A Travis County judge dismissed charges Monday against a UT professor who was fired after being arrested for his conduct at a pro-Palestinian demonstration last April.
On April 29, a group of roughly 50 protesters erected an encampment in the middle of the South Lawn. State troopers quickly arrived on the scene and formed a barrier around the encampment with their bicycles.
According to a Department of Public Safety arrest affidavit, Rich Heyman, a former liberal arts professor, attempted to physically breach the barrier while having a “verbally aggressive demeanor,” shouting expletives at state troopers. The affidavit also states he held up a water bottle as if to hit a state trooper and damaged the trooper’s bicycle bell.
Bodycam footage sent to KVUE shows Heyman walking through a gap between state troopers’ bikes and state troopers shouting, “Get out of here,” and, “Get back,” in response. Heyman yelled back, “Fuck you, I am a fucking professor here,” as UT Police Department officers pulled him away from the state troopers.
Seventy-nine people were arrested for criminal trespassing on April 29, including everyone in the encampment. County Attorney Delia Garza dropped all criminal trespassing charges against the protesters in June 2024.
DPS arrested Heyman outside his home on May 8 for interfering with public duties, a Class B misdemeanor. He found out the University fired him the next day, according to the Austin American-Statesman. He worked at the University for 18 years.
Heyman’s lawyer, Gerry Morris, asked the judge to dismiss the charges in November 2024 because Heyman had not been indicted in the 180 days since his bond was posted, as required by state law. Although a judge granted the motion on Monday, the county can still refile charges within two years of the offense.
Morris’ office said they do not know whether the county will refile charges against Heyman. The county attorney’s office did not respond to requests for comment.