More than three weeks after a widely circulated video showed Jeff Davis County sheriff’s deputy Andrea Ruiloba violently detaining independent journalist David Flash at a public meeting, county officials have not responded to Flash’s formal complaint—or explained why Ruiloba remains on duty.
Flash, the publisher of Big Bend Times, was documenting a June 27, 2025, Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Davis when Ruiloba physically assaulted him, leaving visible injuries documented by urgent care medical staff the same day. Though deputies claimed he was being “disorderly,” no specific allegation ever held up under scrutiny. The county quietly dropped the charge this month without explanation.
Flash has now been cleared of that accusation and was never charged with any crime stemming from the meeting—leaving only one clear violation on record: the assault he endured at the hands of a law enforcement officer.
“This deputy assaulted me in a public meeting on camera, and she’s still patrolling the community like nothing happened,” Flash said. “The county hasn’t responded to my complaint, hasn’t disciplined her, hasn’t even acknowledged the abuse. That should concern every resident.”
Texas law does require agencies to investigate allegations of officer misconduct. Under Texas Government Code § 614.022, complaints against peace officers must be in writing and signed by the complainant before any disciplinary action may be taken. Once submitted, agencies are expected to initiate an internal investigation. While the law is silent on strict deadlines, courts have held that agencies cannot simply ignore legitimate complaints—particularly those involving possible criminal conduct.
Flash’s complaint details multiple civil rights violations, including excessive force, false arrest, and First Amendment retaliation. According to medical records from Vital Care Urgent Care in Odessa, he sustained bruising, abrasions, chest and back pain, and elevated heart rate from the incident. He was diagnosed and prescribed medication the same day.
Video shows Ruiloba aggressively pursuing Flash after he took her photo—a constitutionally protected act—before physically restraining him without clear legal justification. Flash did not resist and repeatedly stated he was complying. Yet sheriff’s deputies shouted “stop resisting” while pinning him against a wall, a tactic increasingly criticized by police accountability experts.
Jeff Davis County Sheriff Victor Lopez and County Judge Curtis Evans have refused to answer media questions about Ruiloba’s continued employment or the county’s response to Flash’s complaint.
“The only charges filed were against me,” Flash said. “They’ve now dropped those because the video made it clear I did nothing wrong. But the person who actually used violence remains on the street. That tells you all you need to know.”
Flash, who holds a master’s degree in journalism from Arizona State University and founded the Big Bend Times to fill a coverage gap in Far West Texas, says he will continue to press for accountability.
“This isn’t just about me,” he said. “If law enforcement can do this to a journalist in broad daylight on camera and suffer no consequences, imagine what they feel empowered to do when nobody’s watching.”
Want to see accountability? Contact your local officials:
📧 Sheriff Victor Lopez
Email: sheriff.lopez@jeffdaviscounty.texas.gov
📧 County Judge Curtis Evans
Email: countyjudge@jeffdaviscounty.texas.gov
Phone: (432) 426-3968
📧 County Attorney Glen Eisen
Email: glen.eisen@jeffdaviscounty.texas.gov
Ask them why a deputy who violently assaulted a journalist is still wearing a badge—and when they plan to respond to the formal complaint.
