Truck driver sues cities of Clute, Pasadena over 'false and bogus' arrest

HOUSTON - A truck driver from Hamilton County has filed a lawsuit in response to what he calls a "false and bogus" arrest, recent court documents say.

Darrell Nelson's suit, filed May 15 in Houston federal court, blames the cities of Pasadena and Clute as well as Clute police officer Claude Edwards for the subject incident last year.

Nelson explains that he was legally at his place of employment in Pasadena in the early morning hours of Aug. 16, 2012, when Edwards "suddenly and unexpectedly" approached him.

Edwards, who apparently knew Nelson and provided additional security at the jobsite, subsequently "attacked the plaintiff and subjected him to several electrical charges by deploying a city-issued Taser belonging to the city of Clute on the plaintiff," the suit says.

The original petition adds that Edwards summoned Pasadena police afterwards, stating the officers took the complainant into custody on alleged public intoxication.

According to Nelson, the apprehension was unlawful since he "was on private property with permission from the owner in an area behind a locked gate that was not open to the public."

The criminal charge was later dropped.

Consequently, the plaintiff seeks unspecified monetary damages and a jury trial.

He is represented by attorney Paul H. LaValle of the Law Offices of Paul Houston LaValle & Associates P.C. in Texas City.

Case No. 4:13-CV-1417