Posted 10:03 am Thursday, February 02, 2012
UPDATE: Whitehouse Investigation Growing; Will Be Turned Over To Texas Rangers
Updated Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10:02 a.m. CST
Constable Dustin Rust said all findings from the investigation will be handed over to the Texas Rangers for further investigation.
"It's getting too big, and too many people are involved ... " Rust said. "There are more people of interest."
After reviewing the number of the people involved, there may be conflict of interest, Rust said, due to the fact that the Constable's office is professionally acquainted with many of the people.
--------------------------------------------------
"It's getting too big, and too many people are involved ... " Rust said. "There are more people of interest."
After reviewing the number of the people involved, there may be conflict of interest, Rust said, due to the fact that the Constable's office is professionally acquainted with many of the people.
--------------------------------------------------
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Two Whitehouse officials are under investigation for financial irregularities and other undisclosed allegations, Smith County Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust announced Wednesday.
Fire Chief Ronny Fite currently is being investigated for financial irregularities in the fire department's budget, along with issues from when he worked for the city, Rust said in a news release. Authorities also are investigating other allegations against Fite, who resigned as city manager in 2009 and was terminated from his position as fire marshal effective Jan. 31.
"There's been some money that hasn't been accurately accounted for," Rust said by phone. "We don't know what it's used for. We're still looking into it. Right now, we have a lot of documentation. We're going through that, and we're still receiving information."
He said his office is investigating Police Chief Rick Waller for acquiring fuel in his personal vehicle from city pumps. He was allegedly getting reimbursement from the city while using city fuel, according to a news release.
Waller will be placed on suspension by the city until findings are complete, the news release states.
"Because of the complexity of the case, we have focused on one charge out of several at this time. Due to the investigation and the evidence presented, the city of Whitehouse is going to place the police chief on suspension until the completion of the findings," Rust said in a prepared statement. "Once our case is complete, we will forward our findings on to the grand jury."
No charges have been filed, and the cases are still under investigation.
Fite did not return messages seeking comment.
Waller declined to comment on Wednesday, saying in an email, "This is all very new, (and) although I have not done anything wrong I would prefer to not make any comments at this time."
Rusk said Fite's investigation, which has been going on maybe five months, started after some fire staff members contacted the constable's office about missing funds.
"They contacted us and said 'Hey, something is not right,'" he said. "At the time, (Fite) was still employed as fire marshal. We started looking at those records too, and that's when we noticed discrepancies of fuel with (Waller)."
Rust said his office did not want to make the investigation public until it had what it believed was good evidence to support the allegations. "We try to make sure something is there before we tarnish someone's name. We submitted things to the (District Attorney's) Office along the way ... There's so much information still coming in," Rust said.
The city of Whitehouse is cooperating, Rust said in the news release.
"We're working with the DA's office. We want them to look over everything to make sure they feel the same way about it as we do ...
"I just hope we can get it done as quickly as possible with the least amount of detrimental publicity to those involved. My job is to look into it and if there's nothing there, we'll be sure to let people know
nothing's there."
