Buckholts Police Chief Jailed for Providing Police Power to Individuals Without Proper Credentials

James Blackmon

Buckholts, Texas

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE), responsible for regulating standards and education for law enforcement personnel, has opened an investigation involving Buckholts Police Chief James Blackmon.

While the investigation is underway, Blackmon is tucked away inside the Milam County Jail, facing charges of tampering with government documents, which also leaves his job vacant.

According to investigators, Blackmon was handing out badges to people who didn't work for the department.

"What we're alleging is the falsification of some government documents that was sent to us," says TCLEOSE Executive Director Kim Vickers.

Investigators say Blackmon gave 8 people the authority, including I-D's and badges, from the Buckholts Police Department without any background screening.

"He submitted to us licensing documents giving appointments to people, and declaring that all steps had been done to legally appoint them, and that they were full time paid employees," says Vickers.

Following an anonymous phone call, TCLEOSE performed an audit of the department and found that none of the steps that are required by law had been done, even after Blackmon swore they had.

According to Blackmon's service record, he's worked in 22 different Texas cities and compiled over a thousand hours of continuing education.

TCLEOSE investigators say Blackmon is very familiar with the process of licensing full-time officers. He followed procedure with the two full-time officers already working at the department.

Right now, investigators are trying to determine what those eight people were doing that needed this authority.

"I have nothing to indicate one way or the other what benefit they may have gained from it," says Vickers.

In addition to being jailed, Blackmon’s license to be a peace officer in Texas is being revoked. As of this writing, Buckholts is without a police chief.

The charge of tampering with government documents is a Class A misdemeanor.

Support Growing for Woman Bullied By Houston Police Officers

A Texas Badge in Question's favorite Houstonian, Natalie Plummer

Houston, Texas

Last month, a Houston woman, Natalie Plummer, was arrested for warning drivers about a speed trap. In other words, she became a victim of a Houston Police Barney Fife.

Since then, many Houstonians and others (including A Texas Badge in Question) are standing behind Natalie Plummer.

A group joined Natalie Plummer at a protest Saturday on West Dallas at Nash near downtown Houston.

Plummer says last month she was holding a sign at that intersection, warning drivers that a speed trap was just ahead. Of course, two Houston Police officers decided to get bent out of shape, accusing her of “obstruction of justice.” However, since the first “obstruction” thought wouldn’t fly, they arrested her for “obstructing traffic by walking on the street.”

Plummer says she was on the sidewalk and that the arrest was personal. She claims her First Amendment rights were violated.

After the story hit the news, Natalie Plummer’s story has gone viral -- with more than 7,000 comments on Yahoo as well as featured articles and coverage on AOL and The Drudge Report.

"I was standing up for all of them, because we're all citizens, we're all drivers," she said. "And pretty much the majority of us would like to know where there is a speed trap."

Plummer says she hopes the public support will lead to the charges being dropped, adding that she's working on filing a complaint against HPD.

Way to go, Natalie!

Houston Gentlemen’s Club Sues City of Houston Over Harassment By Houston Police

Houston, Texas

In a city flooded with violent crimes such as murder, robberies and muggings, the Houston Police Department has responded by devoting a lot of time to patrolling local gentlemen’s clubs. In fact, at one Houston club, Treasures, there have been nearly 150 arrests and now the owners are suing the city of Houston for harassment by the Houston Police Department.

While HPD has worked hard at charging dancers with prostitution, performing lewd acts and violating the 3-foot-rule, statistics show an interesting outcome. Out of 141 arrests made at Treasure Gentlemen’s Club, 130 cases were later dismissed and the other 11 that went to trial ended in acquittals.

According to the lawsuit, Treasures claims city police have harassed club workers for years and violated their first amendment rights.

City officials said the lawsuit is frivolous and said they plan to fight it.

Former Texas A&M Police Officer John Phillips Caught Burglarizing Campus Buildings

College Station, Texas

A former officer with the Texas A&M University Police has been charged with burglarizing campus buildings.

54-year-old John Calvin Phillips was caught on surveillance video making three separate trips into the Texas A&M English department on January 2011, through a locked door by using a key. Once inside, Phillips can be seen stealing two cameras, a projector, and three camcorders, according to a police report.

Police said another burglary occurred June 11 in the Liberal Arts Department at the Blocker Building where a digital camera, sewing machine, multi-meter and a theatrical prop gun pistol were stolen.

John Phillips worked for the University Police Department from January 1978 until February 2007.

Several of the stolen items were later found at EZ Pawn in Bryan and at the Cash American pawn shop in College Station, authorities said. Pawn shop records reveal that all items were pawned by Phillips.

In total, Phillips pawned more than 40 items over the past year, authorities said.

Police said that since Phillips was employed by the university for several years, he would have had opportunities to come across building keys that might have been unattended.

Authorities have charged Phillips with two counts of burglary of a building, each a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Phillips remained in the Brazos County Jail on Friday in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Houston Police Bully Retaliates Against Woman for Warning Motorists of Speed Trap

Houston, Texas

Natalie Plummer was out riding her bike, from a nearby grocery store, when she noticed Houston police pulling over random drivers. One of their new tactics is to be on-foot, hiding behind a tree or along the roadside with a radar gun. They will then step-out into the roadway and motion drivers to pull-over.

Natalie created a sign on a paper sack and, while standing on a sidewalk a few blocks away, attempted to warn drivers of the speed trap. And for those who have followed the history of Houston police, or those living in the Houston area, you can probably guess what happens next.

It was a trip to jail for Plummer. However, the charges against her are astounding. Fortunately, she is speaking out.

"I was completely abiding by the law," she said. "I was simply warning citizens of a situation ahead."

She said, "I felt like he was just pulling random cars over."

"I for sure did not step into the street," Plummer said. "(I stayed) on the sidewalk the entire time."

After a few minutes, Plummer claims one of the officers drove up, jumped from his car and started pulling at her backpack. She says he searched it without consent, and then arrested her.

"He was telling me he was taking me to jail for obstructing justice, that was an automatic three to five years," Plummer recalled.

She was instead only cited with a misdemeanor. Court documents show her accused of "...walking in the roadway where there is a sidewalk present."

Plummer says, though, that she spent 12 hours in jail before bonding out.

The Houston Police Department has refused to talk about this incident. A spokesperson says Plummer was "in the roadway" and "was a danger to herself and others and "...the sum total of which was an arrestable offense."

Plummer said, "He couldn't take me to jail for holding up this sign or he would have. So all he could do was make-up something fake about it."

Police say Plummer was combative and resisted arrest. However, many are questioning if the police officer took things too far. One Houston legal analyst says Plummer should not have been arrested.

We are going to have to agree with the analyst. A Texas Badge in Question stands behind Natalie Plummer...(for what that's worth)

Retired Houston Police Officer Dennis Redding Charged in Oral Surgeon’s Death

Former HPD cop Dennis Redding Charged With Murder

Hitchcock, Texas

If you ever plan a fishing trip, it’s probably not a good idea to include former Houston police officer Dennis Redding. That’s because Redding has been charged with murder in connection with the death of Dr. Mark K. Holcomb, an oral surgeon in Webster, after the two paired-up for a fishing trip.

Dr. Mark K. Holcomb

Redding was freed Saturday on $150,000 bond, hours after the shooting of 61-year-old Dr. Mark Holcomb. The victim was an oral surgeon in Webster.

Investigators say the incident took place at Holcomb’s home in Hitchcock during a fishing weekend. The two men, according to police, were old friends. Apparently, they had experienced a quarrel at some point and were trying to re-kindle their friendship. Looks like it didn’t work out.

Authorities are trying to determine whether the two men argued before the gunfire around 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Holcomb died later at a Galveston hospital.

Jail records did not list an attorney for Redding.

Montgomery County Deputy Juan Chapa Relieved of Duty While Under Investigation

Montgomery County, Texas

Authorities have confirmed that Montgomery County deputy constable Juan Chapa has been relieved of his duties, as of Friday.

The decision to relieve Chapa, a Precinct 4 deputy, was based on an investigation conducted by Texas Rangers and district attorney’s offices from Harris and Montgomery counties, officials said.

The Precinct 4 Constable’s office is also conducting an administrative investigation.

Montgomery County authorities declined to say what circumstances led to the decision to relieve Chapa.

“The integrity of the Montgomery County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office is of utmost importance to every employee and citizen. We will work diligently and quickly to make the correct decisions in this matter,” Precinct 4 Constable’s Office officials said in a news release.