Trial continues after a 30 min recess:
Back:Next Witness: Officer Rosalba Johnson, Travis County Sheriff's Office. She is assigned to the hospital visitation unit. Responsible for medical transports.On Oct. 11, Johnson was responsible for transporting
#KaitlinArmstrong for a medical appointment.
Johnson says Armstrong was first patted down head-to-toe, placed a belly-chain around her waist, which attaches to the handcuffs. She was walked to the vehicle where she was going to put on leg irons. Armstrong provided a note from a doctor which instructed that leg irons were not supposed to be used. Two officers, including herself, were inside the vehicle. Johnson was the passenger. Armstrong was sitting behind her.
After the appointment, Johnson says she led and opened the door of the doctor's office building to exit. Armstrong was between her and her partner. Johnson let them exit. A nurse approached her to say that they forgot paperwork, when all of a sudden, her partner announced that Armstrong was escaping. Johnson left the nurse and started to pursue, but Armstrong had evaded all custody.
We are about to watch the now infamous video of Armstrong's attempted escape. If you haven't seen it, you can watch it here:
The video is taken from inside a car. You can see Armstrong running in her black and white jail uniform. Johnson is on a lower level and pursuing. Johnson is small in stature, I'd estimate at around 5"3'. She does not have the same athletic stride as Armstrong. Johnson stumbles as she tries to climb up an embankment to get to the higher level. Armstrong jumps to try to climb a wooden fence.
A different video shows that Armstrong did not make it over the fence. She turns around to run. Johnson trips again. Armstrong towers over her in height. It is clear that Armstrong has freed herself from her handcuffs, which Johnson says she had placed on her. Armstrong takes off in the opposite direction she came from.
Johnson says she eventually captured Armstrong approximately half a mile away. A Google Map shows a bird's eye view of the health facility. There is a separate entrance for inmates. Johnson uses a wooden dowel to show the path that Armstrong took in her escape attempt.Armstrong eventually escapes eastbound on Center Street, passing through a parking lot, crossing 1st street onto Post Rd Dr. She continues on, turning southbound on Wilson street. She was eventually captured in a driveway. Her demeanor upon capture: "She still looked calm by all appearances to me. From my perspective, she did not appear to be winded. I reapplied restraints on both of her hands. I ended up putting her in one of the APD officer's vehicles. "Final address of apprehension: 3811 Wilson Street.
During chase, Johnson says her partner was yelling out, "Stop! Please don't make this worse for yourself!” Johnson says it was yelled out at least once. They were concentrated on chasing her. Johnson was the first person to get to her. It didn't take long for backup to arrive. Armstrong did not say anything to her when she was captured.
Johnson did not take her back to the jail. A supervisor transported her back to the hospital. No further questions from the state.
Defense redirect.
Johnson says the appointment was orthopedic. Johnson nervous to answer questions about the nature of the appointment due to HIPAA violations."In my experience, don't worry about HIPAA, but I'm not your lawyer," defense attorney Cofer says.
Johnson explaining the note from the doctor at the Travis County Jail. The note was true, non-forged, verified. Says Armstrong should not be put in restraints. Cofer says the nature of the shoulder injury happened from being kicked from another inmate. Johnson is unaware of any abuse or mistreatment that happened at the jail.
Johnson says she was cooperative about returning to custody upon capture. No further questions from defense.
State has one final line of questioning. Q: "Did you look at that note?"A: "Yes."Q: "Did the doctor give her permission to escape or run from you?"A: "No."Q: "No further questions.
"Witness dismissed.
