Attorney issues statement on behalf of district official following weekend arrest

BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – The attorney representing a Brazos County elected official who was arrested this weekend has provided KBTX with a statement, but details of the arrest by law enforcement have not yet been made public.

Brazos County District Clerk Gabriel Garcia was arrested by Bryan police and booked into the county jail early Saturday. He faces assault and domestic violence charges. He was released the same day on $5,000 bail.

Cameron Reynolds, an attorney with the law firm James, Reynolds, Spiegelhauer & Ask, shared this statement with KBTX on Sunday evening:

“I have known Gabriel Garcia for over forty years. I am very proud to represent Gabriel. Gabriel is a good man, a public servant and a community leader. On the night in question, Mr. Garcia was home in bed when an uninvited visitor showed up who had been drinking at a local bar. The visitor struck Mr. Garcia in the back of the head as he attempted to escort her off his property. Police were called and Mr. Garcia fully cooperated with their investigation. Police decided to arrest both Gabriel and the uninvited visitor. We have every intention of clearing Mr. Garcia's good name.”

Gabriel's arrest report has not been released by law enforcement, although most probable cause statements in Brazos County are released to the media within 24 hours of an arrest. A Bryan police spokesman could only confirm Saturday that the arrest occurred, but did not know when the report would be available for review.

According to multiple sources, the woman arrested along with Garcia was also booked into the county jail on Saturday on the same charge and released later that day on $5,000 bail. KBTX is not releasing her identity at this time as she has not yet been officially identified by police.

The 56-year-old's status as county clerk is unclear, but Brazos County Judge Duane Peters issued the following statement Saturday afternoon:

“Brazos County officials are aware of the arrest of County Clerk Gabriel Garcia. An indictment against an elected official is deeply concerning, but because this is a legal matter, we cannot comment on specifics at this time. The County Clerk's office is fully staffed and will continue to provide professional customer service. We will provide more information as it becomes available.”

Garcia was re-elected to his position as Brazos County Clerk in 2022.

The county clerk is elected in a county-wide election to a four-year term. His office is responsible for filing, recording and storing all papers and documents related to criminal cases, misdemeanors, family cases, juvenile cases, tax cases and civil cases with a value in controversy over $500. The county clerk's office also collects fees, fines and court costs and administers any funds withheld in court proceedings in these cases.

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