Waco Journal
Monday, September 15, 2025
  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Waco Journal
  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result
Waco Journal
No Result
View All Result

Texas County Judge Is Suspect In Vandalism Of Courthouse Segregation-Era ‘Negroes’ Sign

by Gavin Wright
January 3, 2021
in Texas
Texas County Judge Is Suspect In Vandalism Of Courthouse Segregation-Era ‘Negroes’ Sign

TEXAS –  A Black elected official in Texas was in the spotlight late in 2020 when he was relegated to a basement office space that had the word “negroes” on a nearby archway, now the county judge who worked to ‘resolve’ the incident is a suspect in the segregation-era sign’s vandalism.

The sign in a courthouse in Waxahachie, a city about 30 miles south of Dallas, drew attention in November when Constable Curtis Polk Jr. spoke out over being moved to a shared office space near the sign. That issue was resolved amicably when Ellis County Judge Todd Little gave Polk another office.

Sign and plaque in Ellis County Historic Courthouse (credit: Curtis Polk, Jr.)

But Little, who is the county’s top executive, not a judicial official, has now been identified as a suspect in an investigation into the sign being partially painted over, The Dallas Morning News reports. No one has been charged with any crime and the incident remains under investigation.

The sign, which is near what used to be a water fountain in the courthouse basement, was uncovered during renovations two decades ago. It was marked with a placard as a reminder of the evil of segregation, Little said in November.

Later that month, the sign was painted over. A video was posted online showing Little urging another man to take spray paint to it, according to the Morning News. It was not immediately known why Little asked the man to paint the sign.

The Ellis County sheriff and district attorney reportedly opened an investigation into the incident. But the district attorney then recused himself because he knows Little, handing the case off to prosecutors in Dallas, the Morning News reports.

Little is identified as a suspect in court records but it’s unclear how the case will proceed. The Morning News could not reach Little or Dallas County District Attorney John Creuzot for comment Thursday.

Lane Grayson, an Ellis County commissioner, told the paper the county intends to restore the sign.

“Any defacing of government property is an absolute insult,” Grayson said. “That sign was left as a historical reminder of a place we should never go again.”

Related Posts

Governor Greg Abbott announces $17.3 million grant to SpaceX for expansion of semiconductor R&D facility in Bastrop
Texas

Governor Abbott announces winners of 2025 Lex Frieden Employment Awards

September 12, 2025

Texas - Governor Greg Abbott announced the 2025 recipients of the Lex Frieden Employment Awards (LFEA), which recognize businesses and...

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations
Texas

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

September 12, 2025

Texas - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller highlighted an opportunity for residents to influence the future of the American seafood...

Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training
Texas

Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training

September 12, 2025

Texas - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced that Class C-2025 has officially begun training at the DPS...

Texas Agriculture Department takes action after cotton jassid detected on hibiscus plants
Texas

Texas Agriculture Department takes action after cotton jassid detected on hibiscus plants

September 9, 2025

Texas — Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) announced immediate measures after detecting the...

Governor Abbott presents Texas Officer of the Year Awards at CLEAT convention
Texas

Governor Abbott presents Texas Officer of the Year Awards at CLEAT convention

September 9, 2025

Texas - Governor Greg Abbott presented the 2025 Texas Officer of the Year Awards during the Combined Law Enforcement Associations...

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praises Trump’s China trade agreement
Texas

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller praises President Trump for progress on U.S. agricultural trade deficit

September 4, 2025

Texas - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller released a statement on Sept. 3, 2025, praising President Donald Trump and U.S....

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police
News

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged with the fataI shooting of 33-year-old L. Jeardine outside store in Pennsylvania....

Read moreDetails
Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

September 13, 2025
Governor Greg Abbott announces $17.3 million grant to SpaceX for expansion of semiconductor R&D facility in Bastrop

Governor Abbott announces winners of 2025 Lex Frieden Employment Awards

September 12, 2025
Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

September 12, 2025
Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training

Texas DPS welcomes Class C-2025 recruits to trooper training

September 12, 2025
Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged with the fataI shooting of 33-year-old L. Jeardine outside store in Pennsylvania....

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

by Nolan Harris
September 13, 2025
0

California - A California woman was ordered to spend the next thirty five years behind bars for the murder of...

Governor Greg Abbott announces $17.3 million grant to SpaceX for expansion of semiconductor R&D facility in Bastrop

Governor Abbott announces winners of 2025 Lex Frieden Employment Awards

by Nolan Harris
September 12, 2025
0

Texas - Governor Greg Abbott announced the 2025 recipients of the Lex Frieden Employment Awards (LFEA), which recognize businesses and...

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

Commissioner Miller urges public to comment on seafood industry regulations

by Nolan Harris
September 12, 2025
0

Texas - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller highlighted an opportunity for residents to influence the future of the American seafood...

About Us

A community needs news and Waco Journal is proud to serve 50,000 households each month through our website covering Waco and the other local counties.

Learn more

Recent Stories

  • Woman dies while trying to help another femaIe stop or de-escaIate the aItercation with her partner, after a struggIe in which the man gained controI of a firearm she puIIed out when he brandished a utiIity tooI and kiIIed her: police
  • Woman who cIaimed the father of her baby threatened to harm her and she acted in seIf-defense when he charged at her after she kiIIed the man while he was Iying on the fIoor covered with a bIanket, was sentenced

Categories

  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
Currently Playing

© 2023 Waco Journal

  • Local News
  • Crime
  • COVID-19
  • Texas
  • Education
  • Politics
No Result
View All Result