HOUSTON — A Grimes County professional auctioneer is suing Grimes County and Montgomery County law enforcement officials, alleging false arrest and malicious prosecution.
Israel Curtis filed a complaint March 14 in the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas against Montgomery County Sheriff Donald Sowell, former county sheriff Tommy Gage, sheriff department officials Joseph Sclider, David Cook, Alton Neely, and district attorney Tuck McLain, alleging violation of the Fourth, Fifth and 14th Amendment rights.
According to the complaint, on June 27, 2015, as a result the unlawful seizure of 56 vehicles Curtis was about to auction, the plaintiff lost tens of thousands of dollars that he would have earned, his reputation has been damaged and his auction business collapsed.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants unlawfully arrested and prosecuted him without probable cause to believe that Curtis was engaged in an organized criminal activity or any of the other crimes for which he was charged.
Curtis seeks trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees and legal costs, plus all other equitable relief. He is represented by attorneys Ty Clevenger in New York and by John T. Quinn of Bryan.
Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas Case number 4:17-cv-00810