Alcohol-related Arrests High in Maverick County
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Last week, the Eagle Pass Business Journal looked at the significant increase in Domestic Violence cases in Maverick County during the past 12 months. The primary culprit of a majority of the domestic violence cases which occurred in Maverick County had to do with alcohol abuse by one or more of the parties involved. Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber stated that the majority of domestic violence cases received by the Sheriff’s Department involve alcohol and its abuse by local residents. A regional beer distributing company noted that their alcohol and beer sales in Maverick County are twice as those of Val Verde County, a similarly sized community.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal decided to review both the Eagle Pass Police Department and Maverick County Sheriff’s Department monthly arrest reports during the past 12 months to determine the extent of alcohol-related arrests in Eagle Pass and Maverick County.
The most recent Eagle Pass Police Department press release highlights several alcohol-related arrests made at a local music festival during the International Friendship Festival at Shelby Park with some patrons having more than their fair share of alcohol beverages at the event, leading to domestic violence incidents and arrests. For instance, on Sunday, March 29, 2015, the Eagle Pass Police Department responded to a 911 emergency call regarding an altercation between a couple. Upon arrival, the couple resisted arrest but eventually were detained. After their detention, local Police Officers noted that both individuals were intoxicated and had had too much to drink at the local festival. Both individuals were arrested, charged with public intoxication, detained at the Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center, magistrated by a judge, and released on a $3,000 bond each.
The Eagle Pass Business Journal reviewed the Eagle Pass Police Department monthly reports from February 26, 2014 through February 23, 2015 and found that during this past 12 months period there were 273 alcohol-related arrests including 96 (35.1%) arrests for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and 177 (64.8%) arrests for intoxicated pedestrian arrests (PI).
According to the Eagle Pass Police Department monthly reports, during January 27 to February 23, 2015 there were 7 DWI and 11 PI arrests; during December 23,2014 to January 26, 2015 there were 8 DWI and 14 PI arrests; during November 18 to December 22, 2014 there were 5 DWI and14 PI arrests; during October 21 to November 18, 2014 there were 7 DWI and 12 PI arrests; during September 23 to October 28 , 2014 there were 13 DWI and 19 PI arrests; during August 26 to September 21,2014 there were 4 DWI and 19 PI arrests; during July 18 to August 19, 2014 there were 14 DWI and 25 PI arrests; during June26 to July 30, 2014 there were 5 DWI and 17 PI arrests; during April 23 to May 25, 2014 there were 4 DWI and 23 PI arrests; during March 26 to April, 22 2014 there were 12 DWI and 23 PI arrests; and during February 26 to March 25, 2014 there were 17 DWI arrests.
In addition, the Eagle Pass Business Journal reviewed the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department arrest logs during the past 13 months from February 2015 to January 2014 and found that there were 257 arrests for alcohol-related offenses including 207 arrests for public intoxication and 50 Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests.
The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department monthly arrest records showed that 246 alcohol- related arrests of the 257 provided the ages of the individuals arrested, including 106 of involved persons 30 years old and younger; 51 persons were between the ages of 31 years old to 40 years old; 45 persons were between the ages of 41 years old and 50 years old; and 44 persons were between the ages of 51 years old and 80 years old.
The combined Eagle Pass Police Department and Maverick County Sheriff’s Department monthly reports during these period had a total of 146 Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrests and 384 public intoxication (PI) arrests, totaling 530 alcohol-related arrests during the 12 months period reviewed. This figure does not include the many warnings issued by both the Eagle Pass Police Department and Maverick County Sheriff’s Department to Maverick County residents regarding alcohol-related matters.
Maverick Countians definitely like their alcohol and beer cold and plenty of it. Unfortunately, this significant consumption of alcohol is the primary cause of the majority of domestic violence cases within the county, according to Sheriff Tom Schmerber.
A collaborative effort from all community law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, legal system, social service and counseling agencies, health care providers, and citizens must be undertaken to address the closely-related problems of alcohol abuse and domestic violence within the community to improve the health, safety, and welfare of all citizens.
Recently, Maverick County District Attorney Roberto Serna announced that Eagle Pass Police Chief Albert Guajardo, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, and him will be meeting to address the issues of domestic violence and alcohol abuse in our community. Furthermore, Simon Sotelo of Quad Counties Community Council also advised that his non-profit organization is meeting with community stakeholders in developing and implementing a strategy to address and reduce the alcohol and domestic violence issues within the community. A total community effort is needed to educate the community of the social and legal ills of alcohol abuse and domestic violence and the consequences for violating the state laws concerning the crimes of domestic violence, driving while intoxicated, and public intoxication. Maverick Countians are advised to drink responsibly and moderately, if any.
