Investigation into crash between teen, cyclists in Waller Co. 'not handled appropriately,' DA says

[LetMyPeopleVote]

It has taken two weeks but the Waller County District Attorney has acknowledged that this investigation was not handled correctly. This young man needs to be held to account

Link to tweet

HEMPSTEAD, Texas (KTRK) -- More than two weeks after six bicyclists were injured when a 17-year-old driver plowed into the group, the top prosecutor in the county didn't hold back his frustration about the investigation into the incident.

"This case was not handled appropriately by the investigating agency. PERIOD," Waller County District Attorney Elton Mathis wrote in a Facebook post. "Despite being encouraged by the Texas Department of Public Safety to treat the scene as a crime scene and to contact the D.A.'s Office for advice on how to proceed, the investigating agency chose not to do so."

The crash that happened on Sept. 25 on Business 290 involved the cyclists and a 17-year-old driver. Witnesses told ABC13 that just before slamming into the group, the teen driver was trying to agitate the cyclists by blowing exhaust smoke into their path in a practice known as "rolling coal."

The teen was released from the scene after interviewing with investigators, and no arrests have been made in the case.

Officers with the Waller Police Department were on the scene along with Texas DPS and the Waller County Sheriff's Office.

"The actions of the Texas Department of Public Safety on scene were professional and we are thankful they were there to assist. We are also working with the Waller County Sheriff's Office to gather the evidence they are able to provide as they arrived on scene to backup Waller P.D. Sheriff Guidry has been most helpful in this regard."

[blm]

1. Internet needs to find out who the thug's daddy is.

That will tell us more than anything from the sheriff’s office.

[Kid Berwyn]

18. Truck looked expensive.

You know how effective contributions to the benevolent fund are.

[underpants]

2. That's an understatement

[rockfordfile]

16. I agree

[irisblue]

3. Huh, imagine that

[Skittles]

4. NO SHIT

nothing less than felony assault for that fucker

[Demovictory9]

5. was he a super rich kid?

[LisaL]

6. Sure appears that the family is well off.

NT

[Skittles]

7. I'm guessing his parents have some influence

and yeah that usually involves money

[CanonRay]

12. 17 year old kid driving a $40000 truck

Hmmmm, I wonder.

[Skittles]

20. arrogant little prick

needs to be charged with a felony

[albacore]

8. White kid...do you suppose? nt

[plimsoll]

9. I wonder if they could sue for replacement value on the bikes.

6x$10K for a decent TT bike.

Not to mention punitive damages the cyclists could receive. It's obvious that bungling at the scene will make criminal prosecutions unlikely, so the civil cases will have to really hurt someone.

On the other hand, I figure he'd be acquitted by a jury of his peers, it being Texas and all.

[MustLoveBeagles]

11. He should also be sued for pain and suffering

At least one of the cyclists was badly hurt.

[AverageOldGuy]

10. In my neighboring county. . .

. . . in rural VA . . . there's a 30-yr-old delinquent. Active in a local motorcycle gang that deals drugs, harasses motorists, etc. He has a record going back to his teenaged years -- speeding; reckless driving; unsafe equipment; refusing to obey police orders; slapping girlfriends around after breaking into their apartments.

Last year he started shouting and harassing an older black couple in a grocery store parking lot. When they left, he followed them on his bike, passing them, giving them the finger, calling them names. They called the cops and turned into a WalMart parking lot where the asshole was arrested. The older black gentleman was retried pastor. He and several local black pastors appeared in court, forgave the young fool, asked the judge to go easy -- he got 200 hours of community service.

About six weeks ago, he was arrested for beating up his girl friend. The judge had seen enough -- locked him up where he will stay for five years.

Did I mention that his family is very influential in the county . . . and his mother is long-time chief dispatcher for sheriff's office??

[CanonRay]

14. In my neighborhood the cops' kids were always the worst

Caught doing all sorts of shit and never any consequences.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

13. Quick update from the Waller County District Attorney.

Link to tweet

[niyad]

15. "Crash" makes it sound like an accident. That bastard deliberately ran into the cyclists.

[rockfordfile]

17. That loser could've killed a person

[LetMyPeopleVote]

19. Waller Co. DA Elton Mathis slams police over teen's crash with cyclists

The Waller police department is trying to cover up this crime and the District Attorney is evidently pissed

Link to tweet

Mathis did go on social media Monday, where he seemed to echo the cyclists' initial concerns that Waller PD brushed off the investigation.

"This case was not handled appropriately by the investigating agency. PERIOD. Despite being encouraged by the Texas Department of Public Safety to treat the scene as a crime scene and to contact the D.A.'s Office for advice on how to proceed, the investigating agency chose not to do so," Mathis wrote.

He said there are some connections between the driver and Waller city officials. He said so far, there's no evidence to suggest officials directed the officer's response.

"All sides of this matter (the juvenile, the adult passenger, their families, the victims and their friends and families) can be assured that this case is not being swept away as the days pass, and attorneys for both boys are being cooperative at this time," wrote Mathis. "This will not be a lynching and likewise, it will not be a case of small county politics making problems just go away."

Mathis previously told ABC13 that once his office concluded this investigation, this matter will be presented to a grand jury, possibly as early as October or next month. The grand jury could make the decision to indict the teenager for a crime including aggravated assault charges.

[rdking647]

21. the da should file charges against the police department

[rdking647]

22. also charge the kid as an adult

and release his name
even if teh charges are dropped his name will out there

[Paladin]

23. I didn't expect this sort of reconsideration of this crime.

Gratifying.

Now...if Greg Abbott can just restrain himself from declaring "rolling coal" to be a civic virtue...

[bullwinkle428]

24. Initial reports were giving me a sick feeling that this little fucker was

going to totally skate on this. Good to hear that someone is trying to make sure that justice is served.