Police News: Probe Requested for Galveston Leaders

Galveston, Texas

Accusations of corruption are creating a rough current under Galveston City Hall and its Police Department, according to Police News

Representatives from the city’s Municipal Police Association are requesting an investigation into the activities of City Manager Steve LeBlanc and Police Chief Charles Wiley.

GMPA President Michael Gray was an internal affairs investigator under Chief Wiley.

In an interview with Police News, Gray said his problems began when started probing reported unlawful actions committed by Wiley. In response, Wiley had Gray transferred and shut down the internal affairs division.

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Harris County deputy pleads guilty to extortion charge after arrested for protecting ecstasy dealer & taking bribe

Harris County, Texas

A former Harris County Sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty to extortion in federal court Thursday afternoon.

George Wesley Ellington, 38, was accused of the following when he was charged back in October 2010 :

-- Allowed unauthorized access to confidential law enforcement databases in exchange for $500 in April 2010

-- Provided protection for a suspected ecstasy dealer.

Per the plea agreement, Ellington could face a maximum 60 months in prison without the possibility of parole, according to a US Attorney’s Office statement. His sentencing begins on June 30.

Tanya Ketrisse Ellington, his wife, is expected to go on trial in May for the following:

-- Attempting to aid and abet the possession with intent to distribute ecstasy

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Houston Police accused of hiding open containers & threatening witnesses of cop's suspected DUI crash into bus

Houston, Texas

Police are investigating a controversial traffic accident involving an HPD officer and a school bus.

There are conflicting stories about who was to blame.

The unidentified sergeant was on his way to work in his pickup Wednesday when he collided with the bus in the 7900 block of Harrisburg in East Houston.

No children were on board.

An HPD spokesman said the bus driver ran a stop sign and caused the accident. But other witnesses said the officer was the one who ran a stop sign.

The bus driver said she thinks he'd been drinking.

"He smelled drunk and he had beer and wine opened in his car," Teresa Argueta said.

Other witnesses said officers at the scene threw a towel over the open containers and threatened to arrest anyone who took photos.

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Houston Police Abuse Has State Rep. Borris Miles Wanting to Increase Penalties for “Rogue Cops”

News From Texas

The videotaped police beating of Chad Holley, a teenage burglary suspect, has led to changes in the City of Houston and could soon shakeup police penalties across the state.

State Representative Borris Miles has introduced a bill that enhances the penalty for official oppression for law enforcement officers from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the severity of injuries to a victim.

On Wednesday, Rep. Miles laid out House Bill 1471 in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. He released a statement to the media.

“I was shocked when the rogue police officers who beat Chad Holley were only charged with a misdemeanor,” said Rep. Miles. “HB 1471 gives prosecutors a valuable tool they need to go after police officers who abuse their position.”

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Houston-area law enforcement not investigating child abuse cases

Houston, Texas

At a recent news conference on child abuse, Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia talked tough at the podium.

"We have no mercy for people who will victimize children," Garcia said.

But the KHOU 11 News I-Team uncovered evidence that begs the question: Are his department's actions as strong as his words?

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Laredo police officer sentenced to over 24 years in prison for drug trafficking

Laredo, Texas

A Laredo police officer on Monday was sentenced to over 24 years in prison after being convicted for drug trafficking firearms offenses, prosecutors informed.

Orlando Jesus Hale, 28, a member of Laredo Police Department (LPD), was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime and possessing the firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

The law agent was sentenced to 235 months in prison for the drug trafficking offense and to a consecutive 60-month prison term for the firearms charges. Overall, Hale received a sentenced of 295 months in prison (24 years and a half).

Hale and LPD officer Pedro Martinez III conspired to escort vehicles loaded with cocaine through Laredo, Texas. The two defendants used their police radios to monitor LAPD dispatch traffic during the escort.

In addition, Hale and Martinez met with an undercover FBI agent posing as a drug dealer. Hale was carrying a gun during the meeting in which the defendants discussed details of the planned escorts.

On November 7, 2008, Hale and Martinez met with the agent in a Laredo hotel room. The two defendants agreed to escort loads of 20 kilograms each of cocaine from south to north Laredo using their personal vehicles.

On November 13, Martinez and then Hale each escorted a cocaine-loaded vehicle during the afternoon. They agreed to meet a person in san Antonio, Texas, to receive their payment on November 25.

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Galveston cop accused of beating man over noise complaint

Galveston, Texas

A Galveston man claims he was assaulted by a police officer during an arrest and seeks $1 million from the city.

In a lawsuit filed March 30 in Galveston County District Court, Nicholas Cruz claims a Galveston police officer beat him just before he was taken into custody for allegedly creating loud noise on March 21, 2010.

Cruz states he was given a citation by an officer when another officer arrived on the scene 30 minutes later and threw him to the ground, the original petition says.

He alleges the officer struck him several times in the abdomen and then arrested him. He claims additional officers came and witnessed the assault.

Police arrested another man for interfering with Cruz's arrest and the homeowner for also violating the city's noise ordinance.

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