COOPER - A Delta County Sheriff’s deputy has been fired, another demoted and a third has resigned amid a criminal investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
In a release issued Monday by Sheriff Gerald Teague, the investigation stemmed from an incident on June 2 involving three off-duty deputies who were drinking alcoholic beverages with five minors in a rented cabin at Doctor’s Creek State Park in Cooper.
We first informed you of the investigation in this June 11 report.
“The deputies by their conduct violated park rules, exhibited conduct unbecoming an officer, and brought justified criticism on themselves and the department,” the statement read.
On June 5, Deputy Colton Spinks was terminated for failing to cooperate in an internal administrative investigation. Spinks had been with the department for six months.
Earlier this month, 19-month department employee Sergeant Jeremy Norsworthy was suspended for two days without pay and demoted to deputy. Ryan Brown, a deputy for seven months, resigned his position effective Tuesday, July 10.
The report indicates that an on-duty Delta County deputy, identified as Trent Orr, knew about last month’s party and went by to check on the participants. Orr is cited as failing to contact the sheriff or the chief deputy about his co-workers drinking with the minors.
“However, later Sunday, June 3, the deputy made contact with a member of another law enforcement agency and reported the incident indicating that he did not know how to handle the incident because his immediate supervisor was one of the participants,” according to the statement.
Sheriff Teague and Chief Jim Lewman were contacted and began an internal investigation. The Texas Rangers and TAB became involved on June 4.
Orr, a deputy with the department for 18 months, will receive a written reprimand.
