Van Zandt County Precinct 1 Commissioner Mitch Curtis was arrested on Wednesday on felony charges of impersonating a public servant and official oppression following a Texas Rangers investigation.
Curtis was booked into the Van Zandt County Jail shortly before 9 a.m. and released around 11 a.m. after posting a combined $15,000 bond, the sheriff’s office said.
Court records allege that on June 7, Curtis impersonated a police officer and ordered a resident to stop shooting firearms on his own property.
The official oppression count accuses Curtis of knowingly and unlawfully denying the resident the right to fire guns on private land while acting under color of his office as county commissioner.
Impersonating a public servant is a third-degree felony in Texas; official oppression is a Class A misdemeanor.
The Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office declined to release additional details, citing the ongoing case.
“As with any individual brought into this facility, this case will be handled professionally, impartially, and according to the law,” Sheriff Kevin Bridger said in a statement. “Our responsibility is to ensure openness while respecting due process. We will release further information as it becomes appropriate.”
The Texas Rangers conducted the investigation. Because the Van Zandt County district attorney recused herself, the Kaufman County criminal district attorney’s office will prosecute.
Curtis, who took office on January 1, 2025, after winning the November 2024 election, is serving a four-year term that runs through December 31, 2028.
