WALLER COUNTY, TX — Calls for sweeping change are once again ringing out in Waller County.
The latest troubling controversy centers on Glenn Smith – the same sheriff, running the same jail, where Sandra Bland committed suicide.
The focus now is on allegations by a female inmate, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a male inmate allowed access to her quarters in the jail.
“If one woman was easily able to be assaulted, and they didn’t even know that it had happened until she reported it, then we don’t know how many women have been assaulted in this jail.”
Waller County commissioners have called for Sheriff Smith’s resignation, as did the county judge and district attorney.
But Smith says “no,” offering instead “drastic” change and firing five jailers to show he means business.
The gesture was good enough to buy time from Judge Trey Duhon and top prosecutor Elton Mathis.
Community activists and critics called the reversal collusion.
“They are all corrupt, they are all corrupt and all three need to go!”
In addition to the rape allegation and the suspicious death of Bland, Smith is under fire for losing a small arsenal – including a county-owned machine gun, which was mysteriously stolen from his parked vehicle.
Speaking to Fox 26, Smith said he’s hired a deeply experienced jail administration to overhaul operation of the tragedy-plagued jail. He also predicted a soon-to-be-released audit of county weapons will clear him of wrongdoing.
His critics believe if that’s the outcome, it’s further proof of Waller County corruption.
“We will be back here in three months for something having to do with improprieties in the county jail.”
“I know that DA Elton Mathis has said he wants to give Sheriff Smith another chance, but how many chances does this man deserve?”