Sheriff threatens to pull work crews from county
After the Taylor County Commission decided last week to discontinue its Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) security details at the Keaton Beach and Steinhatchee boat ramps this summer, the board received a number of calls in protest, most notably from Sheriff Wayne Padgett, who threatened to pull the county’s jail work squads in response.
Last Friday, the commission held a special meeting and rescinded their earlier action after listening to Padgett, as well as several coastal residents who spoke about the need for the deputies. However, the board also pushed back against allegations apparently made by Padgett that the original decision was made in retaliation to his recent request for raises for his employees.
Grant funds inmate work squad
As local government officials continue to search for solutions to help overcome the loss of inmate work squads from the local state prison, the county commission and Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) have modified their ongoing agreement to provide a second inmate squad from the Taylor County Jail.
The commission and TCSO entered into the agreement last October to provide the county with a work squad at an annual cost of $65,000.
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3 deputies injured during psychotic episode arrest
Deputies found a variety of drugs in the home of a man who was suffering from an apparent substance-induced psychotic episode Thursday, during which he injured several sheriff’s deputies.
Three Taylor County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) deputies sustained minor injuries after struggling with a man experiencing what was believed to be a substance-induced psychotic episode at his home Thursday morning, threatening suicide and wielding a machete.
Kevin Arnold, 27, was transported to Doctors’ Memorial Hospital (DMH) and, after being medically cleared, was booked at the Taylor County Jail on two counts of aggravated assault, three counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, three counts of resisting arrest with violence, criminal mischief, possession of methamphetamine, possession of synthetic cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Abilene woman arrested in shooting of woman in Tye
TYE – An Abilene woman was arrested after she allegedly shot another woman on a south interstate access road here this week, Tye police said.
Bakiya Smith, 27, surrendered Wednesday at the Taylor County Jail after a warrant was issued for her arrest on a charge of second-degree felony aggravated assault, police said.
She was released Thursday on a $100,000 bond, according to jail records.
An investigator alleged in a court document that Smith on Sunday shot the victim in the chest, with a man near the victim.
The victim was transported to an Abilene hospital, where she underwent surgery to remove the bullet, the document said.