A sheriff’s deputy has been fired after a March 3 incident in which he allegedly assaulted a 12-year-old girl who was petting a dog at a barbecue restaurant in Austin.
Jack Danford was having dinner with his daughter and her boyfriend at Oakwood BBQ in Austin on March 3, according to Fox 26 News of Houston. Danford, who court documents say had been “drinking all day,” saw a puppy and started petting it.
A 12-year-old girl also pet the puppy, which belonged to her stepfather.
That’s when, according to a statement given by Danford’s own daughter he, “jumped out of his seat and tackled the 12-year-old girl.”
Megan Danford and her boyfriend say they tried to pull the deputy off the child, without luck. The stepfather ran to help her.
“I seen him on top of her, he was hammer fisting her, it was like UFC style,” the stepfather said.
The alleged attack finally came to a close when stepfather kicked deputy Danford in the head with his steel-toed boot, knocking him unconscious, so that the girl could be taken to the hospital.
On the scene, police only charged Danford only with public intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $500. The deputy claimed that he was drugged.
Danford was placed on paid suspension. He was later charged with Injury to a Child, which is a felony, and fired.
Just six months ago, Danford was involved in a high-speed chase. He fatally shot the suspect at the conclusion of that chase.
Danford was promptly cleared of wrongdoing in that fatal shooting.