Have you heard the phrase, "You Can Beat The Wrap, But You Can't Beat The Ride?"  Listen to this.
   A former Galveston County Sheriff's Deputy was acquitted by a state district court jury in February on charges that he endangered the lives of two children by towing a disabled golf cart across Hwy 87 in Crystal Beach which was struck by an oncoming car.
   Off duty deputy Thomas Chatterton said the golf cart which had been borrowed from his Crystal Beach parents, stalled on the beach while two women and two boys, ages 10 and 12,  were taking a pleasure ride.  He went to their rescue and tied the golf cart to the car belonging to the mother of one of the boys in the cart. He was towing them across Hwy 87.  The vehicle he was driving cleared the highway but an oncoming car crashed into the golf cart sending the four people to the hospital.  They all suffered minor injuries and were released the same day.
   Chatterton was issued a ticket for failure to yield the right-of-way to an oncoming vehicle.  The person driving the vehicle which hit the golf cart was not cited.
   It was believed at the time that the incident was resolved.  However, the mother of one of the boys in the golf cart hired lawyers and threatened to sue everyone on the planet, including the Sheriff and the District Attorney, claiming they all conspired to cover up for the deputy by not pursuing more serious charges against him.  Even though her son suffered no serious injury, this mother who was not at the scene, managed to squeeze money settlements from two insurance companies.
   District Attorney Kurt Sistruck took the case before a grand jury personally, seeking to indict the deputy on Child Endangerment charges.  According to Chatterton, Sistruck suggested to the grand jury that there may have been alcohol involved because a cooler on the golf cart spilled onto the highway, scattering ice, soft drinks and wine coolers. Although the investigating officer found no evidence of alcohol involvement at the scene, administered no field sobriety test or breath test, or make a forced blood draw at a hospital, the grand jury was convinced by the DA that Chatterton was responsible for the injuries to the children. Chatterton said it seemed to him the DA sought the indictment against him in order to sidestep charges by the woman's lawyers of a cover-up and avoid the lawsuit.
   Even though the children's parents placed the children in the golf cart to be towed, and even though one of the parents was riding in the towing vehicle with Chatterton, and even thought the towing vehicle belonged to the mother, there was no effort by law enforcement or the district attorney to place any blame or responsibility on either parent for endangerment of the children.
   During the trial there was no testimony from any state witness that Chatterton showed any indication of being under the influence of alcohol at the scene of the wreck.  At the conclusion of the trial, even the jurors were astonished that Chatterton was brought to trial with little or no evidence that he was singly responsible for the incident.
   Three years elapsed between grand jury indictment and the trial.  During that time Chatterton allowed his Texas Peace Officer license to expire and found it very difficult to find suitable employment because of the felony indictment pending against him.  Because of enormous legal expenses he was forced to give up his home and he worked odd jobs to eek out a living. 
   In response to media reports that he had been fired from the Sheriff's Department, Chatterton said he voluntarily resigned because of the stress placed on he and his family.
   There is an age old saying in law enforcement and the legal profession.  "You may beat the charge, but you won't beat the ride."  In the case of Thomas Chatterton, he did beat the charge, but the ride was disastrous.
   Sheriff Gean Leonard announced after the court decision clearing Chatterton, that would certainly give serious consideration to rehiring him should he decide to apply for employment again.
   The Police News fails to see why this deputy was prosecuted in the first place.  The term 'Scapegoat' comes to mind.
   That's the way we see it. 
   How about you?
   Email: Editor@ThePoliceNews.Net
 
Breck Porter, Editor