After protests, 2 women arrested, charged with damaging Fort Worth restaurant property
Fort Worth police arrested two women accused of damaging property inside restaurants during Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s protests against police brutality and the death of George Floyd.
The women both have been part of the protests, according to posts on Facebook and previous interviews. They’re accused of damaging property in two separate incidents at restaurants on West 7th Street.
According to police records, Arlington resident Patrice Jones, 33, and Fort Worth resident Oneidra Ester, 38, were arrested Friday on criminal mischief charges.
Jones is accused of damaging tabletops and bar tops at Hopdoddy Burger Bar, at 2300 W. 7th St., according to a police incident report. Ester is accused of damaging credit card readers, condiment containers and counter signs at In-N-Out Burger at 2900 W. 7th St., an incident report says.
On Thursday, Ester reported she was assaulted by a customer while protesting inside Texas de Brazil, a downtown restaurant on Houston Street. Other protesters have said a patron threw water in Ester’s face. A report was filed with Fort Worth police, but there is no indication that anyone has been charged. The full details of the report were not available online. The Star-Telegram has filed an open records request with the police department.
Jones told the Star-Telegram on Saturday that she didn’t damage anything. As someone who leads protests, she makes sure marches stay peaceful, so she believes she was targeted, she said.
“I’m being made an example of,” Jones said. “It’s an intimidation tactic.”
She believes she was arrested because her face is familiar and she has been a big voice at protests. Jones said she’s been a leader at protests and her pictures and quotes have been in the media.
When she was arrested, Jones said, 10 officers showed up at her home. She was afraid because of the current situation across the country.
She said she had left her phone in her car and an officer told her she could retrieve it, but when she walked out, officers grabbed her aggressively.
That’s when a Black officer stepped in and said he would get her, she said.
Jones said she plans to file an inquiry into the use of excessive force.
Jimmy Pollozani, Forth Worth police spokesperson, said in an email that in both arrests, no unnecessary force was used.
Ester could not immediately be reached for comment. Both women had been released on bond Saturday, according to jail records.
In recent days, protesters have entered businesses and chanted outside of them as well to disrupt sales and raise awareness for their cause.
This story was originally published June 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
