Ex-UT officer to surrender Texas peace license under plea deal

A former University of Texas police officer, Austin Dubois, will permanently surrender his Texas peace officer license after reaching a plea deal with the Travis County District Attorney's Office. Dubois was charged with official oppression, a Class A misdemeanor, following a Texas Rangers-led investigation into allegations that he used excessive force against Laison Crenshaw in 2024 while Crenshaw was a patient at Dell Seton Medical Center. During the encounter, Dubois placed his knee on Crenshaw's back for one minute even though the man was already handcuffed and lying prone on the floor and did not administer or request first aid even though he saw "no signs" Crenshaw was breathing. According to the release, the University of Texas Police Department requested that the Texas Department of Public Safety conduct an independent investigation into Crenshaw's death. Per the plea deal, Dubois will have to permanently surrender his Texas peace officer's license, complete a 180-day pretrial diversion program, and submit a letter of apology to Crenshaw's family. If Dubois successfully completes the terms of the deal, prosecutors will dismiss the case against him.