Garza’s future hinges on case developments
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FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU suspended assistant coach Willie Mack Garza on Tuesday following his weekend arrest on charges of driving while intoxicated and failing to render aid to an injured person. Garza was arrested early Saturday after fleeing an accident in Forest Hill, a small city near Fort Worth, police said. Garza, who coaches cornerbacks, wasn’t on the sideline when the Horned Frogs (No. 17 ESPN/USAToday, No.19 AP) beat Vanderbilt 30-14 on Saturday night. TCU athletic director Eric Hyman said Garza is suspended with pay pending developments in the case. Hyman said he and coach Gary Patterson agreed that the suspension was appropriate. “We are deeply saddened by the events of the weekend and are concerned for all involved,” Hyman said. “At this point, the matter involving coach Garza is in the hands of the local law enforcement officials. The actions we have taken today are not intended as a comment on coach Garza’s guilt or innocence.” A phone message left at Garza’s home wasn’t returned. Forest Hill police on Tuesday referred questions to Lt. Chris Hebert, who didn’t immediately return calls. Police said Garza was driving a sport utility vehicle that hit a center retaining wall on southeast Loop 820, then veered into a car. The car was pushed into an 18-wheeler. The woman driving the car was treated and released from a hospital, and the driver of the 18-wheeler wasn’t injured. Garza was followed by a witness until his vehicle was intercepted by Forest Hill police in Fort Worth, police said. No blood test or medical examinations were performed, Hebert said after the arrest. He said police filed the intoxication charge because of Garza’s erratic driving. He declined to comment on why sobriety tests were not performed. Garza, 33, was released Saturday on a personal recognizance bond. Source : sports.espn.go.com |