FLASH STAFF REPORT
ERATH COUNTY (December 21, 2016) – A little more than 24 hours after Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant was found dead inside his home, at least three of his top-ranking employees were suspended.
Bryant died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound early Tuesday morning. A source close to the case, who asked to not be named, said Bryant’s chief deputy and next in command, Jason Upshaw, was among those suspended by interim Sheriff Matt Coates.
Coates was sworn into office Tuesday after an emergency meeting of Erath County Commissioners, who deliberated the appointment for the better part of a day in closed session Monday.
The source said Deputy Weldon Wilson, Cpt. Randy Fowler and Lt. Bobby Mendez were also suspended. Upshaw, Fowler and Mendez were a part of the sheriff’s criminal investigation division.
At the time of this report, The Flash was awaiting official confirmation on the suspension from Coates, who advised there would be a press conference later today.
Meanwhile, the source said other employees of the sheriff’s office were also facing suspension.
The suspension and Bryant’s death come during an ongoing investigation by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The investigation began with allegations about deceptive and dishonest testing and certification practices, but The Flash has received information that other issues at the department were uncovered.
This is an ongoing and developing story, and additional details will be provided as they become available.
More information about the ongoing TCOLE investigation into law enforcement officials in Erath County can be found in this story, first reported by The Flash Today here: http://wp.me/p5j437-bS7
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