Former Galveston police officer Jared Rivas has been indicted on eight charges, including injury to a child and unlawful restraint, following allegations of assaulting multiple individuals at a children's pool party in June. Families are pursuing legal action against Rivas and others.
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Eight counts have been brought against former Galveston police officer Jared Rivas in connection with an alleged assault that occurred at a kid's pool party in June. A grand jury returned two indictments for child injury, one for unlawful child restraint, one for official oppression, four for assault resulting in bodily harm, and one for third-degree felony.
The district attorney's office for Galveston County declared that they will work to set a trial date as soon as feasible while upholding due process and justice. A probe into the event is still ongoing, but Rivas was fired from the Galveston Police Department. In addition to Rivas, the families of those involved in the altercation are pursuing legal action against other parties.
Video footage from the event seems to show Rivas interfering at the Island Bay Resort apartments after becoming more aggressive.
The event can be seen on camera, with Rivas stepping in at the Island Bay Resort apartments and reportedly inciting a brawl that resulted in several people being assaulted and pinned. Families allege that Galveston police officers present at the scene did not step in to stop Rivas's behavior. The police department's handling of the incident was criticized by civil rights lawyer Randall L. Kallinen, who said that unchecked police abuses only damage law enforcement's reputation.
Families have reported to the Island Bay Resort management and are contemplating legal action against UTMB Hospital in addition to taking legal action against Rivas. They claim that staff denied treatment to injured children after discovering their involvement in the incident. Regarding ongoing legal proceedings, neither UTMB nor the Galveston Police Department will comment.
"I want to thank the Galveston County District Attorney's office and FBI for their efforts to see justice done," said one victim in appreciation of the indictment.
