HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – Harris County court records show the head of the Pasadena Convention Center is facing two felony DWI charges stemming from incidents in two cities. Court records state Gerard "Jordy" Tollett was charged with two felony counts of driving while intoxicated.
The first DWI charge involved a car crash that happened in March in Webster. Webster police wrote they were dispatched to a major accident and "upon arrival officers discovered that the suspect had been drinking but was transported by medics to the hospital."
Webster police said a warrant was issued for Tollett's arrest, but records show he was not taken into custody until May.
In May, Tollett was arrested by Nassau Bay police and charged with a separate DWI. An officer wrote a witness followed a "reckless driver" from Seabrook and she "watched the vehicle almost strike a family that was walking."
Tollett is no stranger to this type of trouble. In 2012, he was arrested by Nassau Bay police and charged with DWI. The incident was captured by the officer's dashboard camera.
"I've been drinking, so what?" Tollett is heard telling the officer during the 2012 traffic stop.
"So what? You could have killed somebody," the officer said.
Tollett appealed his 2012 conviction, but was sent to jail for violating conditions of his release. Tollett's conviction from the 2012 charge was upheld in 2014.
Court records show Tollett also pleaded guilty to DWI in 2008.
Before heading to Pasadena, Tollett was head of Houston's Convention and Visitors Bureau. In 2006, a KPRC 2 News hidden camera investigation showed Tollett spending hours at Houston-area bars in the middle of the work day. He resigned shortly after the story aired.
Tollett is scheduled to return to court in August. When reached by phone, Tollett had no comment regarding the recent charges.
Officials with the Pasadena mayor's office also have not yet responded to KPRC 2 News' questions about Tollett's arrest, but a representative said he is still employed by the city.