Charges dropped in river rescue incident
Date of Release: 07/08/2005
Texas State University Police have dropped charges against Dave Newman after his arrest July 3 for interference with public duties at an emergency water rescue scene at Spring Lake Dam on the San Marcos River.
University President Denise Trauth and San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz released the following joint statement:
Mr. Newman was arrested because of his refusal to comply first with pleas, then requests, and then orders to leave the river after his rescue of Mr. Duamni.
However, Mr. Newman did perform a heroic act, and we believe the proper course of action is to drop the charges.
We want to emphasize to the public that the area around the Spring Lake Dam can be dangerous. It claimed the life of a young man as recently as last April and it has been the site of six emergency water rescues since that time. We cannot overstate the importance of heeding the many warning signs posted in the area and using extreme caution when swimming there.
We also want to re-emphasize to the public the importance of following the directives of police and fire and rescue personnel when they are on the scene of an emergency.
We are forming a university-community committee immediately to explore steps we can take to make this swimming area safer for the public.
Texas State University Police have dropped charges against Dave Newman after his arrest July 3 for interference with public duties at an emergency water rescue scene at Spring Lake Dam on the San Marcos River.
University President Denise Trauth and San Marcos Mayor Susan Narvaiz released the following joint statement:
Mr. Newman was arrested because of his refusal to comply first with pleas, then requests, and then orders to leave the river after his rescue of Mr. Duamni.
However, Mr. Newman did perform a heroic act, and we believe the proper course of action is to drop the charges.
We want to emphasize to the public that the area around the Spring Lake Dam can be dangerous. It claimed the life of a young man as recently as last April and it has been the site of six emergency water rescues since that time. We cannot overstate the importance of heeding the many warning signs posted in the area and using extreme caution when swimming there.
We also want to re-emphasize to the public the importance of following the directives of police and fire and rescue personnel when they are on the scene of an emergency.
We are forming a university-community committee immediately to explore steps we can take to make this swimming area safer for the public.