The Brownwood Condition !

Wednesday October 4, 2006
News

LULAC investigating possible violations in Gomez arrest

Bulletin Staff Report

The arrest of Eddie T. Gomez of Brownwood during last May’s municipal election is being investigated by District 5 of the Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for possible federal civil rights and voting rights violations, officials announced Tuesday.
Gomez faces two felony charges of assault on a public servant, and the case will be presented for possible indictment by the Brown County Grand Jury on Thursday, LULAC’s statement said.
“It is hard to believe that, in the 21st century, an Hispanic and former Marine Corps sergeant of the Gulf War and numerous other campaigns would be treated with such outrageous disrespect when exercising his right to vote and to participate in the election process,” District 5 Executive Director Ruben Ramirez and Civil Rights Director Christine Salazar said in a joint statement. “LULAC will be contacting the United States Department of Justice for a complete investigation of the violations to Mr. Gomez’s voting right and civil rights.”
Reached by telephone Tuesday night, Salazar said a letter making the request of the Justice Department was sent early in the day.
The statement said Gomez arrived at the Coliseum Annex at 9 a.m. May 13 to vote in the City of Brownwood election, and was “angrily and disrespectfully confronted” about his use of a cell phone while standing in line to vote, even though no signs were posted prohibiting their use.
After voting, the LULAC statement relates, Gomez approached the election administrator to request information, which led the administrator to order Gomez’s arrest for criminal trespass.
Gomez left the polling location and was arrested outside. “His body was severely beaten and bruised by two police officers, an off-duty police officer and by the husband of the elections administrator,” the LULAC statement continues.
“We call into question the training, the ability and the competence of these election officials who (1) aggressively provoked a voter and threatened to remove him from the polling place, (2) ordered the voter out of the polling place for criminal trespass and (3) ordered the arrest of the voter and watched as the police and civilians assaulted the voter,” Ramirez said.
The incident left Gomez with severe bruising and contusions to his face, neck, hands, arms, shoulders, back, kidneys, legs and feet, LULAC asserted.
“When any voter is subjected to such harsh treatment like Mr. Gomez was on May 13, 2006, then all of us citizens are hurt,” Ramirez said.
Members of District 5 voted unanimously to investigate the arrest at their quarterly meeting held Aug. 12 in Midland, the statement said, but the decision was not announced until late Tuesday.
The statement described Gomez as a 100 percent disabled combat veteran. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Marines in 1994 after having served in Kuwait with one tour in Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War, where he was injured. He served another tour in Iraq in 1994.
District Attorney Micheal Murray could not be reached Tuesday night for comment. Salazar said Tuesday she has sent Murray a letter asking for his office’s cooperation, and for any presentation of the Gomez case to the grand jury to be delayed.
Brownwood police have said the incident began when a man who was there to vote became angry over issues including being asked to turn off his cell phone.
Elections administrator Suzy Young said people aren’t allowed to talk on cell phones in a polling place and an election judge “did his duty and asked the man to put it up.”
Young estimated that 40 to 50 voters were present as the man became agitated, and was also angry at other issues involving voting. She said she asked the man to leave and he cursed at her, and cursed at police officers when they tried to escort him away.
The man was outside when he swung at Brownwood Police Cpl. Mitch Slaymaker, Young said. She said another officer, Bryan Keith, ended up on the ground with the man on top of him.
The incident was investigated by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna.
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/10/04/news/news01.txt
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LULAC investigates man's arrest
By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
October 5, 2006

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is investigating an incident involving the arrest of a Brownwood man in May for possible federal civil and voting rights violations.
On May 13, Eddie T. Gomez, 34, was charged with two counts of aggravated assault of a public servant following an altercation with police that occurred during the municipal election at the Brownwood Coliseum annex.
LULAC voted to conduct the investigation during a meeting on Aug. 12, but did not issue a statement until Tuesday.''It is hard to believe that in the 21st Century, a Hispanic and former Marine Corps Sergeant of the Gulf War and numerous other campaigns would be treated with such outrageous disrespect when exercising his right to vote,'' LULAC District 5 Executive Director Ruben Ramirez and Civil Rights Director Christine Salazar said a joint statement. ''LULAC will be contacting the United States Department of Justice for a complete investigation of the violations of Mr. Gomez's voting rights and civil rights.'' The case goes before the Brown County Grand Jury today, and Gomez could face a felony indictment. Michael Murray, 35th district attorney, confirmed Wednesday that the case will be presented today.
''There has been a thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers, and all sides have had an opportunity to present their evidence in this case,'' Murray said.
As show of support for Gomez, members of the Hispanic community in Brownwood are planning a peaceful demonstration the Brown County Courthouse today as the case goes before the grand jury.
According to reports taken by Brownwood police, Gomez was leaving the polling area when he got into an argument with Elections Administrator Suzy Young.
As he left the polling place, police say Gomez continued to yell at Young, and officers stepped in. Officer Brian Keith said he advised Gomez to leave.
Keith reported he told Gomez he was under arrest, and Cpl. Mitch Slaymaker then sprayed him with pepper spray. According to the report, Gomez struck Slaymaker twice in the face. Keith reported that Slaymaker hit Gomez twice with a baton. The report states the two officers asked Gomez to stop resisting, and when he did not, Slaymaker summoned help from witnesses to restrain him.
The altercation began when Young confronted Gomez about using a cell phone while in line to vote, according to the statement. Gomez was taken to the Brown County Jail following the incident and was also charged with criminal trespass, failure to identify to a police officer and disorderly conduct. He was released that day on bonds totaling $17,500. Gomez has no prior arrests or convictions according to Brown County officials.
The LULAC statement alleges Gomez was severely beaten during the altercation and suffered bruising all over his body as a result. LULAC officials are asking the Justice Department to question the competence of elections officials and charge that Gomez was provoked and threatened by elections officials and later assaulted by police and civilians.
According to the LULAC statement, Gomez is a decorated combat veteran who served in the Gulf War and was honorably discharged as a Marine Corps sergeant in 1994.
Gomez is 100 percent combat disabled, and a felony conviction could cost him his military benefits, according to Gomez' lawyer, John Lee Blagg.
''He is totally dependent on those benefits to support his wife and two children,'' Blagg said. ''He earned those benefits by serving in combat in the Gulf War.''
Gomez declined to comment on Wednesday.
source: http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_5043481,00.html
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Brown County rally held in protest over voter's arrest
By Celinda Emison / emisonc@reporternews.com
October 6, 2006

BROWNWOOD - More than 20 people gathered at the Brown County Courthouse on Thursday for a peaceful rally to show support for Eddie Gomez, who could be indicted by the Brown County Grand Jury on two counts of aggravated assault of a public servant after getting into a disagreement with local election officials.
The rally began at just before 8 a.m. inside the courthouse where the grand jury was convened. Supporters wore ribbons and badges and carried signs that read ''We Support Eddie.''
On May 13, Gomez was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault of a public servant after an altercation with police during the municipal election at the Brownwood Coliseum annex. He was jailed that day, and released on bonds totaling $17,500. Gomez has no prior criminal record, according to Brown County officials.
Police reports indicate the altercation began when Gomez, a disabled combat Marine, was told he could not use his cell phone at a polling place.
Supporters contend Gomez was unfairly provoked by personnel at the elections office and later by police and witnesses.
His mother, Angie Gomez, said she wants justice to be done.
''No one, no matter what, should be treated the way he was treated that day,'' Angie Gomez said.
Angie Gomez said her son was severely beaten during the arrest.
''You should have seen it,'' she said. ''It was awful.''
Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs asked the group Thursday to take the rally outside.
''We cannot be here inside our courthouse?'' Angie Gomez asked the sheriff.
Grubbs said that signs would disrupt operations inside the courthouse, but those without signs would be allowed to remain inside. Those with signs complied with the order.
Members of the Pecan Valley Chapter of the Marine Corps League were among those attending in support of Gomez.
''We are here to support one of our brothers,'' said Commandant Bob Ogg.
Russell Bentley, also in the Marine Corps League, pointed to Brown County's Wall of Heroes inside the courthouse.
''We are here supporting someone who is as important as those soldiers on that wall,'' Bentley said. ''We want the whole story here to come out, too.''
The League of United Latin American Citizens announced this week that it will conduct an investigation into possible civil and voting rights violations in the Gomez case.
LULAC officials are asking the U.S. Justice Department to assess the competence of elections officials, and charge that Gomez was provoked, threatened and later assaulted by police and civilians.
There were no representatives of LULAC at Thursday's rally.
source: http://www.reporter-news.com/abil/nw_local/article/0,1874,ABIL_7959_5046485,00.html
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Friday October 6, 2006
News
Gomez case among those heard by grand jury Thursday

By Steve Nash — Brownwood Bulletin

The Brown County Grand Jury heard the case Thursday involving Eddie Gomez, who was arrested after an altercation with police after voting in the May city election.
Officials did not immediately reveal whether Gomez, 34, was indicted. Officials don’t make indictments public until they are signed by District Judge Steve Ellis and filed in the district clerk’s office.
Gomez’ attorney, John Lee Blagg, said District Attorney Micheal Murray confirmed to him that grand jurors had heard the case but Blagg said he doesn’t know if Gomez was indicted.
“I don’t really know what happened. I don’t know what evidence was presented,” Blagg said.
The Texas League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued a release Tuesday saying will investigate “possible federal civil rights and voting rights violations” involving Gomez’ arrest.
Murray confirmed that Gomez’ case had been on the grand jury’s schedule but declined further comment.
Several Gomez family members appeared at the courthouse early Thursday morning carrying signs supporting Gomez, who was charged with two counts of assault on a public servant after his May 13 arrest. They left the courthouse a short time later.
As the grand jury met, Blagg waited with Gomez’ wife, Julie, his mother, Angie, and his cousin, Leslie Redfern, outside the district attorney’s office.
Blagg said Eddie Gomez waited in his office during the grand jury’s session.
Blagg said he had hoped to address the grand jury and present Gomez’ viewpoint but was not invited into the grand jury room.
He said he gave Murray evidence and asked him to present it to the grand jury but didn’t know if Murray had done so.
That evidence, Blagg said, was photos of injuries he said Gomez sustained in the altercation, letters from community members expressing support of Gomez and a letter from LULAC about the Gomez case.
Brownwood Police Chief Virgil Cowin said the Gomez case was “thoroughly investigated” by Texas Ranger Nick Hanna. “I think the case was investigated properly,” Cowin said. “I don’t see any evidence of wrongdoing by any of my people.
“I think they were acting in self-defense.”
Brownwood police have said the May 13 incident began when a man who was there to vote became angry over issues including being asked to turn off his cell phone. The man fought with two police officers, police have said.
LULAC asserted in its statement that Gomez was treated with “outrageous disrespect when exercising his right to vote.”
source: http://www.brownwoodbulletin.com/articles/2006/10/06/news/news01.txt