Posted on 08/19/2026 10:51:02 AM PDT by Red Badger
Tiny East Texas Town of Under 1,000 Implodes Over Dirty Water Cover-Up, Retaliatory Arrests, Fired Judge, Mass Resignations, and 15 Years of “Bad Policing”
The Henderson County District Attorney and County Attorney have informed the Trinidad, Texas Police Department that they will no longer accept ANY cases for prosecution solely investigated or filed by the department until further notice.
The letter, obtained by local media, effectively neuters the Trinidad PD’s ability to bring meaningful criminal cases. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office will now handle crimes inside city limits.
Pending cases will be reviewed one by one. The prosecutors themselves requested the ongoing Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) audit of the department, FOX 4 reported.
This is the direct fallout from Trinidad’s heavy-handed war on free speech.
Trinidad, a town of fewer than 1,000 people about an hour southeast of Dallas, has struggled for years with serious water problems, discolored water, sediment, strong odors, and chemical readings far above legal limits.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality later confirmed major deficiencies, including chemicals more than 300% above federal limits and a failing distribution system.
Citizen journalist Jennifer Combs, who runs the Southern Belle Watch Facebook page, posted that she had received reports of residents being hospitalized due to bacteria in the water. She asked people to share what they were seeing so the information could be passed to state regulators.
Then-Police Chief Charles Gregory responded by having her arrested on a state jail felony charge of false alarm or report. Gregory claimed the post “creates fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency response within a community.”
Combs, a mother with a clean record, was taken from her home, handcuffed, and spent 23 hours in jail.
> [Chief] Gregory claimed the post “creates fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency response within a community.” <
What a piece of trash. I suppose he could say the same of any post or comment that he doesn’t like.
The Civil Rights Lawyer on YouTube has a saying: “Freedom is messy. Get used to it.”
Yep.
Gregory claimed the post “creates fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency response within a community.”
= = =
Sounds like GMA, or David Muir every day!
Sounds like Chief Gregory needs to be investigated for false alarms or reports.
Is that "citizen journalism? Cause these are reporting anything. They just film in the most antagonizing way possible.
This lady was reporting and gathering info on the city’s badly deteriorated water system and they didn’t like it.............
Please permit me to add something to my post #2.
That “creates fear” charge is exactly how the British police act today. Make even the slightest criticism of the Muslim invaders, and you’ll be arrested. They call it a “public order” offense. Pure fascism.
Anyone who approved of these unlawful Trinidad, Texas arrests should be thrown in jail. And be made to write out our First Amendment text 100 times.
That’s David Manure. Please use the proper spelling.
Thank you for your attention to this matter!
> Is this what’s known as “auditors?” <
I don’t think that applies here. But I know what you’re talking about. I’ve seen many videos of these so-called auditors. Some of them do very good work. They keep public officials accountable.
But most of them are just out looking for a confrontation. They antagonize, as you noted.
No matter. They are protected by the 1A. Freedom is a messy thing, as I mentioned previously.
Yes, David Manure, on “Whirled News Tonight”
Got it. Thanks.
I’ve seen their posts and they also challenge those who question what they’re doing. Threatening them w/implied violence.
👍
> they [the “auditors”] also challenge those who question what they’re doing <
Yes, indeed. Such encounters really should be a good opportunity to discuss the 1A. And to point out that there’s no expectation of privacy in public.
But no. Most of these “auditors” prefer to insult and to escalate.
In a way, they’re like the pornographers who push the 1A to the limit, all to make a buck. Disgusting. But also a protected activity.
🙁
There are a lot of "frauditors" out there who roam around post offices, city halls, and even police stations annoying people with their cell phones or video cameras, but this one sounds like the real thing. Her channel hasn't shown up on "frauditor" channels like Frauditor Troll or First Amendment Shenanigans.
It sounds like there was something to instill fear in people. Arresting someone for talking about it also instills fear
> It sounds like there was something to instill fear in people. <
As long as there was no overt call to violence, it’s perfectly okay.
I could say that electing a Democrat in 2028 would probably result in death camps for white people. That certainly would install fear in some people.
No matter. I did not call for any violence. My statement is protected by the 1A.
You should probably study this case a little more.
I have followed it for a couple of months. She is well within her rights but also right about the water. Something is very rotten in Trinidad. The police chief is straight out of central casting for big bellied, ignorant bullies. The town admin goes downhill from there.
Why they are trying to cover this mess up or even think they can is the mystery. I’d guess some real estate promotion is involvedsomehow but don’t know to say for sure.
The water from taps is mud brown with black flakes in it.
You saw this woman reporting on her water and she threatened with implied violence?
I saw one of this woman's videos, a number of months back, and it was NOTHING like you are reporting.
She had a couple other people's comments on the water problems. She was a stay-at-home mother, as I recall, in this very small town.
She struck me as 1/100th a threat to anyone as you seem to be.
What freakin’ town of just 1,000 people has a “police force?” You contract with the sheriff's department to come through more often.
Ask me how I know.
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