Dallas sheriff’s auto theft task force commander living in trailer …
Dallas County sheriff’s Capt. Jason Valentine, the commander of the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force, is living in a trailer at an auto garage where the task force leases space for investigations.
The sheriff’s task force has since 2001 leased a garage from Frank Prasifka & Sons Inc. garage in Hutchins off I-45 for investigative work on recovered stolen vehicles. Back in 2001, the lease was worth $500 a month. We haven’t gotten an updated number.
Valentine has apparently fallen on hard times and moved several weeks ago from his apartment to a trailer on the property.
This unusual arrangement was approved by Joe Costa, an assistant chief deputy, who said Prasifka offered the trailer to Valentine.
“I said, as long as you can show you pay rent and it has nothing to do with the county lease,” Costa said.
Costa said Valentine told him how much he was paying in rent to stay there. He wouldn’t say how much but said it seemed like a fair market rate. If it’s not, Valentine will have to find a new place to stay, says Costa.
Costa, however, has not seen a copy of any agreement Valentine signed. He said he told Valentine to keep all relevant documents in case questions arose. Costa says Valentine is not getting any special benefit due to the sheriff’s lease with Prasifka, which also tows cars for the task force.
Costa also said Valentine’s living arrangements don’t include any part of the two-bay garage (1,444 square feet) the county leases from the business. Having a cop at the location, he added, is good security for the business.
There you have it. The last thing the task force needs is anymore controversy.