Dispute over alleged boat theft leads to lawsuit

GALVESTON - A League City man alleges his boat was illegally seized two years ago and has filed a lawsuit.

In court documents filed Aug. 30 in Galveston County District Court, Glenn L. Kingham blames the cities of El Lago, Kemah and League City for their respective police departments' alleged failure to retrieve the vessel from individuals Kingham claims to not know.

According to the suit, around 12:30 p.m., Sept. 5, 2011, three unidentified persons approached the boat at its anchorage location at The Wharf in League City. The suit states that two of the persons got on board and proceeded to drive it away. The boat proceeded under the Seabrook/Kemah bridge before ending up at a restaurant called Outriggers Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar, according to the suit.

Kingham claims he spotted the vessel at the restaurant from the top of the bridge and called authorities.

He says Matthew Louis Macik, a Kemah police officer, and those from the Clear Lake Shores Police Department later "strong-armed (him) away" from the vessel, which was reportedly turned over to SeaTow of Galveston.

According to the original petition, El Lago, Kemah and League City had waterborne police patrols along the boat's route, and Macik, who is not a defendant in the litigation, allegedly knew two of the accused thieves.

David C. Clements, SeaTow and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department are also on the list of defendants since they allegedly contributed to the incident by "falsely transferring the title through fraudulent government documents," the suit states.

Kingham argues he was falsely arrested for "victimless allegations" in connection with "trying to protect my property."

A jury trial is requested.

The plaintiff is representing himself, and Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.

Case No. 13-CV-1147