Tyler deputy lied about shooting

A Tyler County Sheriff’s deputy who said he had been shot during a traffic stop early this month has been fired after he confessed that he shot himself and fabricated the traffic stop story.

In a release from the sheriff’s department, Deputy Gary Parks was relieved from his duty with the department after confessing Thursday, Dec. 21 that he lied about being shot in Hillister after making a traffic stop.

Parks, a 12-year veteran with the sheriff’s department, originally told investigators he had been shot twice after making a traffic stop in Hillister. He gave police a description of the suspect and authorites in a four-county area searched for the assaialant.

Parks may now be facing criminal charges by the Tyler County District Attorney’s office for filing a false police report.