December 31, 2024 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department reported responding to a disturbance at Williams Landing Sunday, August 11, 2024, on County Road 3490 in the Joaquin area regarding a criminal mischief incident. The report from the Sheriff's Department indicated deputies found that there was an issue between numerous individuals on the property and Shelby County Constable Precinct 3 Roy Cheatwood.
The Sheriff's Department also noted a lawsuit between the Williams family and Constable Cheatwood involving a dispute over land. According to the Sheriff's Department, there were numerous allegations made of criminal conduct against the Williams family members over tampering with a water well, and allegations of Official oppression on Constable Cheatwood.
With such allegations involving an elected official, the Sheriff's Department referred the case to the Texas Rangers to conduct an investigation.
In early September, four individuals were arrested as the result of an investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers, and those arrested include Gabriel Lamar Williams, 48, for two charges of criminal mischief, misdemeanor a; and one charge of evading arrest, state jail felony; Pamela Stotts Barnes, 63, criminal mischief, misdemeanor a; Levarie Stotts Cloudy, 67, criminal mischief, misdemeanor a; and Rosalind Lee Stotts, 65, criminal mischief, misdemeanor a.
The affidavit was initially sealed via a motion made by District Attorney Karren Price and was unavailable to the public.
After the release of the affidavit, the following information was revealed. Ranger James Hicks was requested by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department to investigate incidents occurring on August 12, 2024, at Well #2 located off CR 3490 in Joaquin. This was due to owners of land turning off water supply to several residents and camps in the community of Williams’ Landing, and a dispute between the individuals and Constable Roy Cheatwood.
In the affidavit, Ranger Hicks stated he believed that Gabriel Williams, Pamela Barnes, Levarie Cloudy and Rosalind Stotts, who are part owners of Williams Landing, were aware that the well identified as Well #2 serves multiple residences and camps. They planned among each other and encouraged and assisted each other in turning Well #2 off, which, they were aware interrupted service and denied water to residents. It also stated he believed the facts show Gabriel Williams operated a motor vehicle when he evaded arrest or detention by Constable Roy Cheatwood.
According to information in the affidavit, Barnes, Stotts, Williams and Cloudy initially shut down the well on August 9, 2024, placed a door on the well house and locked it as they left a note on the well house stating, “Due to undetermined leak, this well is off until further notice, signed by Pamela Barnes, dated 08-09-2024.”
Ranger Hicks reviewed in-car cameras and body cam and dash cam footage from Shelby County Sheriff Deputies, as well as Constable Cheatwood, and according to the affidavit he interviewed residents, campers, and those accused as a result of his investigation.
Ranger Hicks interviewed Williams and Stotts who gave corroborating statements that they were at the well site with Barnes and Cloudy on August 10, 2024. While Williams had been there on August 9, with Cloudy and Barnes, and only Williams was there on August 11, 2024. According to the affidavit, Williams, Barnes and Cloudy decided to turn off the well on August 9.
Ranger Hicks reported in the affidavit having viewed a Facebook post under Pamela Barnes’ profile which stated “Gabriel had to run from Cheatwood who was in his county vehicle.” The post had a photo from a Moultree mobile camera and was time date stamped August 11, 2024. Hicks was informed there were cameras at the entrance of Williams Landing. According to the affidavit, Ranger Hicks viewed another deputy dash camera video in which Gabriel Williams tells the deputy that he ran from Constable Cheatwood to avoid being arrested by him. Williams also stated he was responsible for the well and was going to turn off the electricity. Also identified in that video were Pamela Barnes, Rosalind Stotts, and Levarie Cloudy.
According to the affidavit, when Ranger Hicks spoke with Rosalind Stotts, she told him that on August 10, 2024, Barnes, Williams, Cloudy and herself were at the well which she identified as Well #2. Stotts stated Cheatwood had cut their lock and turned the well back on, she said that Williams disabled the pump by removing a part before he placed another lock on the well. Stotts was informed on August 11, 2024 Williams and Cheatwood had an altercation at the well.
The affidavit indicates Roy Cheatwood, who identified himself as an owner of 10 acres of undivided interest in the Williams Landing estate, and others at the property cut the lock on the well house, repaired a leak and turned the well back on. Williams returned to the well on August 10, 2024 at around 5pm and, according to the affidavit, upon discovering the well had been turned back on he contacted Barnes, Stotts and Cloudy. They all then decided to turn the well off once again and disable it, so it couldn't be turned back on. After disabling the well, they put a lock on the well once again and left.
Cheatwood was called back to the well on the morning of August 11, 2024, and according to the affidavit it was discovered the well had been damaged including the pump points, starter mechanism and wiring which had been torn up. A pipe outside the well house had also been dug up and broken outside the well house. Cheatwood cut off the new lock and repaired the well with two other residents, one of which was an electrician, and they turned the well back on. They also discovered, behind a dilapidated mobile home, a faucet was in the on position allowing water to run, they turned it off and the well was stabilized.
Mid-afternoon on Sunday, August 11, 2024, Williams returned to Well #2 and, according to the affidavit, stated that he observed Constable Roy Cheatwood in his constable pickup truck. Williams saw Cheatwood turn on his lights, but believed that if Constable Cheatwood had a legal reason to stop him, then Cheatwood would not have sat and watched him for so long. The affidavit further states Williams admitted to eluding Cheatwood and fleeing from the Williams Landing area.
Due in part to the official capacity of Roy Cheatwood as a constable, the Texas Rangers were contacted to investigate the circumstances at Williams Landing. The resulting arrest of the four individuals, and the content of the affidavit do not suggest any wrongdoing on Constable Cheatwood's part relating to the issue with the well.
There remains a civil action between Cheatwood and the descendants of the original owners of Williams Landing involving ownership.
