Posted on 07/05/2010 9:43:09 AM PDT by TheMom
It was about 6:00pm on June 22, 2010 when Robert Threadgill, 80-year-old former member of the 1970's singing group “The Threadgills”, had realized that he forgot his fishing pole at a nearby community-property creek called Woodcreek behind his condo where he fished often and had walked over to retrieve it. While there, still on a community property section of lawn, Mr. Threadgill apparently got into a minor verbal dispute with an employee of a Cypress Creek Falls Lodge, who was on another side of a fence next to their property, about debris those employees would throw into the creek.
The Cypress Creek employee apparently called the Hays County Sheriff’s Department after the dispute and apparently reported that Threadgill was trespassing even though he never crossed the tall fence that separates the properties. Four Hays County deputies arrived in response to the call and, Threadgill claims, when he saw the deputies talking with the employee he walked over and asked them to come over to his side of the fence so he could explain what the dispute was about.
However, when the deputies crossed over they immediately told him that he was trespassing, even though he was still on the opposite side of the fence. At this point Mr. Threadgill’s son, Stephen, began to walk over to see what was going on when his father told him everything was fine and to just go back to the house. At that point, things took a strange turn for the worst when two deputies allegedly tackled Mr. Threadgill to the ground, grinding their knees into his back and his head while another deputy approached Stephen, as he was walking back towards the house, and apparently hit him from behind with a baton and knocked him unconscious.
A neighbor, who witnessed the incident, confirmed that he saw two deputies throw the 80-year-old Threadgill to the ground then jump on his head and back while wrenching his arms behind him until Threadgill screamed out in pain. He then looked over to see Stephen unconscious on the ground with two other deputies handcuffing him.
The neighbor then claims that he watched as the deputies dragged both Stephen and Robert then threw both of them between rungs in the fence so that they both landed face-first on to the pavement on the opposite side while their hands were still cuffed behind them. He says that they then dragged Stephen about 70 yards, while still unconscious, across an asphalt parking lot until his knees were skinned to the bone. The elder Threadgill claims that deputies told him he was resisting since he couldn’t get his feet underneath him fast enough as they dragged him along the ground as well.
While deputies tossed Threadgill and his son into patrol cars Robert’s wife was trying to tell her husband that she was calling their other son when she too was threatened with arrest. However, before deputies could leave, two Fire Dept EMTs, who weren’t called but were nearby and decided to stop, examined the two and informed the deputies that they had to be taken to the hospital before taken into custody due to their injuries, especially since the younger Threadgill was still unresponsive.
While no charges were placed against Stephen, who suffered a concussion, broken ankle, as well as back and rib injuries, a warrant has been filed for Robert Threadgill on a stand-alone resisting arrest charge while he has been recovering from a shoulder injury, that will require surgery to repair, in addition to injuries to his face and leg… but, so far, neither have been cited for trespassing.
The neighbor who witnessed the incident says he is “horrified that this could happen in a quiet little town” and that “there was no violence or threats until police arrived and, even then, the only violence done was by the four deputies.” Threadgill’s daughter says she’s worried since her dad now has to pay $1,000 bond on the resisting charge and lives on a fixed income.
The Hays County Sheriff’s Office has not responded to requests for more information about the incident from Robert’s daughter. She has posted the story on her Facebook page devoted to Domestic Violence issues and we agreed to re-post the story to make it public after she told us about it.
Do you suppose you could explain how a diving pig caused environmental wackos?
This is a discussion forum. We discuss. That politics thing goes both ways too. Also it’s my understanding that the Sheriff was not present. Just 4 deputies.
Ditto. But the sign did say "swimming".
Thanks The Mom. Figured it was either his brother or a cousin. Hope this all ends well.
I knew about this incident before TheMom posted this thread. You were the one posting out of ignorance not me.
I am glad that your experiences with the Hays County deputies were different then those of Mr. Threadgill & his son. But that because you did not get beaten or threatened does not mean that it does not happen.
What that means is that I would like to see something other than UNVERIFIED accounts before rushing to judgement. A first hand account by Mr. Threadgill and a witness does not count as verified?
Seeing as how this is a very serious criminal matter I don’t see why so many people have a problem with waiting for at least some verification and corroboration from someone who is not immediately involved or directly related to those involved.
Like the deputies that did this to Mr. Threadgill and his son?
Perhaps this incident will start an apparently needed house cleaning by the Sheriff.
Don't think so.
I will speak personally for the Sheriff, Tommy is about an upstanding individual as there can be in LE.
Then he will not doubt fire the four deputies that did this.
I wasnt sure of the relationship but knew they were kin
Where did I dispute this happened? The fact is, I have stated more than once that I don’t dispute the possibility that this criminal conduct on part of the deputies took place. Disprove that point or drop it.
Mr Threadgill and his son are the complaining parties. As such there statements need verification and corroboration before any charges or suits can be brought against the deputies. His daughter and wife are obviously closely connected to the case. As such their statements are also in need of verification. The supposed witness would also need to have his statements verified. Otherwise all of this is nothing more than a he said/ she said argument that will not go anywhere.
If a disinterested third party such as the Texas Rangers or DPS (maybe even a Hays County IA unit) were to investigate, then that would be sufficient verification to proceed against the deputies. Or to dismiss without charging if there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
My only statement of belief is that I find this to be out of character with the department that I have had limited experience with. We’ve only heard one side of what happened. To me that means that further investigation is warranted before flying off the handle and calling deputies jack booted thugs or whatever else people tend to call LEOs nowadays.
What did I say that was ignorant? Did I say it never happened? Did I say anyone lied? The only thing I was ignorant of was the FB posting. Now that I had a chance to read it, I fail to see how that should change anything that I wrote.
Clearly, there is evidence that something happened. All the statements surrounding what happened have come from the people involved or closely related to those involved. From what I have read so far (obviously there could more I haven’t seen) this is all from one side. We don’t know if there are other witnesses that could dispute this.
Now, how does this change my original statement? I simply said this seems out of character for this department. Is that in dispute? Are Hays County deputies infamous for their depravity and wanton disregard for public safety? If so, I stand corrected. And will duly eat aforementioned unicorn shat Skittles.
Wait a minute here. Are you saying Unicorns dont crap Skittles?
Wow. I am gonna need a moment here, my world is upside down!
:)
Look, The Threadgills are founded on Peace Love And Understanding.
It is unlikely that the were in the wrong.
It could happen. Beer is always a element but I just dont see it. These folks are legends here in Texas
Ummm, I lived or worked there off and on for the last decade. I’ve kind of heard of them. Even been to a few concerts at the place off of Barton Springs.
Oh no... No Malice or BS
There is NO reason to send 4 deputys after an 80 year old man getting a fishin pole even if he mouthed off at someone
officer Gary Griffi More.. “did momentarily cross the line into the use of excessive force”
You mean that bit where the officer was out of line? and caused bodily damage for grins?
I've long maintained that a majority of cases like this could be prevented by LEO's being polite and patient. I worked in corrections for a bit, and found that letting a con spout a bit then saying "Well you've got a point there, Mr. Schmoe, I'm still going to have to put you in solitary for a bit." worked. My deal was if you had to go to baton and cuffs, you screwed up. Sometimes there was no choice, but it was by their choosing, not yours.
Meanwhile My friend had the AC at his rent house stolen.
Cops couldnt be bothered to take a report. I had to go over there wit a 1911 and poke around and make notes
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