Grapeland Man Arrested for Injury to the Elderly, Assault

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

GRAPELAND – A full moon came out on March 14 which led to the arrest of a Grapeland man on charges of assault and injury to the elderly.

David Keith Sharpe, 48, was taken into custody and charged with injury to the elderly, assault causing bodily injury and disorderly conduct following an incident on the morning of March 14.

According to an arrest report filed by Grapeland Police Department Investigator Dan McElhany, he was dispatched to a disturbance at 516 Darsey St. at approximately 9:20 am. When he arrived at the location, the report stated McElhany made contact with Sharpe “… who was using profanity and acting very angry.”

The report further stated Sharpe was detained and placed in the back of a patrol unit while, McElhany spoke with witnesses at the scene.

“All witnesses indicated Sharpe was first seen at his vehicle, a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer, parked in a (Grapeland) Housing Authority parking space using the ‘N’ word and ‘pulling his pants down while in the middle of the street,’ exposing his rear end to the witnesses and other neighbors,” the legal document indicated.

One witness also stated he tried to approach Sharpe but when he got close, Shape “… shoved him to the ground and then punched him in the face.”

The witnesses also informed McElhany that when Sharpe’s 75-year-old mother came outside to see what has going on, Sharpe “… shoved his mother so hard she fell on her back and hip in the middle of Darsey Street.”

Once the witness statements had been collected, Sharpe was transported to the Houston County Jail where he was booked into custody on: one count of injury to the elderly, a third degree felony; one count of assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor; and one count of disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.

According to Section 12.34 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 10 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the third degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

As of Monday, March 18, Sharpe remained in custody on bonds totaling $13,000.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].