Former Seadrift Police Chief let go for "dereliction of duties"

SEADRIFT - Some details surrounding the firing of former police chief Marie Carisalez have been released according to a report by The Port Lavaca Wave.

The report states that the city council conducted an investigation led by councilwoman Tracey Johnson that resulted in the council's belief that Carisalez may have allegedly not performed her expected duties.

According to The Port Lavaca Wave, Johnson's memo to the council on her investigation led her to conclude that the former police chief would face the level one complaint, 'dereliction of duties.'

The complaint came following alleged threats of a violent and sexual nature towards a 10-year-old child in Seadrift City limits. According to Carisalez, there was a memorandum of understanding created with the Calhoun County Sheriff's Department to allow the county department to carry on with the case in place of Seadrift PD.

According to The Port Lavaca Wave, Sheriff Bobbie Vickery claimed that there was no memorandum of understanding and that the only reason CCSO took over the case was because of their belief that Carisalez's response was "nonchalant and disinterested."

In documents acquire through an open records request by the publication and shared with Crossroads Today, the communication between Carisalez and CCSO showed that there were a few examples of investigator deputies reaching out to the former chief during the investigation and was not able to collaborate with her.

Carisalez was allegedly not available to visit the Sheriff's Office on two occasions, one where she suffered from a headache and another following the passing of her dog in which she left to console her daughter who found the deceased pet.

The investigator expressed frustration in her desire to collaborate on the case in which she claims was not reciprocated. The original complaint and following investigation by city council led to their belief that Carisalez was derelict in her duties which led to her release.

According to The Port Lavaca Wave, the case is still under investigation at the CCSO. The names of the investigator and the child subject were not released due to the nature of the alleged crimes.

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