EJ Carrion was arrested on two misdemeanor charges tied to an Aug. 4 Commissioners Court meeting, more than a week after he was removed for using profanity. A man who spoke out at a Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting was released from jail Wednesday afternoon after being arrested on a w arrant tied to his public comment. EJ Carrion was taken into custody early Wednesday morning, more than a week after he was removed from a Commissioners Court meeting for using profanity. “It feels a lot to have this support,” Carrion told NBC 5. Carrion says he was arrested around 3 a.m. after being stopped as he arrived home. He says he was told he was pulled over for not using a turn signal. “Then they said their warrant for my arrest that I didn’t know about, and then got taken in and now here 12 hours later,” Carrion said. His attorney, Lesa Pamplin, says she got a call from Carrion a few hours after his arrest. “I was shocked and so I started making phone calls to see where the process was. I called the magistrate judge,” Pamplin explained. The complaint accuses Carrion of two misdemeanor counts connected to the August fourth Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting. As residents spoke out about a proposed cut to the number of polling locations, then came Carrion’s turn at the microphone. “You said you’re all about cooling the temperature and yet you vote for this extremist bulls***. All of you are bulls***,” Carrion said. Judge Tim O’Hare responds, “Remove him immediately from the room. You have disrupted this meeting. You are disrupting the meeting. We are now in recess.” The complaint alleges Carrion intentionally or recklessly hindered the meeting through noise, disturbance or tumultuous behavior, and continued after an explicit official request to stop. The second count alleges he “obstructed or interfered with the meeting by physical action or verbal utterance.” Pamplin says the timing of the warrant raises questions. “It’s just fascism. Tim O’Hare wants to control what happens in Tarrant County. He wants to control what people say in Commissioners Court, and that should alarm everybody,” Pamplin said. In an email, Judge O’Hare’s office told NBC 5, “This is a law enforcement matter; the County Judge Office has no involvement.” In a statement, the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office said, “The Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office provides security for Commissioner’s Court and responds when conduct inside the courtroom disrupts official proceedings. During the most recent meeting, the County Judge requested the removal of several individuals whose behavior was deemed disruptive. Two incidents met the threshold for criminal charges under Disruption of a Meeting or Procession. Mr. Burnam was arrested the day of Commissioners Court and Mr. Carrion was escorted out of the building and the charge was filed on him later. Then both posted bond, and have been released from the Tarrant County Jail. Both individuals will have the opportunity to present their cases and contest the charges through the judicial process.” “I think if you can’t stand up to leadership and if you can get arrested for something that challenges them, I think we all should be concerned in Tarrant County,” Carrion said. ...read more read less