A woman who posted on Facebook that her tap water was brown and cloudy was arrested and imprisoned for making a false report; the city later admitted that the water was indeed undrinkable.
A woman in Texas who posted that 'the water is discolored and there are reports that some citizens have been hospitalized due to bacteria in the water' has been arrested on suspicion of inciting public authorities by reporting a false emergency.
Woman files lawsuit after arrest for Facebook post concerning Trinidad water supply issues | FOX 4 Dallas-Fort Worth
Texas Woman Arrested for Facebook Post About Town Water Quality
https://reclaimthenet.org/texas-woman-arrested-for-facebook-post-about-town-water-quality
In April 2026, Southern Belle Watch, an independent investigative journalism platform in the southern United States, posted on Facebook with an image that read: 'We have received reports that some residents in Trinidad, Texas, have been hospitalized due to a bacterial infection. This is a serious public health concern that needs immediate attention. If you notice discolored water, sediment in your water, a strong odor, or any related health issues, please message us. We will collect information and report the results to the state.'
Trinidad police took issue with the post and arrested Jennifer Combs, who runs Southern Belle Watch, for 'writing false information that caused fear, panic, or unnecessary emergency responses in the community.'
The Trinidad Police Department based its actions on Texas State Law Section 42.06 . This law states that 'it is a crime to knowingly initiate, transmit or disseminate any report of a current, past, or future bombing, fire, crime, or other emergency, if that report is false or unfounded, and that results in prompting an emergency service response, causing a public fear of imminent serious bodily injury, or disrupting normal public activities or services.' It specifically stipulates that false reporting of public water, gas, and electricity is a felony.
Combs claimed that 'several citizens claimed on the Trinidad Police Department's own Facebook page that they had been hospitalized or suffered health problems due to the water. I was just reposting what I had heard from people,' and filed a lawsuit against the city.
According to Trinidad police, there have been no reports of anyone being hospitalized due to the water, and they dismissed Combs' claims as 'completely false and only caused unnecessary fear and confusion in the community.'
However, the water has indeed changed color, and the city has acknowledged this fact. Mayor Dennis Hawes stated, 'The pipes date back to the 1950s, and we need to get to the point where we can repair the infrastructure, but as you can imagine, it will be very expensive.' He has instructed residents to boil the water before using it for drinking, cooking, or washing dishes. Meanwhile, Mayor Hawes declined to comment on whether anyone had become ill because of the water.
Combs argues, 'There are people reporting that their appliances are broken, they can't cook with water, they can't bathe, they can't do laundry. Many people feel like they're being silenced.'
Trinidad police argued that they 'should have checked with the hospital first,' adding that the reason for the arrest was clear.
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