U.S. Rep. Ronnie Jackson said he was “briefly detained” this weekend by police as he attempted to treat someone in need of emergency medical assistance.
Jackson (R-TX), who is a medical doctor, issued a statement that claimed he was released quickly by police after they realized he was assisting in a medical emergency at a rodeo outside of Amarillo. Local police have yet to confirm his arrest specifically but did state that one person was “temporarily detained” at the rodeo.
Jackson’s office said he was “summoned by someone in the crowd to assist a 15-year-old girl who was having a medical emergency nearby.”
“While assessing the patient in a very loud and chaotic environment, confusion developed with law enforcement on the scene and Dr. Jackson was briefly detained and was actually prevented from further assisting the patient,” the statement said. “He was immediately released as soon as law enforcement realized that he, as a medical professional, was tending to the young girl’s medical emergency.”
The statement claims the congressman was in the stands for the entire rodeo and was not drinking. His office claimed that there were no EMS providers on the scene, so he helped treat the girl along with a relative of his who is a nurse.
Jackson, a Navy veteran, served as the White House doctor for Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump before his successful run for Congress in 2020.
Carson County Sheriff Tam Terry released a statement that confirmed one person was “temporarily detained” at the White Deer Rodeo Saturday. Terry’s office stated the incident is under review and a name will not be released until it is complete. Gray County officers also responded to the scene, according to the statement. It is unclear which officer arrested Jackson.
The Carson County Police Department told The Dallas Express that White Deer and Gray County EMS “responded to back-to-back medical calls” at the rodeo. Gray County EMS told The Dallas Express they had “multiple calls” the night of the incident. Gray County Deputy Sheriff Colby Brown told The Dallas Express he had no officers at the scene.
Jackson’s office did not respond to a request for further comment.
