A Harris County sheriff’s deputy was jailed during Galveston’s Lone Star Rally, accused of driving drunk and running from officers on his motorcycle.
Story Snapshot
- Galveston County officials identified the deputy as Cedric Walter, 29, of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
- He is accused of driving while intoxicated, evading arrest with a vehicle and resisting arrest.
- His bonds totaled $12,500, and he was released after posting bond.
- The Harris County Sheriff’s Office placed him on administrative leave, according to reports.
What Officials Say Happened
Walter was arrested overnight from Friday, November 6, into Saturday, November 7, around 2 a.m., in the 7000 block of the Gulf Freeway, according to the Galveston County Jail. Galveston County authorities tried to pull him over, and he allegedly fled on his motorcycle, according to reports. He was booked into the Galveston County Jail on three charges.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the arrest and confirmed that Walter works as a Harris County deputy. A state law enforcement licensing record also lists him as a deputy with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Officials have not released why officers first tried to stop him, or any breath or blood test result.
The Charges And His Release
Walter faces three charges: driving while intoxicated, known as DWI; evading arrest or detention with a vehicle; and resisting arrest, search or transport. Evading with a vehicle means driving away from an officer who is lawfully trying to stop or detain you.
His bond was set at $10,000 for evading arrest, $1,500 for DWI and $1,000 for resisting arrest, for a total of $12,500, according to the sheriff’s office. Bond is money paid so a person can leave jail while the case moves forward. Walter posted bond and was released Saturday morning. He is accused, not convicted, and the charges must be proven in court.
The Sheriff’s Office Response
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office has placed Walter on administrative leave, according to reports. Administrative leave keeps an officer off the job while a case or internal review moves ahead. Beyond that, the office had not shared more information about the arrest as of Saturday, November 7.
Walter has not made a public statement, and no lawyer for him has been named in reports. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office has not released an arrest report or an officer’s account of the stop.
A Busy Weekend For Police
The Lone Star Rally is a huge yearly motorcycle event that fills Galveston Island with riders. Organizers expected more than 250,000 motorcycles, and Galveston police and the Texas Department of Public Safety stepped up patrols for the crowds, according to reports.
Drunk driving arrests are a regular part of rally weekends. During the 2024 rally, Galveston police logged 897 calls for service and eight DWI arrests, city records show. What makes this case stand out is who was arrested. Deputies are sworn to enforce the same laws Walter is accused of breaking, and the public expects officers to be held to the same standard as everyone else.
Sources:
fox26houston.com, click2houston.com, abc13.com, qz.com, galvestontx.gov
