The Travis County district attorney still plans to pursue criminal charges in four cases. The officers whose cases are being dismissed will be allowed to return to duty.

In this Thursday, March 11, 2021, photo provided by the Austin (Texas) Police Department is Christopher Taylor. Taylor, an Austin police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting last year of an unarmed Austin man was booked into jail and released on bond Thursday, March 11, 2021. (Austin Police Department via AP)AUSTIN, Texas – A Texas police officer charged with murder in the fatal shooting last year of an unarmed Austin man was booked into jail and released on bond Thursday, authorities said. The officer fatally shot him with a rifle in April as he drove away after another officer shot him with a beanbag gun. After asking him repeatedly to step away from the vehicle, an officer shot Ramos with a beanbag bullet.

A protester holds a sign at a rally for George Floyd and Michael Ramos at Austin Police headquarters on May 30, 2020. (Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune)A murder warrant was issued Wednesday for the arrest of the Austin police officer who shot and killed Michael Ramos last year, according to the Travis County Sheriff’s Office. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has previously said that Taylor’s criminal case in Ramos’ killing would be presented to a grand jury this month. Travis County District Attorney José Garza did not comment Wednesday evening. AdThe city cut the budget following calls for defunding following the deaths of Ramos, Ambler and Floyd.

FILE - In this March 21, 2018 file photo, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley briefs the media in the Austin suburb of Round Rock, Texas. Austin officials said Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, that Manley is stepping down after leading the police force since May of 2018. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)AUSTIN, Texas – The police chief in the Texas capital city of Austin, who had been at the center of ongoing criticism following a fatal police shooting and controversial uses of force by officers, announced Friday that he is retiring after 30 years with the department. Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said he knows in his heart “it is time to pursue that next opportunity” and does not think he could give the attention necessary to leading the police force as he has done since May 2018. The city announced in December that 11 Austin police officers had been disciplined for their actions during late May protests.

Social mediaTravis County District Attorney Margaret Moore will not bring two significant officer use-of-force cases to a grand jury before she leaves office this year, her office said Wednesday. The move delays the prosecution of the cases related to the deaths of Javier Ambler and Michael Ramos, both of whom died at the hands of law enforcement officers. Moore previously planned to present both cases to a special grand jury in August. Before he died, Ambler told the officers he had congestive heart failure and couldnt breathe. Moore said she directed her offices civil rights unit to continue preparing both cases for the grand jury so they will be ready to present to the grand jury as soon as the newly elected District Attorney takes office.

Austin police critically injured a 20-year-old black protester Sunday, according to Police Chief Brian Manley, during a weekend filled with Texas demonstrations and violence. In Austin, protesters also demonstrated for Michael Ramos, an unarmed black man who was shot to death by an Austin police officer in late April. On Monday, Manley addressed videos circulating on social media of force used by his officers at protests during the weekend. One of the officers fired less-lethal munition at that individual apparently but it struck this victim instead. Rubber bullets were also seen on the ground during Austin protests this weekend.

On Monday, the reported 593 more cases of the new coronavirus, bringing the total number of known cases to 64,880. In the last week, the state reported an average of 1,273 new cases per day. Harris County has reported the most cases, 12,276, followed by Dallas County, which has reported 10,234 cases. In the last week, the state reported an average 22 additional deaths per day. Harris County reported one additional death Monday, bringing its total to 232 deaths, more than any other county.

HOUSTON – More than 1,500 Texas state troopers were sent Saturday to various cities by Gov. Greg Abbott to help control protests over the death of Houston native George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. The troopers were being sent to Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio, the governor said. "Most will be charged with obstructing a roadway,”Protesters also blocked a Dallas interstate and one officer suffered non-life-threatening injuries, police said on Twitter. Authorities Dallas used tear gas and those in Houston used pepper spray to disperse crowds that numbered in the hundreds.