COFFEE CITY, Texas — The former Coffee City chief of police was indicted on six felony charges Wednesday after an investigation revealed that he allegedly tampered with government records.
CBS19's sister station, KHOU, investigated JohnJay Portillo's previous criminal background and unethical hiring methods of other law enforcement officers with unclean backgrounds back in late August.
When the Henderson County District Attorney's Office revealed the charges, Portillo immediately turned himself in to the Henderson County Jail. Sheriff Botie Hillhouse said he saw this coming and was anticipating the release of the indictments from a grand jury.
Hillhouse couldn't speak much on the details of the multiple felonies and says that the investigation is being conducted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. (TCOLE)
Hillhouse says his deputies have stepped up by assisting any emergency calls in Coffee City since the city council decided to fire Portillo and dissolve their entire police force in September.
"We are still helping, we're covering their city council meetings and we're also covering bailiff in their court system for them right now," Hillhouse said. "They're still kind of up in the air as to what their future holds in the City of Coffee City as far as law enforcement."
Coffee City mayor Jeff Blackstone says they are trying to finalize the deactivation of their police department and are still tying up loose ends. He says it’s been a long three months and, as of Wednesday, the council is not considering bringing the department back. The city is in the process of selling off their police units.
"We agreed to move forward with trying to find a source to help us sell the cars," Blackstone said. "We did find one outfitter that works with Smith County and Tyler. With city governments you always have to try to get two, so we're working to try to find another company that we can just kind of get a second opinion."
Prior to the arrest, Portillo filed to run for Harris County Precinct 3 Constable. The election is set to take place in March 2024.
"With it being as extreme as it is right now it's been pretty difficult and stressful," Blackstone said. "I'm just looking forward to the closure that we're gonna get once these indictments do come down, and we can just start moving forward in a positive way for the city."
On Wednesday, Portillo went through the booking process and was released on a $150,000 bond.