BEAUMONT, Texas — The district attorney's office in Orange County will not pursue a case against an Orange County constable accused of pulling a gun at his home in front of children and threatening suicide in late November.
Vidor Police Officers were sent to the home of Orange County Precinct Four Constable Matt Ortego after his ex-wife called police just after 1 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 according to an incident report from Vidor Police.
Ortego's ex-wife told police dispatchers that night that her daughter had called her crying, saying that Ortego had pulled a gun according to a Vidor Police incident report.
“We are refusing the case,” Krsipen Walker, an Orange County assistant district attorney, told 12News Friday morning.
“No evidence exists that he threatened anyone other than himself that night,” Walker said on Friday.
Ortego’s ex-wife had told police that Ortego had threatened to shoot her daughter and other children who were at the home according to the Vidor Police report.
"We are grateful for the careful review by law enforcement and the DA which concluded what we already know that no crime occurred on November 26th," Ortego’s attorney, Corey Crenshaw said in a statement released on Friday.
"Constable Ortego sincerely regrets his actions which were the result of consuming too much alcohol and being a threat only to himself," Crenshaw said in the statement.
"While mental health professionals discharged Ortego after determining that he does not have any mental illness, he has voluntarily decided to seek treatment for his drinking and is dedicated to living a life of sobriety moving forward," he also said in the statement.
Vidor Police forwarded the results of their investigation to the district attorney’s office last week.
“To the best of our knowledge" investigators have interviewed everyone who was at the home at the time of the incident and found that no child or adult was threatened other than a threat Ortego made toward himself according to a statement released Sunday, Dec. 3, by Ortego’s attorney, Corey Crenshaw.
Ortego was threatening suicide with a gun at his Vidor home, Carroll told 12News previously.
A little over an hour after officers arrived at the home that Sunday they took Ortego to Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont the police incident report said.
Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll told 12News that Ortego had been transferred to a hospital for a mental health crisis after the incident.
“Constable Ortego immediately entered a mental health facility where he remains for treatment by health professionals,” Crenshaw said in the Dec. 3 statement.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
Read the full statement released by Ortego's attorney...
Following a thorough investigation by the Vidor Police Department and a review by the Orange County District Attorney, today we can confirm that no charges will be filed in this matter. We are grateful for the careful review by law enforcement and the DA which concluded what we already know that no crime occurred on November 26th. Constable Ortego sincerely regrets his actions which were the result of consuming too much alcohol and being a threat only to himself. While mental health professionals discharged Ortego after determining that he does not have any mental illness, he has voluntarily decided to seek treatment for his drinking and is dedicated to living a life of sobriety moving forward. Again, Constable Ortego sincerely apologizes to his family, friends, supporters and all citizens of Orange County for his actions. We demand better of our elected officials and Ortego understands that rebuilding that trust will not be easy and will not happen for everyone. Constable Ortego and his team remain committed to their mission of serving and protecting the citizens of Orange County. Any change in his Ortego’s decision to seek re-election will be released at a later time.
GET NEWS & WEATHER ALERTS | Download the 12News App to your mobile device