Bodycam Footage Sparks Federal Case Against Texas Deputies For Excessive Force [VIDEO]

A tense 2021 encounter between a Texas man and Guadalupe County deputies is heading to federal court after bodycam footage captured deputies drawing guns and firing a pepper round at the man’s face — even as he sat on the ground with his hands raised and talking to 9-1-1 dispatch.

The man at the center of the case is Ronald Smith, 40, who was sitting cross-legged outside the Guadalupe Valley Memorial Cemetery along Highway 46 when deputies approached him. In newly released footage, former Deputy Hunter Saenz is seen crossing the busy road with his firearm drawn, yelling at Smith to put his hands up.

Smith complied—his phone was in one hand, the other raised. He was on the phone with 9-1-1 when he shouted, “I have two people pulling a gun on me.” Seconds later, Saenz fired a pepper ball round directly into Smith’s face.

Deputy Jimmy Gonzales, who arrived moments later, parked his cruiser in the middle of the highway to provide “lethal cover” while Saenz transitioned to his pepper gun. The deputies claimed Smith was possibly armed and acting erratically.

What’s not shown in the footage—but detailed in court filings—is that the incident allegedly began after Saenz nearly hit Smith with his cruiser. Smith’s attorney, Andy Cano, says Smith responded by flipping off the deputy, which he believes escalated the situation.

While deputies claimed Smith had jumped a fence and trespassed, neighbors later declined to press charges. The deputies then told Smith he’d be detained for a mental health evaluation, before ultimately charging him with evading arrest — a charge that was later dismissed.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023, accuses the deputies of excessive force, false arrest, and malicious prosecution. Claims against one deputy and the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office have been dismissed, but the court is allowing the excessive force claim against Saenz and Gonzales to move forward. Their attorneys are appealing the decision.

Legal experts say the video raises questions about de-escalation tactics. UT Law professor Jennifer Laurin said that while the deputies used a less-lethal option, “the first point of contact... was peak force threatened,” which contradicts common de-escalation principles.

Guadalupe County officials declined to comment due to the ongoing litigation. The case now heads to trial, where a jury will determine whether the deputies’ actions crossed the line.