Houston police open criminal investigation into broker “theft of wages” following trucker protest

Following Monday’s trucker protest on Interstate 610 in Houston, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo announces a criminal investigation into the allegations of widespread theft of services.

Yesterday, roughly 75 truckers parked along the breakdown lanes on Interstate 610 in Houston to protest low rates, rising insurance costs and broker regulations. The protest, which caused major delays began around 2PM est. Drivers parked on the side of the highway, causing a backup to the flow of traffic. Houston police along with other state agencies ultimately shut down the highway and ordered roughly 75 trucks into a nearby parking lot.

Houston police held a press conference a few hours after the protest began and announced they were charging each driver with a Class-C misdemeanor for obstructing traffic. Police also announced the arrest of one unidentified woman, charging her with inciting a riot and obstructing traffic.

Moments before the media press conference, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo addressed the drivers advising them to protest in other ways other than blocking city and state highways. He urged drivers in the future to work with the Houston Police Department to plan public assembly locations suitable to “exercise their 1st amendment rights.”

Chief Acevedo also announced the criminal investigation into theft of wages, which will be lead by Houston Police’s Executive Assistant Chief Matt Slinkard and will investigate “allegations of widespread theft of wages.”

“We won’t tolerate exploitation of hard working people, or unlawfully impeding the movement of traffic,” said Chief Acevado via Twitter.