The Henderson County District Attorney’s Office and Henderson County Attorney’s Office will no longer accept criminal cases brought solely by the Trinidad Police Department, a decision that effectively limits the small East Texas department’s law enforcement authority following a series of controversial arrests and an ongoing dispute over the city’s water system.
Prosecutors notified Trinidad police of the change on Monday, saying the offices would not accept cases “solely investigated or filed by the Trinidad Police Department until further notice,” Fox 4 KDFW reported.
The letter also said Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse has agreed to dispatch sheriff’s deputies to investigate crimes occurring within Trinidad city limits. Cases already filed by Trinidad officers will be reviewed individually, prosecutors said.
“Our offices requested the current TCOLE audit,” the letter stated. “Sheriff Hillhouse has agreed to dispatch his officers for any crime that occurs within the city limits.”
The move leaves Trinidad police with little authority beyond Class C misdemeanors and traffic enforcement.
The prosecutors’ decision also revealed that the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, or TCOLE, is investigating the Trinidad Police Department. The scope of that investigation has not been disclosed. The Texas Rangers have separately confirmed an investigation into the City of Trinidad, though officials have not released details about its focus.
Controversial Arrests Put Department Under Scrutiny
The latest development follows months of controversy that began after the arrest of citizen journalist Jennifer Combs.
On May 8, Combs was arrested and charged with a felony after posting on Facebook that she had seen reports of people being hospitalized after drinking Trinidad’s water. Then-Police Chief Charles Gregory said the post created “fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency response within a community,” The Dallas Express reported.
A Henderson County grand jury later declined to indict Combs. She has since filed a federal lawsuit against the city and Gregory, alleging her arrest was “an act of deliberate political retaliation.”
The controversy intensified when citizen journalist Winston Noles was arrested the day after news media first reported on Combs’ case. Noles had been protesting outside City Hall with a sign containing expletives directed at “bad cops.” He was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, but the charge was later dismissed.
Former Trinidad Municipal Judge Shellena Bivens had questioned the basis for Noles’ arrest and said she dismissed the citation because there was no evidence that his conduct violated the law. The City Council subsequently removed Bivens from the bench in a 3-1 vote on May 28. She has indicated she is considering legal action.
A judge who signed the search warrant connected to Combs’ arrest also later questioned “the accuracy, completeness, and reliability” of information presented by two Trinidad officers, per Fox 4.
Gregory resigned effective June 19. He has declined interview requests, citing pending litigation.
New Chief Says Problems Go Back Years
Interim Trinidad Police Chief Cameron Beckham said he was “astonished” by the prosecutors’ decision and suggested the department’s current problems stem from previous leadership.
“TCOLE has the information to back it up, so, I mean, we’re talking bad policing for 15 years,” Beckham said, Fox 4 reported.
Beckham joined the department in November and became interim chief in June. He was involved in Combs’ arrest but said he would have referred both the Combs and Noles cases to the District Attorney’s Office rather than filing charges directly.
Newly elected City Councilman Steven Stearman said he was “puzzled” by the prosecutors’ letter and wants to know whether the department’s problems can be corrected.
“If we’re doing something wrong and the city needs to shut down our department, by all means we’re going to shut it down,” Stearman said, per Fox 4.
Water Problems Remain Unresolved
The police controversy unfolded alongside persistent concerns about Trinidad’s water system.
On July 13, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality released a report describing aging distribution mains, design problems and chemical levels more than 300% above the federally allowed limit.
In June, the Logan family alleged their teenage daughter suffered a chemical burn after showering. Their attorney provided a preliminary test strip showing what was described as dangerous free-chlorine levels. It remains unclear whether recent water treatment caused the reported injury.
The city also faces a lawsuit from former employees Alex Estrada and Colby Reyes, who allege they were fired without cause. Reyes, a former water clerk, claims she was terminated after refusing to “lie” for Gregory and former City Administrator Cynthia Dosier.
All three employees of Trinidad City Hall, including Dosier, resigned in late July.
With the TCOLE and Texas Rangers investigations still pending, the latest action by Henderson County prosecutors represents another significant setback for Trinidad’s municipal government and police department.
Provided by Dallas Express
