FORT STOCKTON, Tx (KOSA) — Police Chief Ryan Skelton is no longer employed by the City of Fort Stockton, according to the Fort Stockton Pioneer – which spoke with City Manager Frank Rodriguez III.
Rodriguez would not share any other details saying he couldn’t discuss personnel matters.
Skelton was under fire recently by some in the community after Michael Garza was hit by a truck in a car wash parking lot back in April. Garza later died from head injuries.
As of this week, the police department had not arrested or charged the driver of the truck, nor would they identify him. Skelton told CBS7 repeatedly that he had turned the investigation over to the district attorney, who would let a grand jury decide if charges should be filed.
In May, Skelton explained in a statement why a suspect had not been identified. In it he wrote, “As standard practice, we use three guidelines to determine when a suspect’s identity is immediately published; 1) an affidavit is filed, or an arrest is made, 2) the eminent threat to public safety is present or 3) the eminent threat to the protection of property is present.”
CBS7 made repeated calls to District Attorney Laurie English’s office. She refused to call us back.
On Saturday, June 1, Garza’s family held a protest in Fort Stockton, demanding answers from Skelton and English. They said they had been kept in the dark ever since the night Garza was hit..
Stay with CBS7 for more on this breaking story.
