LV dismisses citizen’s complaint against police chief

By ALEXANDREA BAILEY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com

Rendi Gonzales, the Town of Laguna Vista City Manager dismissed a citizen’s complaint against its Chief of Police, citing “a personal verbal attack” at a public Town Council Meeting.

On May 13, 2024, Laguna Vista citizen and former political candidate for town commissioner Natalie Ruiz filed a citizens complaint against the Laguna Vista Chief of Police Tony David alleging that she was publicly humiliated in an attempt to damage her reputation at the April 9, 2024 LV Town Council Meeting.
Ruiz claims she was “a target of his unsubstantiated rage” when David spoke during the meeting, accusing Ruiz of lying about a prior incident between the two.

“Mrs. Ruiz, I never even laid a hand on you. I never touched you. I don’t know what your motivation is…But I can’t believe a word that comes out of your mouth,” said David, addressing Ruiz at the meeting. The meeting can be
viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZqgTOC6uTk with David’s speech beginning at 6:18.

For some background, David referenced an incident that occurred between the two at a previous town council meeting on Oct. 18, 2023.

The video for this meeting can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s896FUnzP3w , however, the image freezes at 18:58, when the incident began, but the audio continues. The security footage for this incident, lacking audio, is available for viewing at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJwUl92PgWM with the incident beginning at 20:29.

Together, these videos depict Ruiz being granted permission by the Town Mayor Michael Carter to speak on the closing of a local health clinic, then David interrupting her, approaching her and attempting to remove a folder from her hand while trying to prevent her from speaking.

“Immediately when I began speaking and referring to a folder of information which I held in my left hand, the Chief sprung into action to immediately confront me in my personal space, telling me that I was being disruptive and to be quiet and to stop interrupting the meeting,” Ruiz stated in her complaint. “His hands were flailing all around my person in a deliberate manner as if trying to grab the folder I was holding in my left hand. He invaded my personal space to the point that I could smell his breath and his physical presence in my personal space made contact with my person,” Ruiz’s complaint continued to read.

LV City Manager Gonzales dismissed Ruiz’s complaint on May 23, 2024.
“Regarding your allegations concerning October 2023, upon review of the video footage of the meeting you identified, I have found nothing to support the alleged acts you described. I have therefore determined that your allegations are unsubstantiated,” stated Gonzales. Regarding the incident occurring at the April 2024 meeting, Gonzales stated, “I find nothing that violates any Laguna Vista workplace rule.”

Ruiz has not filed a complaint with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement [TCOLE]. According to TCOLE, Ruiz’s complaint would be considered non-jurisdictional and the commission would not have the authority to investigate it, as there was no violation of the law or rule relating to licensing, training, certification or appointment. TCOLE advises to take unanswered or mishandled non-jurisdictional complaints to the local governing body that oversees the agency. In this case, that would be the city manager. However, it was decided by City Manager Gonzalez that the file on Ruiz’s complaint would stay closed without further action.

The PRESS reached out to Ruiz for a comment on the dismissal of her complaint.

“It is disappointing that the city management doesn’t seem to take citizens’ concerns seriously, but instead seems to adopt a position of dismissiveness,” said Ruiz.

Ruiz told the PRESS she has no plans of pursuing any legal action against the Town of Laguna Vista or the LVPD. The PRESS reached out for comment from Gonzalez and David and have yet to receive a response.