The Jeff Davis County Sheriff’s Office will host its second annual National Night Out on Saturday, inviting residents to meet deputies and other first responders as the sheriff and county face multiple federal civil rights lawsuits.
The event is scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. at Jeff Davis County Park, with free food, raffles, games and music. The event flyer lists local fire departments, EMS, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and U.S. Border Patrol among participating agencies.
The event comes amid two federal lawsuits naming Sheriff Victor Lopez and Jeff Davis County officials.
In one, journalist David Flash alleges constitutional violations stemming from his interactions with county officials. In July, a federal judge allowed Flash’s civil rights conspiracy claim against Lopez and a bystander liability claim tied to alleged excessive force to proceed. The court also allowed part of Flash’s municipal liability claim against Jeff Davis County to continue. Other claims were dismissed. The rulings were made at the motion-to-dismiss stage and did not determine the merits of the remaining allegations.
In a separate case, Fort Davis resident Carl Haugen Jr. is seeking $50 million and alleges county officials prosecuted him without verified evidence, concealed records and coerced him into pleading guilty. His lawsuit names Jeff Davis County, Lopez, County Judge Curtis Evans, County Attorney Glen Eisen and several others as defendants. The allegations remain claims in pending litigation.
National Night Out is a community-outreach initiative intended to bring residents and first responders together.
