Brazos County’s district court clerk and a former girlfriend will not be prosecuted on misdemeanor assault charges.
The decision affecting district clerk Gabriel Garcia and Maria Ramirez was announced by Brazos County county attorney Earl Gray.
Gray told WTAW News that there was insufficient evidence to file formal charges of a class “A” misdemeanor of family violence assault causing bodily injury or a class “C” misdemeanor assault by offensive touching.
Click below to hear comments from Earl Gray, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Original story, August 19, 2024:
Brazos County’s district court clerk and a former girlfriend are arrested on misdemeanor charges of family violence assault causing bodily injury.
56 year old Gabriel Andre Garcia and 33 year old Maria Guadalupe Ramirez of Bryan are both out of jail after posting $5,000 dollar bonds.
The BPD arrest reports show Garcia and Ramirez both said what happened was not the first time they have had a physical altercation.
9-1-1 dispatchers sent BPD officers to a report of a disturbance at Garcia’s home Saturday morning (August 17) around 4:30 that was called in by Ramirez.
Arrest reports say Ramirez was pushed twice by Garcia, causing her to fall. Garcia said he pushed Ramirez while trying to get away from her after she struck him on the left side of his head.
Ramirez had scrape marks on her right hand and right forearm, a small cut on the back of her right arm, and redness in her left eye. Garcia had a small cut behind his left ear that resulted in bleeding.
The physical contact took place outside Garcia’s home while his children were sleeping. The arrest reports do not say who had custody of the children after Garcia was arrested.
Garcia said he and Ramirez had a disagreement at a local restaurant before the disturbance at his home.
Garcia is in the middle of his second term as Brazos County district court clerk.
Brazos County judge Duane Peters issued the following statement: “Brazos County officials are aware of the arrest of District Clerk Gabriel Garcia. A charge against an elected official is deeply concerning, but as this is a legal matter, we cannot comment on any details at this time. The district clerk’s office is fully staffed and will continue to provide professional customer service. We will provide further information as it is available.”
WTAW News identified Garcia with his middle name of Andre because online jail records also list a Gabriel Anthony Garcia, a Gabriel Alejandro Garcia, and a Gabriel Edward Garcia.
WTAW News identified Ramirez with her middle name of Guadalupe because online jail records also list a Maria Lemus Ramirez, a Maria Eleuteria Ramirez, a Maria DeJesus Ramirez, a Maria Carmen Ramirez, a Maria Portillo Ramirez, and two women named Maria Ramirez with birth years of 1961 and 1978.