MC District Attorney Honors Officers for Fight Against Vehicular Crime

CONROE, TX -- The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office hosted the 2024 Vehicular Crimes Awards this past Thursday in Conroe. The awards ceremony honors law enforcement officers and local agencies, as well as community partners, who made exceptional contributions to combat impaired driving in Montgomery County in 2024. District Attorney Brett W. Ligon made the presentations to the award winners, while Vehicular Crimes Chief Prosecutor Taylor Vanegas MC’d the event.

During his remarks Mr. Ligon spoke about the dangerous reputation Montgomery County had in the past on its roads and area waters, and how dangerous they were with alcohol impaired vehicle operators. So Ligon and his team started looking into predictive modeling finding out where and when incidents were mostly likely to happen. By adopting advanced modeled law enforcement, Ligon’s approach was to encourage law enforcement entities to make officers more visible in the trouble areas, or choke points. By having officers posted on roadsides, and being seen by drivers its forces reduced speed choices by vehicle operators, and with speed being the leading cause of accidents, it has been making a difference. For the DA, the goal is prevention of serious injuries or death on Montgomery County roads and waterways. Gone are the days, where officers were tricky in pulling over drivers.

“No one likes a police officer who hides behind a bridge or billboard, and waits for a speeder to drive by,” said Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon. “The number one factor of a fatality in an accident is speed, and the best deterrence to its prevention is the visibility of an officer.”

Ligon then addressed ‘No Refusal Weekends,’ and how committed Montgomery County is to reducing vehicular crimes, and he expressed his philosophy towards those he prosecutes in no uncertain terms. Brett is amongst the nicest and most respectful men in Montgomery County, but if you do wrong against the law, especially when it comes to vehicular crimes on No Refusal Weekends, Ligon noted, “It’s open, it’s obvious, and it’s hostile,” when his team walks into the courtroom.

“I’ll tell you what’s gonna happen, when it’s gonna happen, and then I’m gonna make it happen,” said the District Attorney in getting the word out on No Refusal weekends. He reminded those in attendance of the The Sedlmeier Family who were killed on SH 105 in September 2015, by an impaired driver, Ronald Cooper, a doctor driving under the influence of pills at the time.

Mr. Ligon praised the heads of all law enforcement agencies around the county, thanking them for their dedication to duty and for being a positive source for reducing impaired drivers on Montgomery County roads and waterways. He specifically thanked Texas Parks and Wildlife for their efforts in combating intoxicated boaters, and for working with his office to make the county’s waterways safer.

Vehicular Crimes Chief Prosecutor Taylor Vanegas thanked his Vehicular Crimes Call-Out Team, those assistant prosecutors not necessarily dedicated to his team, but from other disciplines in the District Attorney’s office. The team members sign up to answer calls from all hours of the night, to drive out to where fatalities happen in Montgomery County, and process the scene from the DA’s standpoint to enhance the investigation as is necessary. He also commended his No Refusal Team, noting the importance of the blood draws, so that justice can be dispensed as quickly as possible.

“Every single weekend in Montgomery County is a No Refusal Weekend,” said Vanegas. “That’s because we have personnel in the DA’s office, and independent contractor blood-drawers who come and work with us from 10pm - 4am every weekend and holiday period.”

Vanegas also noted the DRE’s, or officers who have been trained as Drug Recognition Experts. They are officers, who are able to take part in DWI cases involving drugs. The Vehicular Crimes Chief, noted that in recent years, there was a shortage of DRE’s, but officers in multiple agencies across the county have stepped up and been trained in the past year.

“All officers are authorized to investigate alcohol DWI’s and make arrests,’ said Vanegas. “But drug DWI’s are a special case, and we have made great strides in bringing more officers on to investigate these types of crimes.”

For 2024 Exemplary DWI Officers, this award recognizes an officer that has led the fight against impaired driving by enhancing their skills with training, leading their agencies in DWI enforcement, or playing key roles in DWI initiatives. Conroe PD Officer Stephen Carni and Splendora PD Officer Corporal Ronnie Culberth, received honorable mentions in this category in 2023, but for 2024, were noted as Exemplary, along with Oak Ridge North PD Officer Zachary Castanon, Pct 2 Constable Deputy Dustin Gaona, Magnolia PD Officer Justin Habhab, and Pct 4 Constable Deputy Saul Mendez.

The DWI Officer of the Year for 2024 is Deputy Joseph O’Neill, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. The award recognizes an officer who admirably performs above and beyond the call of duty to protect the public from intoxicated drivers. O’Neill was DWI Officer of the Year for 2024, and was an honorable mention in 2022, and in the last three years has made well over 400 DWI arrests.

The 2024 DWI Agency of the Year is the Montgomery County Pct 4 Constable’s Office. The award recognizes a law enforcement agency that makes the prevention and enforcement of impaired driving a priority, and dedicates resources to vehicular investigations, and implements programs to raise awareness about impaired driving and increased enforcement efforts. Constable Kenneth Hayden, and Deputy Saul Mendez were on hand to accept the recognition. Pct 4 was an honorable mention for 2023 in the category. They filed 334 DWI cases in 2024, and nine deputies in the office had more than a dozen DWI arrests, with several deputies having over 30 arrests.

For Vehicular Crimes Investigator of the Year in 2024, the award recognizes an officer(s) who have performed exceptionally in major vehicular crimes investigations involving serious bodily injury or death. Vanegas recognized Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden Brannon Meinkowsky (Montgomery County), and Game Warden Patricia Vannoy (Chambers County); for their 2021 investigation of a boat that smashed into the Walden Golf course causing the death of one passenger, and several injuring several others. Since the case was resolved in 2024, the wardens were eligible for the award.

The Public Service Award, which is an award that recognizes a non-law enforcement individual, organization, or business that has made a substantial contribution to impaired driving enforcement efforts or vehicular crimes investigations. This year's recipient is Susan Martin, of The Woodlands Township, who was recognized for making a difference in organizing events that target youth in the county about the dangers and consequences of driving while intoxicated. Martin also was instrumental in a press conference in 2024 involving safe summer driving.

Vanegas called on Montgomery County law enforcement agencies to continue their dedicated service to fighting vehicular crimes, and remain vigilant in the cause.

Photo: Vehicular Crimes Chief Prosecutor Taylor Vanegas, left, and Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon, right, flank officers who received exemplary awards in the fight against DWI’s, LtoR: Conroe PD Officer Stephen Carni, Splendora PD Officer Corporal Ronnie Culberth, Oak Ridge North PD Officer Zachary Castanon, Pct 2 Constable Deputy Dustin Gaona, Magnolia PD Officer Justin Habhab, and Pct 4 Constable Deputy Saul Mendez.