Ex-chief of Christmas Bureau arrested

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Shon Washington, under fire for his role as head of the troubled Christmas Bureau of Austin and Travis County, was arrested Wednesday on drug and traffic charges.

Washing, 37, was charged with being in possession of a controlled substance. The booking report from the Travis County Jail also said he faces "multiple" traffic offense charges and a failure to provide identification charge.

The Austin Police Department and the Texas Attorney General's Office are also investigating whether donated funds to the Christmas Bureau run by Washington were misused.

Last week, Probate Judge Guy Herman gave the go-ahead for the AG's office to seize the charity's assets.  Herman also issued a restraining order against all individuals who had been involved with the embattled holiday charity.

According to police, Washington was pulled over Wednesday in East Austin after not stopping at a traffic signal. Police said he gave the officer a falsified ID. The officer then found between once gram and four grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Washington was positively identified after being fingerprinted, police said.

Meanwhile, Washington has a criminal record that dates back nearly 20 years, KXAN has learned.

A background check into shows that he has been convicted at least eight times on theft  charges. The record also includes forgery, burglary and credit card abuse.