REMEMBERING A RALLY AT BOLIVAR PENINSULA MANY YEARS AGO

By Trey Rusk

 

Overall 189 people were arrested and two were shot at Texas' Go Topless Jeep Weekend on Bolivar Peninsula this year

 

I recently read where crowds were surging on the Bolivar Península in East Galveston County.  I used to be assigned to Spring Break on Bolivar and although we had crowds, it was nothing like they are having now.  Crime has surged and 2 weeks ago police arrested over 200 people from the beach.  One deputy was struck by a car and had to life flighted for multiple injuries.  In order to arrive at Bolivar, you must ride a ferry from Galveston or detour 130 miles.  

 

 

                               Trey Rusk (L) with Howie in 2015

 

Many years ago, 4 TABC Agents and I were returning to the mainland at

 2am on board a Galveston Ferry.  The Sheriff's dispatch called for any unit on the returning ferry.  It turns out a child had been abducted by his drunken biological father at gunpoint from his mother and was on the ferry.  A vehicle description was given and subsequently the vehicle was located with the child and the father near the front of the ferry parked next to the rail.   I contacted the Captain and apprised him of the situation.  

While forming a stack to approach the car I assigned an Agent with a clear line of sight to shoot the father through the rear window if things went bad.  

As everyone was given their assignment, a deckhand approached me to let me know that we had no jurisdiction aboard the ferry.  He was serious.  He let me know that if we took any action that we were going to be in violation of Maritime Law.  I asked him who he worked for?  He said TxDot.  I then told him that he was technically on a state highway, state property and we were state police.  This idiot then said he would take care of the situation and began to walk toward the target vehicle.  He was tackled and stuffed into a restroom with an off duty police officer to watch him.

We worked the stack of officers and found the father and son both asleep in the vehicle.  The father had a .38 revolver in his lap.  Agent, EZ Doman grabbed the gun and threw it overboard.  Then grabbed the father and drug him out of the drivers side window.  The child was simultaneously carried to the wheel house and turned over to Galveston S.O. upon arrival.

We were never subpoenaed to any criminal trial regarding the matter.

All ended well except for the deckhand who was fired by TxDot.  I know because I was subpoenaed to his unemployment benefits hearing.  He brought a book of Maritime Laws to support his claim.  Then he stated he was tackled and beaten by plain clothes officers who had not adequately identified themselves.  I told the hearings officers that he contacted us, knowing we were law enforcement.  Case closed. 

 

                                                                               EZ Doman

 

I miss working with Agents like EZ Doman.  He was black and hired on in an era when there weren't many black agents working for the state.  He was a huge man with the high pitched voice of a child.  He had an infectious smile and could snatch a person bald headed if he was so inclined.  I was always glad EZ was around.  He grew up in River Oaks, Houston the son of a domestic worker.  He died of complications of diabetes as a fairly young man.  RIP.