SHERIFF GETS "F" FOR MAKING AN ARREST ON A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, BUT SCORES WITH ABUELITAS VOTANTES

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Remember the riot at the old Cameron County Jail Thursday, April 18?

At that time, it was reported that a handful of inmates reacted violently when they witnessed the delayed response of the jail guards to a prisoner's medical emergency – a disabled veteran – and caused a small riot which took a score of deputies to contain it.

According to a commenter to this blog, "The story is huge. A disabled veteran's family is demanding action that although several inmates told the deputies he was on the floor having a seizure, they ignored the inmates until he started to foam at the mouth, and they were cleared out so the veteran could receive an IV and immediate medical attention.

"Also, the same inmates are claiming there were no deputies to help because they were dispatched to a section of Carrizales to deal with a possible riot in Carrizales. (Cameron County) Sheriff Eric Garza clearly has no control over the jail."

Well, the commenter's story was confirmed by various sources who said that an inmate transport van was delivering several prisoners to Rucker-Carrizales correction facility in Olmito that afternoon.

We can now confirm that the disturbance was contained in two cells which held seven to eight prisoners each. The deputies and sheriff's investigators filed affidavits and complaints against the inmates allegedly involved in the disturbance but Magistrate Judge Gabriela Martinez rejected the first original affidavit and complaints because the failed to show probable cause for the arrests. 

Probable cause, say lawyers, is the lowest standard to hold someone criminally accountable. The complaints failed to allege what each specific prisoner was accused of committing. 

In despair, the sheriff department requested the assistance of personnel in the Cameron County District Attorney's office to amend the complaints and were submitted to a judge and signed as warrants to be served upon the prisoners.

It's hard to believe that three and one half years after Garza took over the sheriff's department, the simplest tasks required of his staff – to draft a basic  affidavit or complaint and acquiring an order for arrest – is till beyond his, and his jail administrators, grasp. 

And the jails continue to cause him problems. Inmates associated with various prison gangs are said to control their side of jails. Just this week, three days ago, we got a report that an inmate at Carrizales was brutally beaten by members of the "Vallucos" gang and that two jail guards could only stand by and were unable to control them.

Garza has long blamed his jail troubles on the county commissioners who he says are tying his hands by not giving him more money for jail guards and that it is stretching the department's ability to provide a safe environment for inmates.

But his constant campaigning has overstretched the department's capabilities and manpower. Just today, in time to campaign for Mother's Day votes at the area's adult day care centers that he relies on for votes from elderly cast by gullible clients, he pulled investigators off their duties and had them answer phones while the rest of the shift – armed with roses for the mamitas and cookies and candies and political materials for the guys – campaigned for his reelection.

The itinerary for the sheriff's staff had a schedule for their time of departure and arrival, and a tally of how many rose bouquets, cookies and candies, and promotional material for his campaign. We're sure that the mothers with sons and daughters of non-gang inmates at Carrizales must feel warm and fuzzy with half the sheriff's staff out soliciting votes from the elderly clients.

We know the county taxpayers are paying for the officers' salaries as they campaign for Eric, but we wonder who paid for the flowers and cookies?   

He faces Manuel "Many" Treviño in the upcoming runoff election with early voting from Monday, May 20 to  Friday, May 24.  Election day is Tuesday,  May 28.