CPS and Police Investigation Results in Child Abuse Indictments for Brazoria County Couple

RICHWOOD, TX — A joint law enforcement task force arrested two individuals early Tuesday morning on first-degree felony child abuse charges following a grand jury indictment, local police announced.

Amber Ferrell, 32, and Zachariah Castro, 26, were taken into custody at their residence. Both face active felony charges for Injury to a Child.

CPS Coordination Leads to Grand Jury Indictments

The arrests stem from a localized child abuse investigation initiated and led by the Richwood Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID). During the investigative phase, detectives worked directly with Special Investigators from Child Protective Services (CPS) to gather and document evidence.

Upon the conclusion of the joint investigation, Richwood CID presented the case file to a Brazoria County Grand Jury. After reviewing the evidence, the grand jury formally returned indictments against both Ferrell and Castro, prompting a judge to issue active arrest warrants.

Multi-Agency Task Force Executes Arrests

To execute the high-level felony warrants, Richwood police coordinated a multi-agency apprehension operation early Tuesday morning, July 21, 2026.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office assisted local officers in securing the residence and safely taking both suspects into custody without incident. Ferrell and Castro were subsequently transported and booked into the Brazoria County Jail, where they await arraignment.

Law Enforcement Statement: Following the successful execution of the warrants, the Richwood Police Department issued a brief statement recognizing the inter-agency collaboration:

“The Richwood Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners for their assistance and cooperation throughout this investigation and in the safe apprehension of both individuals.”