Corsicana Police Officers Assn., said the officers may appeal.

“We believe the decision to fire the officers is excessive and unnecessary,” McGaha said. “There were many factors involved in his death, and we do not believe the officers’ actions caused the death of Craig Thomas.”

Corsicana police stopped the car in which Thomas was riding for an expired registration. Police say he ran from the car, then struggled with officers when he was caught. He later collapsed at the jail and died.

An autopsy showed that the 29-year-old man died from a combination of drugs, alcohol and injuries suffered during his arrest, including the way he was restrained. The death was ruled accidental.

Since the June 5 incident, black residents have charged that the white officers who arrested Thomas caused his death. The city has endured several marches and scattered cases of violence, which peaked during a rally sponsored by the Ku Klux Klan last week.