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Montgomery County Deputies Face Lawsuit for Intimidation

Montgomery County Deputies Face Lawsuit for Intimidation

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Lance Parsons has filed a federal lawsuit against three Montgomery County sheriff’s deputies, alleging wrongful arrest, intimidation, and violation of his Fourth Amendment rights. The complaint details events beginning on the evening of May 27, 2023, when deputies arrived at Parsons’ home in tactical gear, responding to a domestic dispute involving his son, Alexander Parsons. Authorities were informed that Alexander might have returned to his father’s home following a conflict with the mother of his children.

Though Parsons did not match his son’s description and was uninvolved in the altercation, he says deputies ordered him to the ground at gunpoint. Parsons recounts the intensity as officers—equipped with assault rifles and riot shields—detained him despite any evidence connecting him to the reported dispute. Deputies eventually left after detaining Alexander but returned soon after with a new accusation.

According to the complaint, deputies returned shortly after their initial departure, this time alleging that Parsons had taken a police shield that was left at the scene. At the time, Parsons was seated in his yard, still on the phone with law enforcement, complaining about deputies’ conduct during their first visit. He asserts he had not left his yard since they initially left, and despite his denials, Deputy Matthew Valdez, along with deputies Michael Aldrich and Collin Lankford, repeatedly accused him of stealing the shield. The complaint highlights that Valdez escalated the encounter with verbal threats, captured on body camera footage, where he allegedly stated, “You might beat this in court, but you’re gonna have to pay a whole lot of lawyer fees.” This statement is a focal point of the intimidation claims presented in the lawsuit.

When deputies failed to locate the missing shield, later found along a public trail, they searched Parsons’ property extensively.. Though they found no evidence linking Parsons to the shield, he was nevertheless detained in a patrol unit. Eventually he was released.

Parsons’ legal ordeal continued on June 28, 2023, when Valdez returned to his home with an arrest warrant, charging him with felony theft. The complaint asserts that Valdez remarked he had “found a judge who would approve a warrant” for Parsons’ arrest. This second arrest led to his detention in the Montgomery County Jail, where he claims he was denied access to his prescribed anxiety medication, exacerbating his stress and impacting his health. After posting bond, Parsons hired legal counsel to defend against what he describes as unfounded accusations.

On August 8, 2023, Parsons attended his first court appearance in the 359th Judicial District Court of Montgomery County, Texas, where he and his attorney learned the district attorney had declined to pursue charges, effectively dismissing the case. By this time, however, Parsons asserts the damage was done. He details economic losses due to bond payments, legal fees, and the loss of his job, in addition to experiencing significant emotional and physical stress, including heart-related complications.

In his complaint, Parsons argues the deputies acted “maliciously, intentionally, and with the express purpose of retaliating” against him. He asserts his arrest lacked probable cause and accuses the deputies of omitting critical information and fabricating parts of the arrest affidavit. Through this lawsuit, Parsons seeks compensatory and exemplary damages, citing the need for accountability. He requests punitive damages to deter similar actions by law enforcement in the future.


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