Wednesday, March 18, 2009
By Erin Quinn
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The Texas Rangers and the Falls County District Attorney’s Office are investigating allegations that a former Rosebud police officer choked a 17-year-old boy to the ground during a traffic stop.
Rosebud police Chief Tim Wells said the Jan. 17 incident was caught on a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper’s car video camera. Officials were not releasing the video to the media because of the pending investigation.
Wells said then-officer Jack Comeaux responded about 12:30 a.m. to a call of a possible fight just outside the Rosebud city limits. The teens allegedly involved in the fight had left by the time Comeaux arrived.
Just after, Comeaux responded to a stalled vehicle whose occupants had been involved in a paintball fight, Wells said.
When Comeaux arrived, a DPS trooper was also at the scene. Comeaux approached the 17-year-old boy and ordered him to remove his hands from his pockets, but the youth refused, Wells said.
Comeaux, who later said he believed the teen had a gun in his pocket, placed his hands around the boy’s neck and choked him, Wells said. The video shows the boy passing out and dropping to the ground before regaining consciousness, Wells said.
Comeaux resigned shortly after the incident, Wells said. If he hadn’t, Wells said he would have fired him from what he witnessed on the DPS video.
“I will not stand for that,” said Wells, a 14-year veteran officer who became chief in October. “I will not accept it. The video shows that he used an excessive use of force.”
Comeaux has not been charged by Rosebud police in the incident.
Officials with Waco’s Texas Rangers office referred questions to DPS, where a spokesman would not comment on the case.
Attempts to reach Comeaux on Tuesday night were unsuccessful, as his listed number was disconnected.
Comeaux had worked at the Rosebud department since July. He was formerly an officer in Troy until the city fired its three-officer police force in 2006. In a news release at the time, the city said it fired Comeaux for insubordination, displays of disrespect toward superiors, working an unauthorized schedule and conduct undermining department integrity.
The other officers were fired because the city council lacked confidence in them, officials said.
equinn@wacotrib.com
757-5748
Comments
By The Deb Do
May 29, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
The DA in this case is prejudicial.
By Cynthia Robinson
Mar 19, 2009 3:14 PM | Link to this
LawDogg2009~ I got a job for you if you're willing!
I would certainly love to meet ONE cop, with morals!
By Cynthia Robinson
Mar 19, 2009 3:07 PM | Link to this
Wake up America!!!!!!!!!
Go to realcrimes (dot) com~Read all you can digest about officer involved deaths, including my own son, Joshua Robinson, who died 'questionably' in Amsler Park/McGregor.
Officers become officers because they have a driving need for power, and yes, the 'badge' gives them clout and an advantage. The power/badge goes to their heads.
Who is policing the police???????
By Observer
Mar 18, 2009 10:56 PM | Link to this
LawDogg its so easy to be a backseat driver or arm chair quarterback isntit. you claim to be a police officer yet you dont know any of the facts for certain and haven't seen the video or heard any other tapes from other police vehicles at the scene. As a police officer (if you are one) you should know clear back from the academy that you get all the facts and then make an assessment based on factual information. Yet you get on the web with no face no name and run your mouth. your no better than the others on here who just want to see the names and comments in print and dont know a thing about what really took place. Enjoy your fifteen minutes of fame. I sure wouldnt want you investigating anything or relying on you for any kind of professional service. At least there are some officers out there like this one who are willing to step up and take care of business when the chips are down. As for the rest of you none of you were there have seen the video or know first hand what took place. Youre no more qualified to comment than Lawdogg is to make this call. All of you should form a club for idle gossip you love it cause you apparently have nothing else constructive to do. And the flip side of this coin is police officers protect people like you while youre playing stupid and criticizing them. Get a life.
By Rosy
Mar 18, 2009 6:05 PM | Link to this
Already LawDogg I Love YOu !!hahaha It Just makes me so happy to hear theres still at least 1 honest and good Police officer who Do what they are suppose to do and take care of the community not be our enemies who we have to watch out for.Now days its bad with all these officers that think they can get away with eveything.They have that saying of "it's your word against mine,you think there going to believe you"And because i have seen and heard of many cases where innocent people get charged or put in jail for the reason that the officer felt like doing it.Just because he felt like doing it.:( ....how saaad
And yeah i still have faith and believe we will all be brought to justice sooner or later
By Annetta
Mar 18, 2009 11:40 AM | Link to this
Well Said LawDogg, It is because of officers like you that I still have faith in our system.
Thanks
By Citizen
Mar 18, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this
Obviously, the kid had no respect for the officer, or he would have removed his hands from his pockets. Granted, the officer overreacted, but the kid will think twice next time.
By LawDogg
Mar 18, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this
as being an officer of the law, your job is to protect and serve, now is the time to crack down on unfit officer's who is not fit for the job, your community trust you to do the job and do it well, they trust you to watch over our children, a good officer communicates with the community and have great respect from his community. I am a police officer myself, I have seen things in the past in Central Texas that I never thought I would see, if you are a police officer in The State of Texas, do your job as describe, if you cannot follow the law yourself there is no need for you to get a job that enforces the law.
LawDogg2009
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