Texas Police Accused of Planting Drugs on Innocent Man: Aransas Pass Police Department Corruption Charges Escalate
What is going on with the Aransas Pass Police Department — is there widespread corruption there, as more and more news stories suggest?
Consider this: just last week, we posted about the situation involving the Aransas Pass Police Department being investigated by the Texas Rangers after Martin Ortiz ended up comatose in a Corpus Christi hospital after being beaten by an Aransas Pass law enforcement officer as Mr. Ortiz was riding his bicycle home, in his own neighborhood. (For details on that incident, read “Texas Rangers Investigating Another Case of Police Brutality and Excessive Force.“)
This week, we’re learning about folk coming forward to accuse this same police department of planting drugs on a suspect – as well as using a Taser and beating a man before learning that the victim of their physical attack was not even the man that they were looking for.
Imagine: you’re at work, and suddenly the cops burst in and use a stungun on you and then beat you there on the floor. That’s what is being alleged happened to Kasey Staley.
According to Velma Freeman, who owns and operates Freeman’s A/C Supply there in Aransas Pass (Google Street View here), back in June 2011 several Aransas Pass police officers came to her shop asking to see a man named “Keith,” who was a suspect in some crime.
There was no “Keith” there, but this didn’t stop the cops. According to Ms. Freeman’s eyewitness account, these law enforcment officers (who we all know have sworn to protect and serve) picked out Kasey Staley, 21, as he was there working on the job and went after him.
According to reports, Kasey Staley was (1) stun-gunned; (2) beaten; and (3) arrested, all the while being totally innocent since the cops had the wrong guy here. Kasey was not the illusive “Keith” the police were looking for in their fevered hunt.
Things were very bad for Kasey Staley at this point. You’re working, the cops bust in, and suddenly you’ve been shocked with a Taser and beaten and then arrested. Worst work day ever, right?
Nope. It got worse for Kasey Staley. Six different affidavits have been signed (by Kasey’s employer, Ms. Freeman, his ex-wife Kayla, and four other eyewitnesses) that after all this, the Aransas Pass cops then planted drugs on Staley, as he sat there in handcuffs.
No One’s Listening to these Witnesses in Aransas Pass
This shocking story just gets more bizarre. It seems that these six people not only took the time and trouble to make these sworn, written statements of what happened, they took them to the Aransas Pass Powers That Be to get justice. And got zip.
So, now the local media is involved and two local television stations are covering the story, KZTV10 and KRISTV. One can hope that both the Texas Rangers and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are busy investigating things down at the Aransas Pass Police Department.
Meanwhile, the Aransas Pass Police Department finally got around to talking with the press; in response to media requests to explain what happened, what did the APPD representative say? “Prove it,” is what Captain Roberto Gonzales told the Corpus Christi reporters; the Aransas Pass Police Department isn’t even opening up an internal investigation.
That’s right. Prove it. Texas Rangers, your move.
Comments are welcomed here and I will respond to you -- but please, no requests for personal legal advice here and nothing that's promoting your business or product. Comments are moderated and these will not be published.
3 Responses to Texas Police Accused of Planting Drugs on Innocent Man: Aransas Pass Police Department Corruption Charges Escalate
Cynthia Robinson says: http://www.realcrimes.com/Robinson/Robinson.htm
No Investigation, the on-scene officers deemed the death a suicide.
Four on-scene officers resigned 3 months after Joshua’s death.
The Justice-of’the -Peace (McLennan City, Pct 5, Ret) put Time of Death as 2:15AM.
It’s been 8+ years, I’ve been repeatedly denied a Coroner’s Inquest, per Texas Code of Criminal Procedures/Article 49.04~Deaths Requiring an Inquest.
Texas Ranger, Stephen Foster/Company F/Waco, denied my investigation request twice. Foster has since retired from the Rangers and became Chief of Police in McGregor, in Feb 2008. The same town that Joshua died. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
Former chief, Ronald Wadkins, SUGGESTED that I relocate. After refusing, he reiterated and I moved.
Help?
kimberly says: Seeking help with corrupt cops.
My son (19) -Robert Lesthetwood, left two years ago from Alabama to vacation in aransas and was pulled over first week there with three locals, finding 7 oz of weed, the driver arrested along with my son, the passenger, however two guys in back released walking after private conversation with cop. My son , 18 at time,was released on 25000 bond and made to stay in area with no family with hundreds of miles. While struggling to survive for his two year probation sentence along with having to complete certain classes, thirty minutes away, several times a week, he worked odd jobs he lived anywhere.Little over year, aransas detective called me in Alabama and informed me, my son had a hit for his life on him and this information was verified by his informant. He said the two guys original that was in back seat that day (16) had both been shot and now they were going to get my son. I needed to get him out of Texas asap. I immediately had him to apply for transfer and p.o denied request. Being a single mother, with little money, I, myself, wrote a motion for judge to get transfer and p.o intercepted it to. Only after this, she comes up with a dirty ua from months earlier for a violation on him. To my understanding, the detective discussed his concerns fir my son safety and she still ignored it. With him being 19- I just received dial tones from every official I tried to talk to. So u went and brought him home, I informed detective that I was concerned even to place him in solitary confinement, and he was ok with what I did and knew where he was. Now 4 months later. He gets his name run and Alabama holds him for fugitive warrant p.o placed. Now only having 6 months remaining he is back in aransas detention center as of two days ago. Feeling suspicious about why they would travel thousands miles for such low charge, I started researching, and calling every official once again and hitting brick walls. Today I was sent a mug shot of one of the kids involved in the hit being placed on my son to begin with. They want my son to testify against this mobs kid and he is in solitary scared to death not wanting to talk to anyone. It seems that no one can be trusted and I just want to get this to the public and protect my son from so far away but don’t know where to start. There are definitely corruption in the law with this and living so far away, I don’t know where to start our who to believe, can you lead me toward the right direction please. Thank you, Kimberly Lewis Strong
Opelika Alabama.
Fb_ Kimberly lewis strong
The Aransas Pass Police Dept is corrupt, this is a fact. I am currently involved in just such a case. I was arrested for Terroristic threat with the intent to do bodily harm. I wonder how this is as i just had back surgery and have to wear a brace for six weeks. Make no mistake Aransas Pass allegedly run by thugs and drug pushers, and want to be Mafia persons.