Precinct 2 Constable’s Office Raided! FBI & Texas Rangers Execute Search Warrant
Constable Barrientes-Vela’s house of cards is starting to collapse. Early this morning, both the FBI and the Texas Rangers raided her offices. The two law enforcement agencies spent approximately 12 hours searching and confiscating material allowed in the search warrant. One of her top people was questioned and the county vehicle that she uses was also confiscated.
In a rambling, paranoia-laced press meeting, Constable Barrientes-Vela blamed her problems on Judge Nelson Wolff, D.A. Joe Gonzales, Sheriff Javier Salazar and A.D.A. Don McCraw saying there was a conspiracy to get her to be quiet. She even said, in reference to some “higher ups,” that they sent people who were involved in gangs to her house. Supposedly this is all happening because she is fighting against the good old boy system. That is something she has said repeatedly but she never says what she is referring to and how she is fighting it.
Astounding Lack of Knowledge
I don’t understand how this woman could have been a law enforcement officer for years. She said the raid was illegal. No it wasn’t. They had a search warrant. She says you contact criminals to let them know they are being investigated. No, you absolutely do not do that at the beginning of an investigation. She said that Judge Wolff and D.A. Gonzales, basically, sicced the FBI and the Texas Rangers on her. She says this because D.A. Gonzales turned the investigation over to them. Uh, yeah. When you are ensuring that there is no bias in an investigation you turn it over to another agency. That’s common practice and proper procedure. The Texas Rangers and the FBI obviously found that there was sufficient reason to request a search warrant. (Thank you Texas Rangers and FBI).
She also doesn’t get the difference between County policy and state law. She was already busted by Dillon Collier when she announced she would be running for sheriff in 4 years. He pointed out that she was in uniform and was violating County policy which prohibits her campaigning in uniform. At the press conference she is asked if she knew of the state law that says if you have more than a year left in your term and you announce your intention to run for another office, you have to resign the office you’re in. First she says she didn’t announce. Then she says she did announce earlier. Then she tries to justify it by saying she is not in uniform. This woman is totally lacking in comprehension. One was County policy and the other was STATE LAW! She doesn’t seem to understand campaign regulations that say the moment you announce your intentions you have started your campaign.
Finally Some Truth
However, she did say something that I believe was true. She claimed to be doing her job to the best of her abilities. I absolutely believe that. The problem is, her abilities are so pathetically deficient that she has brought nothing but disgrace and shame to her office.
Barrientes-Vela did manage to throw out a little jab at KSAT 12’s Dillon Collier. I have no doubt she is unhappy with him. His excellent reporting has brought a lot of her wrong-doing to light. When Barrientes-Vela called her press conference in front of the courthouse she gave a wink and a smirk to Dillon Collier. Is anyone, besides me, wondering if Dillon laughed today as he winked back at her image on the video?