Adrian Garcia

The Jail's Mental-Health Issues To Get An Airing

HPD Taser Audit Is Out; Black Officers Always Get The Easy Arrests

On Their Backs

Sugar Land spreads its legs

Election Night Parties -- Where To Watch

Sugar Land spreads its legs

Adrian Garcia's Campaign Manager Wants To Move Up

Sugar Land spreads its legs

Election 2008: Winners and Losers

Sugar Land spreads its legs

Shooting In the New Year

Out with the old, in with the new, and don't forget to duck!

The Web Conducts Yet Another Calm, Reasonable Discussion

The Houston Chronicle reported today that the burgeoning problem of jail overcrowding may be dealt with by releasing low-risk offenders. They are also, as we mentioned today, eventually creating a mental-health court that will aim to treat the ill instead of simply repeatedly sending them to jai ... More >>

HPD's Pilot Program To Deal With Mentally Ill Becomes Permanent

In December, we published a story that involved the Houston Police Department's Crisis Intervention Team, and one of its new programs that only a couple other departments in the country were trying.That program, the Crisis Intervention Response Team, pairs street officers with counselors from MHMRA ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The rodeo got off to a bucking great start, and we had photogs snapping away on both Friday and Saturday. Click the images below for more action. Carnival, BBQ Cookoff and Loverboy Downtown Parade

Lights in the Heights

Web exclusive!

Houston Goes International with the Latin Grammys

Web exclusive!

Political Interns, Tom DeLay, the Astrodome, HOV Lane Violators

A City Hall staffer gives a memorable lesson

A Little Jump to the Right

Can a ballot triple shift win City Hall for the GOP?

Moving On

Continual crime, aging apartments and new activism collide as the fight for Fondren Southwest's soul rages onward

Chronicle's Political Writer Takes A Job With The Sheriff

Alan Bernstein, the longtime political reporter for the Houston Chronicle, is quitting the paper to join the staff of Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.Bernstein ends his 29 years at the Chron Friday and starts with Garcia at the end of the month."I got an unsolicited job offer and I investigated ... More >>

Two Houston newsmen take different paths

Plus: Our very own Will Hunting

It's A Nice Taxpayer-Supported Gig For Former Chronicle Reporter Alan Bernstein

As we told you last month, 29-year-veteran Houston Chronicle reporter Alan Bernstein started off his new gig as communications director for Harris  County Sheriff Adrian Garcia by promising openness and transparency, a policy that did not quite include divulging his new salary."That will be a m ... More >>

Harris County Jail Actually Passes A Surprise Inspection

​The Harris County Jail, which for years has been the subject of allegations of poor treatment of inmates, overcrowding and subpar facilities, has gotten a clean bill of health.A surprise re-inspection of the facility by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found that the jail had fixed all the ... More >>

Another Wrongful-Death Lawsuit For The Harris County Jail

​There may be a new sheriff in town, but the jail lawsuits keep coming.Relatives of a 44-year-old woman who died in custody in January 2008 sued the county today, saying jail employees ignored her severe leg pain for three days and taunted her until she died.Margarita Saavedra, a grandmother, was ... More >>

Two Cousins Nabbed In Mexico For Separate Houston Murders

​Two men wanted for separate Houston murders were caught together in Guadalajara, Mexico yesterday afternoon. The crimes, which occurred about two years apart, were unrelated. The suspected killers are cousins. "Murder runs in this family," said homicide detective Michael Miller of the Houston Po ... More >>

The Sheriff Of Crosby, N.D Protects His Citizens From Terror Better Than Adrian Garcia

​Harris County Republican chair Jared Woodfill is steamed, according to a letter we first found on Isiah Carey's Insite.He is totally pissed and outraged because Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia has "opened the doors" of his office to Al-Jazeera. A, umm, media outlet.Maybe not a media outlet wi ... More >>

Jail Hell

Inmates emerging from the Harris County Jail tell remarkably similar stories of horrible conditions inside.

Don't Like the Conditions in Jail?

Then don't end up there, say readers.

Hot-Button Immigration Issue Gets Little Discussion Among County Commissioners

Photo by Liana LopezA packed room hears about 287(g)​It only took 15 seconds for the Commissioners Court of Harris County to approve three additional years of participation in 287(g) after hours of public testimony, mostly in opposition, to the program.The two Houston Garcias, who, by the way, wer ... More >>

For One Brief, Shining Moment.....

​The word went forth at 9:30 this morning. Christina Garza, spokesperson for Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, e-mailed reporters to tell them of a new development."Sheriff Announces Employee Bill of Rights," read the e-mail header.Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia has developed an Employee B ... More >>

Sheriff Touts A Big Reduction In Backlogged Internal-Affairs Investigations

​Sheriff Adrian Garcia's office is announcing that the their man has "shatter[ed]" the backlog of internal-affairs complaints at the department, thus providing "more boots on the ground" to fight evildoers.Soon after taking office last year, Garcia reorganized and combined the two offices that han ... More >>

Breaking Down That Backlog Of Complaints Against Sheriff's Deputies

​Yesterday we told you how Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia was trumpeting a reduction in the backlog of citizen complaints against deputies.The Sheriff's Office said 255 cases had been closed in 2009, three times the number closed in the previous year.The HCSO didn't have any information on ho ... More >>

Sharp-Dressed Fans

Billy Gibbons and other Houstonians share their favorite Astros memories.

Astro Memories, Part Two: Author/ Supermodel Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top

Photos by Bob Merlis​As we mentioned earlier, today's issue -- our annual look at Astros' Opening Day -- takes what Sarah Palin would no doubt call a "hopey-changey" approach to the 2010 season.Not for us to wallow in despair; instead we asked prominent Houstonians for their favorite Astro memorie ... More >>

Harris County Jail Passes Inspection, Gets Certified

If you have to go to jail, it might as well be a certified one​The oft-troubled Harris County Jail has passed a surprise week-long inspection and has been certified by the state, Sheriff Adrian Garcia announced this afternoon."This is just the beginning of our efforts to not only stay in complianc ... More >>

Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia Hit Where It Hurts

Photo by Chris CurryAdrian Garcia -- Not so open?​John Denholm, a former Harris County sheriff's deputy turned lawyer, knows how to push buttons.And he's done it again, filing a lawsuit that hits right at Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia's point of pride -- an open and transparent administratio ... More >>

Mugshots: Sheriff Adrian Garcia Doesn't Want You To See Them

This mugshot would be highly secret information in Harris County, says the sheriff​Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia's office has announced a new policy where they will no longer provide the media -- or you, the public -- with mugshots of arrested people until they have been convicted of a crime ... More >>

Rice's Baker Institute on Drugs

KPFT recordings to be archived there.

Jerry Eversole Blasts The Sheriff Over How He's Handling Jail Overcrowding

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole says he'd be indicted if he behaved like Sheriff Adrian Garcia. ​Updated with reaction from the Sheriff's Office.Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole implied at meeting earlier today that the county's sheriff, Adrian Garcia, acted improperly and waste ... More >>

Sheriff Adrian Garcia Wins Battle Over Claims He Was Blocking Release Of Public Information

Adrian Garcia wins in court​In May we told you about a lawsuit against Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia which claimed he was blocking or dragging out the process or releasing public information.That was notable because Garcia has often spoken about his wish to have the fortress-like mentality o ... More >>

Mental Cases

Philip Grantham counts on his meds and his MHMRA doctor to stay straight. Too bad Texas is slashing funding.

Caucasian Sheriff's Deputies Group Gets Its Payroll Deduction

Caucasian Law Enforcement Association: Joe Strummer knew how you feel​Buried beneath the onslaught of Commissioners Court activity yesterday was a vote that gives legitimacy to a group calling itself the Caucasian Law Enforcement Assocation.Without discussion, commissioners approved a request that ... More >>

Sheriff Adrian Garcia Helps Feds Trumpet Stats On Illegal-Alien Removals

Photo by Austin MillerSheriff Adrian Garcia, hyping the Obama administration​The Immigration & Customs Enforcement department brought in some help for today's announcement in Washington about how great they're doing removing illegal aliens: Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.Garcia appeared w ... More >>

Geroge Wesley Ellington: Sheriff's Deputy Indicted For Moonlighting As Security For Ecstasy Dealer

Rave on, with the help of the Harris County Sheriff's Office​Harris County Sheriff's deputies moonlight all the time, providing security for local businesses.Including ecstasy dealers, apparently.A federal grand jury indicted a sheriff's deputy for selling criminal information to a ecstasy dealer ... More >>

Henry Fairlie: Harris County Jail Officer Charged With Smuggling Drugs & Contraband

Photo courtesy HCSOHenry Fairlie: Trying to keep the customers satisfied​The concierge service at the Harris County Jail just got a little more inadequate: a detention officer has been arrested and charged with trying to deliver drugs and contraband into the facility.Note to incarcerated customers ... More >>

Harris County's Jail-Population Growth Third In Nation, Study Finds

Harris County Jail's having a population boom​In an era when locking fewer people up and spending less on jails seems to make sense and is rapidly becoming en vogue, Harris County was increasing its spending and putting more folks behind bars than nearly any other populous county in the country, a ... More >>

Stealing Metal From Cemeteries: Pretty Damn Low

Tawny Maryssa Watson, one of the seven suspects​If you're looking for nominees for the Asshole of the Year award, a good place to start is the class of criminals who mess with graveyards. Remember those kids a couple years back who dug up a grave and smoked pot out of a human skull? Winner! T ... More >>

Norma Jean Clark: Sheriff's Deputies Arrest Her for Murdering Her Husband 23 Years Ago

Franklin County SONorma Jean Clark, accused of murdering her husband in 1987​Back in April 1987, when Edmund High Clark was found dead in his bedroom from a shot to the head and one in the back, his wife Norma Jean said she'd been sleeping in another room and was awakened by the shots. She fl ... More >>

Drake Jackson: Harris County Jailer Exposed Himself to Female Inmate, HCSO Says

HCSODrake Jackson: HCSO says it fired him for exposing himself​An employee of the Harris County Jail has been fired for allegedly exposing himself to a female inmate, the Sheriff's Office announced today. Drake Jackson, 40, has been charged with official oppression because of "sexually offen ... More >>

Harris County Jail: No More Daily Visiting Hours

Visiting allowed only four days a week​Sheriff Adrian Garcia is announcing today that he's eliminating daily visiting hours to the Harris County Jail. Visits will be allowed only four days per week instead of the current seven. Doing so will allow him "to redeploy jail staff and save $1.3 mil ... More >>

Mexican Drug Cartel: U.S. Rep and Sheriff Talk Tough on Keeping Them Out of Houston

The Mexican drug cartels didn't reckon on McCaul and Garcia.​U.S. Representative Mike McCaul and Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia met today and said they are going to do whatever it takes to stop Mexican drug cartels from coming to Houston. Because we want our coke and weed from American d ... More >>

Sheriff Asks Congress for More Money to Patrol Port

HCSOGive me more money, Garcia said.​Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia told a congressional subcommittee today that he needs more cash to protect the Port of Houston. "At the end of the day, it comes down to the ability of someone to patrol in a patrol boat or a patrol car," he told the Ho ... More >>

No More Juveniles Isolated In Harris County Jail?

Problem may be solved​Two years ago we wrote about how Harris County incarcerates juveniles who have been certified as adults for trial while they are waiting their day in court. It wasn't pretty -- they were kept in the county jail, but left in isolation for 23 hours a day. Legislators, par ... More >>

IWatch Harris County App from the Sheriff's Department Poorly Designed

The IWatch welcome screen.​The best smartphone apps meant for functionality rather than entertainment fill a need, are easy to use and provide appropriate functionality for the task at hand. The Harris County Sheriff's Department IWatch Harris County app delivers about one-and-a-half of those ... More >>