The Silsbee police chief is out of jail on bond following his arrest on a charge of public intoxication in the Texas Hill country.
Staff at the Gillespie County Jail tell our news partner KFDM News that according to jail records, 48-year-old James Shawn Keith Blackwell was arrested Monday by the Fredericksburg Police Department on a charge of public intoxication. They didn't provide details of the arrest.
Blackwell was released on a $500 surety bond, according to staff.
The charge is a Class C misdemeanor, like a ticket. If convicted, the maximum punishment is a fine of up to $500 and no jail time.
Blackwell was appointed Chief of the Silsbee Police Department in 2019. He also serves as the city's Emergency Management Coordinator.
Tuesday night, KFDM/Fox 4 spoke with Silsbee Mayor Danny Reneau.
"I'm not judging him," the mayor told us. "I like the guy."
The mayor said Chief Blackwell doesn't answer to him, but to the city manager. Reneau said he expects to talk with Chief Blackwell on Wednesday.
KFDM tried to reach out to Chief Blackwell for comment, but no answer.
https://www.kjas.com/news/local_news/article_fe6a8e59-7584-4a11-bfd9-ebdbf2785a65.html