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Crockett police outline status of CEIDC investigation; Attorney General declined grand jury presentation
Summary
Police Chief told the Crockett City Council the city referred a forensic-audit-based complaint about the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation to the Texas Attorney General; the AGdeclined to present the matter to a grand jury and the Crockett Police Department ended local active involvement.
Police Chief delivered an update to the Crockett City Council on an investigation stemming from forensic-audit findings about the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (CEIDC), saying the cityreferred the matter to higher authorities and no local prosecution is proceeding.
"In April of 2021, the Crockett Police Department received a criminal complaint from a member of the Crockett City Council," the chief said, describing an initial referral after a forensic audit and subsequent contacts with the Texas Rangers and the Texas Attorney General's office. "In my formal request to the Attorney General's office, I specifically asked that they assume primary responsibility for the investigation."
The chief said the Attorney Generalopened an investigation after the department's request and later turned findings over to the Houston County District Attorney's office. He said the city separately retained Weaver and Tidwell to perform a forensic audit, which was completed and delivered to the city on Jan. 5, 2023. The council moved on Jan. 9, 2023, to temporarily suspend CEIDC activities and directed the police department to investigate the audit findings.
"Several months later upon completion of their investigation, the attorney general's office turned their findings over to the Houston County District Attorney's office for presentation to a grand jury," the chief said. He added, however, that the assigned prosecutor ultimately "declined to present the case to a grand jury." The chief said he was informed in May 2024 that the Attorney General's Office had concluded its investigation but that, to his knowledge, the AG had not formally closed the file.
The chief said the department sought the Attorney General's resources because "the financial nature and skill of the allegation require resources and expertise beyond the capabilities of our department." He described providing documents to the FBI for its review; he said the FBI chose not to open a federal case and referred potential federal issues to the Attorney General's Office.
Council members thanked the chief for pursuing outside review and for maintaining transparency. The mayor noted the council lacked the technical expertise to handle a complex financial probe and that referral to state authorities reduced concerns about local bias.
The chief characterized the department's role as having ended for the local agency once the Attorney General assumed responsibility. "My involvement in that particular investigation ended once I sent it to the attorney general's office," he said. He urged residents to use his open-door policy for questions and said the department would provide additional information as allowed.
The update followed the police department's March manpower and activity report presented to the council. The chief reported the department had 16 officers who worked 2,905 hours in March, responded to 412 calls for service, answered 24 alarm calls, handled 11 traffic accidents, made 50 arrests, issued 372 traffic citations and completed 80 reports.
No formal council action was taken on the investigation update during the meeting.
