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Former GPD officer appears in court on felony charges
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(FILE PHOTO | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Austin Lawrence while he was serving as a K-9 handler with Graham Police Department. Lawrence has since been dismissed from the department and has been indicted on a charge of tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.
Former Graham Police Department K-9 officer Austin Lawrence appeared in court Monday. Lawrence was scheduled to appear in the 90th Judicial District Court on a plea negotiation docket as he faces charges of tampering or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair, after being indicted in August.
Lawrence did not speak during the hearing. He is now expected to make a plea in court Tuesday, March 8 at 1 p.m. at the Young County Courthouse.
According to a release from 90th Judicial District Assistant District Attorney Phillip Gregory in December, the investigation started after a separate arrest by a different GPD officer.
“In June 2021, a female was arrested by officers of the Graham Police Department,” the release states. “During that arrest, the female arrestee made various statements about potentially illegal activities conducted by former Graham Police Department K-9 Officer Austin Lawrence. At the request of Graham Police Department officials, the Texas Rangers Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated those allegations. Upon completion of that investigation, the matter was presented to the grand jury for indictment.”
For the full story, see the Wednesday, March 2 edition of The Graham Leader.
