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Officers involved in shooting with baby in car identified, along with two others in separate incident
The Austin Police Department has identified four officers in two separate incidents involving use-of-force in January.
APD has named two officers from each incident for using a stun gun or a firearm to apprehend a suspect, including the person shot and killed with a baby in the back of the car, according to a press release on Thursday.
In the Jan. 4 incident, police arrived at the Springhill Suites in North Austin to apprehend a subject who barricaded himself in one of the rooms. Only after officers were able to get Dylan Polinski out of the room did officer Javier Rodriguez, with two years of service, shoot him in the leg. Kamowa Reynolds, also with two years of service, used a stun gun as well.
Polinski did not sustain life-threatening injuries and was able to be treated and taken to Williamson County for an outstanding warrant.
One day later, on Jan 5. two different officers responded to a call about a road rage incident where a man, Alexander Gonzales, allegedly cut off and pointed a gun at an off-duty APD officer. The officer then shot his gun, followed Gonzales and called for backup.
Once officers arrived, Gonzales had been stopped on Wickersham Lane, where he was shot standing outside of his car and reaching into the back seat, where there was an infant in a car seat.
Gabriel Gutierrez, who has been with APD for 5 years, has been named as the off-duty officer who fired his weapon and Luis Serrato, who has two years of service, has been identified as the responding officer who fired his weapon, killing Gonzales.
The incidents are both undergoing investigation. The videos of each incident should be released by March 5, the 60-day deadline APD policy requires.
More on the Jan. 5 incident:
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As Texas gets ready to lift the mandatory mask mandate on March 10, food and bar workers gathered at the Texas Capitol to express their frustration with the lack of COVID-19 precautions without adequate access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
The event, which began at 1 p.m. on Monday, was hosted by the Austin chapter of Democratic Socialists of America, Restaurant Organizing Project and The Amplified Sound Coalition.Christa McWhirter
<p>Crystal Maher, a member of the Restaurant Organizing Project, stands in front of the Texas Capitol to express to other protesters in attendance how not being eligible for a vaccine has impacted her ability to safely keep her job. </p>Christa McWhirter
<p>Kiara Collins, Eric Santos and Taylor Escamilla are all essential workers who have been questioning their safety in their workplace. As many of the other protesters, the three wore masks with the word "Expendable" on it. According to Collins, they were only given to essential workers in attendance to represent how they have been treated since the onset of COVID-19.</p>Christa McWhirter
<p>As Maher continues to introduce speakers, two essential workers who came out to support the protest, record as counter-protesters heckled the event's speakers.</p>Christa McWhirter
<p>Some of the counter-protesters in attendance were live streamers from InfoWars, an extremist organization, who heckled speakers until the rally dispersed. </p>Christa McWhirter
<p>A representative of the Del Valle Community Coalition spoke about the impact the lack of vaccine access has had on the Del Valle area. As she attempted to give her speech, anti-masking protesters yelled at her causing many people to attempt to block them out.</p>Christa McWhirter
<p>Protesters blocked the way of anti-mask counter protesters as they heckled the event's speakers and held "My Body My Choice" signs. "It's kind of insane how they're using 'my body, my choice.' It doesn't only affect you. So it's not just your body," Taylor Escamilla said.</p>Christa McWhirter
<p>Jeanette Gregor, cofounder of Amplified Sound Coalition, also had to fend off counter-protesters as she gave an impassioned speech about the danger essential workers place themselves in by going to work and have yet to qualify for COVID-19 vaccine. </p>Christa McWhirter
<p>Around 2 p.m., State Troopers began to arrive at the Capitol amid heightening tensions from protesters and counter-protesters. As police presence began to increase, the event came to end about 15 minutes later. Despite the constant back and forth between sides and the arrival of law enforcement, the protest came to end peacefully.</p>Stacey Abrams spoke during the 2019 SXSW festival. This year, she's a keynote speaker in the festival's virtual event. (Danny Matson/Getty Images for SXSW)
The world has changed drastically over the past year, and South by Southwest, one of Austin's most beloved institutions, has, too.
After being abruptly canceled by the city last year, one week before it was set to kick-off due to the increasing understanding of the potential impact of COVID-19, it returns this year in a virtual format March 16-20.
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Austin Public Health will release first dose COVID-19 vaccine appointments on a weekly basis starting Monday evening. The specific days and number of appointments made available will depend on the weekly allocation from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Previously, APH released first dose appointments on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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