Kevin O’Connor Kommentary April 23

Six Arrests In College Station Police Department Drug Investigation

Six arrests have been made charges of possessing and selling drugs and engaging in organized criminal activity in College Station and Bryan. A post on the College Station police department’s Facebook page says searches of two homes in Bryan and one in College Station led to finding among other things, 1,500 fraudulently manufactured Xanax and Adderall pills and 70 vape cartridges containing T-H-C. WTAW News has asked CSPD for an estimated value of the drugs that were seized. According to online records from the Brazos County jail: On Monday (August 19), 26 year old Cooper Currie of Bryan was booked in the Brazos County jail for possessing between five and 50 pounds of marijuana, a motion to revoke probation on a conviction for possessing between five and 50 pounds of marijuana, four counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, and engaging in organized criminal activity. Currie is held on bonds totaling $115,000 dollars. On August 6, 23 year old Cayden Carroll of College Station was booked on charges of two counts of possessing a controlled substance. Bonds on those charges totals $13,000 dollars. Carroll is held without bond on charges of violating probation following two convictions for burglary of a habitation. On August 2, 19 year old Zakary Webb of College Station was booked on charges of two counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and possessing marijuana. Webb was released from jail August 3 after posting bonds totaling $45,000 dollars. 20 year old Kate-Lynn Lindeman of Whitney Texas was arrested May 16 for engaging in organized criminal activity. She was released from jail the following day after posting a $25,000 dollar bond. 27 year old Alexander Welch of Temple was arrested May 15 for felony possession of marijuana. He was released from jail the same day after posting a $12,000 dollar bond. 21 year old Daegin Hamilton of Bryan was arrested April 23 on three counts of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and felony possession of marijuana. He was released the next day after posting bonds totaling $44,000 dollars.

Bryan City Council Approves Giving More Time To Complete A Multimillion Dollar Renovation Of The LaSalle Hotel

For the second time, the Bryan city council gives the owner of the downtown LaSalle Hotel more time to complete a $6 million dollar conversion to a four star Marriott property. That is in order for the hotel owner to receive $1 million dollars in city incentives. There was no public comment before the council’s unanimous vote at their August 13th meeting. The following morning, mayor Bobby Gutierrez shared during his visit on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs that weather delays have been a contributing factor. City documents say the delay was also caused by issues from third parties that were outside the control of the owner and the city. The project is more than one year behind schedule. While the latest time extension is the end of 2024, Gutierrez expects completion sooner than that. The latest amendment calls on the owner to provide furnishings on the plaza outside the building that includes tables, seats, umbrellas, and fans. And the $1 million dollars in incentives is also based on the owner collecting at least $100,000 dollars in hotel occupancy taxes by December 31st of 2025. Click HERE to read and download background information presented for the Bryan city council’s August 13, 2024 meeting. Click HERE to read and download the amendment that was approved at the Bryan council meeting. Click below to hear comments from Bobby Gutierrez during his August 14, 2024 visit on WTAW’s The Infomaniacs.  

Brazos County’s District Court Clerk And A Former Girlfriend Are Arrested For Family Violence Assault Causing Bodily Injury

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.