A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper is now facing a felony charge after a Travis County special grand jury on Thursday handed up an indictment tied to a July 2023 shooting in northeast Austin. Prosecutors say the case centers on a traffic stop that turned into a vehicle pursuit on northbound Interstate 35, ending in gunfire, and that the trooper is accused of aggravated assault by a public servant with a deadly weapon. The Travis County District Attorney’s civil rights unit will handle the prosecution, signaling that officials view the incident as a high-profile use-of-force case with wider public implications.
Special Grand Jury Targets DPS Corporal
As reported by KVUE, a special grand jury in Travis County returned an indictment charging Texas DPS Corporal Jason Tye with aggravated assault by a public servant with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors linked the charge to a July 10, 2023 traffic stop and vehicle pursuit on northbound I-35 that ended when the suspect’s car crashed in a North Plaza parking lot. According to KVUE, the person shot that night has been identified as Elijah Barrientos.
Law Enforcement Groups Blast DA Over Indictment
The Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas, the state’s largest police union, quickly condemned the indictment and sharply criticized District Attorney José Garza’s handling of the case. In a statement, the group described the suspect in the chase as a “documented gang member” and quoted Executive Director Robert Leonard as saying, “Garza is a continued danger to the residents of Travis County as well as the law enforcement officers sworn to protect and uphold the law.” The union added that its legal team is prepared to defend the trooper, according to the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas.
Who the Trooper Is and Where He Works
Public payroll records list Jason Tye as a corporal with the Texas Department of Public Safety, confirming his role with the state agency, according to GovSalaries. While the criminal case moves through the Travis County courts, any internal personnel reviews or administrative actions related to the incident would be handled within DPS under its own procedures.
How Serious the Charge Is
Under Texas law, aggravated assault is generally a second-degree felony, but it can be bumped up when certain factors are involved. The statute provides that the offense is elevated when it involves a deadly weapon or a public servant, meaning conduct tied to a public servant can be prosecuted as a first-degree felony with a much steeper potential penalty if there is a conviction. Those provisions are laid out in the Texas Penal Code §22.02.
What Happens Next in Travis County Court
With the special grand jury’s indictment returned, the case now shifts to the regular criminal-court process in Travis County. The court will set an arraignment date and future pretrial hearings while prosecutors in the DA’s civil rights unit handle filings, evidence exchanges and motions. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has in recent years brought multiple officer-involved incidents and other use-of-force cases before special grand juries as part of its review process. As this case proceeds, court dockets and official filings will lay out the precise schedule and the formal list of charges and counts, according to the Travis County District Attorney’s Office.
