FORT WORTH, Texas — When Fort Worth Pastor Ryon Price spoke at Tarrant County Commissioner's Court on July 2nd, he had no idea it would land him in hot water.
He is a regular who signs up for public comment. But this time, Pastor Price went 8 seconds over the three-minute limit. That led to him being held in contempt of court.
"Thank you, Your time is up....He is now held in contempt, remove him," said Judge Tim O'Hare.
Price is the Pastor at Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth. He spoke out against Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn for jail deaths that happened under his watch. On July 2, Price read information concerning a 2023 case involving the death of an inmate whose family received two different reasons for his cause of death. Price tells WFAA-TV that he believes his ban from the commissioner's court is not only personal but also a violation of his civil rights. Price told WFAA-TV what happened after he was escorted out of the commissioner's court.
"The deputies informed me that I was not to return for a year and issued me a trespass warning," Price said.
Watch the full interview with Ryon Price here:
When WFAA reached out to O'Hare, his staff told us he was out of town on a trip to Wisconsin. But during the most recent commissioner's court meeting July 16th, O'Hare outlined his plans for speakers violating the three-minute limit.
"The deputies are just going to come and take you out. It's not 3:05, 3:10 or 3:15," said O'Hare.
O'Hare went on to explain to people sitting in the gallery that it was his responsibility to make sure the commissioner's court had decorum.
Former State Rep. Lon Burnam has also been banned from the commissioner's court. He confronted Judge O'Hare about this July 2nd exchange with Commissioner Alisa Simmons. As she asked a county official to provide copies of the Tarrant County Jail operating procedures, Judge O'Hare interrupted her and started banging his gavel so she could not be heard.
"The Chair has not recognized your right to speak," said O'Hare.
After adjournment for recess to enter executive session, Burnam approached O'Hare to express his dislike about him not recognizing Simmons.
"For him to continually step on and over her to me is just unacceptable," said Burnam, "And I went up and told him exactly what I thought."
Deputies escorted Burnam from the administration building. Several days later, Burnam says two deputies served him a trespass warning at his home. It names O'Hare as the reporting person. The trespass warning does not specify a time frame for banning him from the commissioner's court.
WFAA-TV reached out to Waybourn for a response. A spokesperson told WFAA-TV the sheriff had no comment on the ongoing matter because of their right to appeal the trespass warnings. Neither Price nor Burnam was aware of an appeal process.
"I'm glad to know that I will certainly be appealing it," Burnam said.
He also told WFAA-TV he is trying to learn if there is a court fine connected to his trespass warning. Burnam has already met with an attorney about the matter. He and Price believe the trespass warnings violate their civil rights.