A7-local GALVESTON COUNTY, TEXAS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2012 THE DAILY NEWS A7

LOCAL Waterpark seeks to take control Pills, cash missing; ex-cop charged By CHRIS PASCHENKO seized in an investigation fender’s Office and the of island Racquet Club’s lease The Daily News by a fellow officer, the Harris County Criminal statement said. Lawyers Association » NASSAU BAY By JOHN WAYNE FERGUSON Cook said the club has been for sale In November, a district when the investigation The Daily News since Hurricane Ike, which drove away A former police ser- attorney’s office intern as- began. It’s anticipated the many island residents who had been his geant was charged in signed to the grand jury district attorney’s Post » GALVESTON regular customers. connection with im- division found that cer- Conviction Review Sec- he city council will vote on whether “Since the storm, I’ve been wanting to proprieties in handling tain prescription drugs tion would notify all de- weren’t sent to the Insti- fendants affected by the to allow the Galveston Health and Rac- think about an exit strategy,” said Cook, evidence after cash and prescription medica- tute of Forensic Sciences investigation, which is quet Club to transfer its land lease to the who added that the club’s membership tion went missing from for analysis on a felony being conducted by pros- owners of the Schlitterbahn Galveston had dwindled from about 1,300 mem- the Nassau Bay Police case. The office contacted ecutor Tiffany Dupree Island Waterpark, a move that would bers before the storm to below 900. Department’s property the Nassau Bay Police and investigators from most likely spell the end for the 38-year- “It’s going to be a bit hard not to have it old itness club. room, authorities said Department about the the Public Integrity Divi- on my plate,” said Cook. Monday. discrepancy. sion, the statement said. Health club owner Tom Cook said Both the health club and the water Monday that the club had not been sold Theresa Yvonne The statement claims It’s unclear how many park are on city-owned land east of Relken, 41, was charged the pills were traced back cases might be under re- to Schlitterbahn Waterparks, but he Scholes International Airport. Cook said would be amenable to a sale if it could with theft by a public ser- to Relken, and a property view. there are 37 years remaining on his lease. vant and tampering with room audit revealed there A message seeking be completed before the end of the year. he 26-acre Schlitterbahn Galveston “We have agreed to assign the lease to evidence, according to a were shortages in the ex- comment from Nassau Island Waterpark opened in 2006 on statement from the Har- pected inventories of pre- Bay police Chief Joe M. Schlitterbahn if they agree to purchase property that was once owned by Farm- the assets,” said Cook, who has owned ris County District Attor- scription drugs. Cashiola wasn’t immedi- ers Marine Copper Work. he park land ney’s Office. Relken had not been ately returned. the health club for 38 years. Cook said if is fully developed, and parking has been a sale occurs, he would want it to occur The theft complaint ac- arrested as of late Mon- A court date for Relken maximized, limiting the park’s ability to cused Relken of stealing day afternoon. Bonds was expected to be set under the current tax law. grow and accept more customers, Hen- In a letter to the council, Schlitterbahn $500 from the depart- totaled $15,000 on the later this week. If con- ry wrote to the city council. ment’s property room, charges, a spokeswoman victed, Relken faces up to CEO Gary Henry said if a sale was suc- In August, Cook ofered to sell the which she managed. The for the district attorney’s 10 years in prison on the cessful, Schlitterbahn would close the club’s pool to the city to use a public tampering case also ac- office said. tampering charge and club, 2318 83rd St., and repurpose the swimming pool for $525,000, but that cused Relken of altering, The district attorney’s from six months to two property for “waterpark activities.” Some destroying or concealing office contacted the Har- years in jail on the theft of the existing land would be turned into ofer was not taken up due in part to the various pills that were ris County Public De- charge. additional parking and buildings would pool’s distance from central Galveston be turned into oice and storage space. and its relatively small size. Other land would be used for new he city council also considered out- Man charged with pulling gun on salesmen rides, which could be built before the right buying the club in 2010, but then- 2013 season. City Manager Steve LeBlanc rejected the proposal because of the cost that would By CHRIS PASCHENKO Monday. Police reported was upset because the “I think that this program would be The Daily News no injuries. salesmen, to secure the the high and best use of the club, bring- be required to maintain the club. A majority vote of council would be Police accused Up- sale, lied to his mother ing additional jobs, revenue and visita- » FRIENDSWOOD church of calling to re- about selling magazine required to transfer the lease from Cook tion to the city of Galveston,” Henry Police arrested a man quest an oicer because subscriptions to her to Schlitterbahn. Barring unforeseen wrote. accused of pulling a gun of solicitors. neighbors. Cook, 73, opened the club in 1974 as problems, it should be passed easily, city on a pair of magazine An oicer arrived and Upchurch declined to a swimming and tennis facility. He later oicials said. salesmen, and the solici- found a pair of sales- answer an oicer’s ques- constructed a 12,000 square foot build- City manager Michael Kovacs said the tors were charged as well, men, a 23-year-old from tions once the oicer ing to be used as a children’s itness cen- council could not vote against the pro- authorities said Monday. Weatherford, Okla., and mentioned a gun, the ter, but that closed in March 2012. Cook posed transfer unless it had a reasonable Bond for Ryan Lee a 20-year-old from Des statement said. said he has been trying to lease the space objection against it. Upchurch, 27, of Friend- Moines, Iowa. he salesmen were since the business closed, and “for lease” he end of the health club would not swood was set at $40,000 In a conversation with also arrested and charged signs were recently spotted near that mean the end of racquetball on the is- on a felony charge of ag- police, the men accused with soliciting without a building. But he also said a sale to the land. he McGuire Dent Recreation gravated assault with a Upchurch of pulling a permit, which are mis- waterpark would supersede any busi- Center, which opened in 2009, has two irearm, stemming from gun on them. Upchurch demeanor ofenses. ness there. courts that can be used free of charge. a 7:15 p.m. Friday in- confronted the salesmen cident in the 700 block who obtained money Contact Reporter Chris of Pine Hollow Drive, from his mother, the Paschenko at 409-683- Friendswood police said statement said. 5241 or chris.paschenko@ in a statement released Police said Upchurch galvnews.com. 12 Days of Christmas Treasure At Treasure Trove 30% Off Designated Items each of the 12 Days of Christmas

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