Authorities in Galveston are investigating an incident involving a gate attendant at Stewart Beach who allegedly used a personal device to charge a beachgoer twice for parking improperly. The 18-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged with misdemeanor theft.
Following an alleged incident in which a beachgoer was charged twice for entry, sparking an internal assessment and rapid police action, a gate attendant at Stewart Beach was charged with theft.
The case began early Tuesday, according to the Galveston Police Department, when a customer complained that they had been charged $30 for a $15 parking pass and requested a refund from the Galveston Park Board. The attendant allegedly used a personal payment device rather than the city's official processing system, according to Park Board staff who reviewed the transaction.
The following morning, officials contacted the police, and detectives, working in conjunction with Park Board leadership, initiated an investigation immediately. By the end of the day, the authorities had obtained an arrest warrant for Luke Perez, an 18-year-old resident of Galveston. They arrested Perez and charged him with a Class C misdemeanor theft of less than $50.
The inquiry is still ongoing as authorities attempt to determine whether similar incidents may have occurred, despite Park Board employees believing this was an isolated incident.
Police Chief Doug Balli emphasized the importance of public trust and accountability in public sector operations by saying, "It was important that we ensured that it stopped today."
In a statement, interim Park Board CEO Marty Miles expressed displeasure and reaffirmed his commitment to working fully with law enforcement. We regret to inform you of the suspected misuse of a Park Board gate attendant's credit card. We contacted the Galveston Police Department to initiate an investigation as soon as we became aware of the incident.
Galveston police investigators are asking anyone with knowledge about the event to call them at 409-765-3628.
For quickly reporting the problem and helping in the investigation, the Park Board has received praise from the Galveston Police Department.
