Chambers County Sheriff Brian C. Hawthorne reports that on April 8, 2018, Nicholas Cole FREGIA, 25, of Liberty was arrested by the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office for the offense of Murder, a 1st degree felony.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, April 8th, FREGIA was involved in an altercation with Justin E. Berry, 46, of Anahuac, at The Crawfish Place, a local bar and restaurant located near Anahuac, TX. Witnesses reported that words were exchanged between the two men and a fight ensued before it was broken up by other bar patrons and staff. Shortly after the first altercation FREGIA approached Berry from behind and struck Berry on the right side of his head. Berry fell to the ground, unconscious, where he remained for several minutes.
Anahuac Emergency Medical Services and Chambers County Deputies responded to The Crawfish Place and found that FREGIA had already departed the scene. Berry was transported to Bayside Community Hospital in Anahuac and later, after his condition worsened, was transported by Life Flight helicopter to Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston where he later died.
Throughout the day on Sunday, April 8th, Chambers County Detectives were able to establish probable cause to charge FREGIA in the death of Berry. Chambers County Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace Larry Cryer, upon presentation of this probable cause, issued an arrest warrant for FREGIA charging him with Murder, a first degree felony.
Detectives made contact with FREGIA who stated several times during the day that he was willing to surrender himself to the Chambers County Jail however FREGIA eventually ceased all contact and his movements suggested that he had no intention to surrender. Detectives were able to track FREGIA to a motel in Cleveland, Texas, and with the assistance of the Cleveland Police Department FREGIA was arrested without further incident. FREGIA was transported back to the Chambers County Jail in Anahuac where he is currently being held. Justice of the Peace Precinct 6 Larry Cryar set bond in the amount of $200,000, and ordered an ankle monitor as a condition of release.
Sheriff Hawthorne would like to thank the Cleveland Police Department and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office for all of the assistance and cooperation they provided throughout the day and during the eventual arrest, bringing this incident to a peaceful close.
