Local Headlines

UPDATE: Suspect arrested in Smith County fatal shooting

UPDATE: The Smith County Sheriff’s Office has identified the suspect as John Floyd McDaniel, 55. The victim has been identified as James Littlejohn, 39.

Our news partner KETK is reporting that the suspect was found in Shreveport, La. earlier this morning. McDaniel was found by the Shreveport Police Department at the Economy Inn on IH 20 near the Shreveport Airport alongside his 16-year-old son. McDaniel has been taken to the Caddo Parrish Jail on an unrelated warrant while his son was separated and taken to Smith County.

Smith County investigators are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant for Capital Murder on McDaniel.

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect believed to have shot and killed a man in Flint early Saturday morning. According to the sheriff’s office, they received a 911 call around 2 a.m. after a person reported seeing a man lying on the side of the road in Flint. Further information revealed the man had been shot. (more…)

Man arrested for soliciting minors, more victims come forward

TEXARKANA – The Texarkana Police Department confirmed that more victims have come forward after a man was arrested for solicitation of a minor in a sting operation, according to our news partner, KETK.

Texarkana police officers conducted a sting operation last month that led to four men being arrested for crimes related to soliciting sex with a minor or prostitute. On March 14, Gregory Frame, 45 of Wake Village, was arrested for solicitation of a minor after trying to meet up with an underage girl, who turned out to be an under cover officer.

“To my understanding, I do know that he (Frame) responded to the under cover officer’s messages with the understanding of meeting with an underage girl for sexual conduct,” Texarkana PD’s Public Information Officer Shawn Vaughn said. (more…)

Man charged for allegedly beating his wife with crowbar

ANGELINA COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – A man was arrested Thursday night for allegedly beating his wife with a crowbar at their residence in the 200 block of Roy Street outside Diboll, according to our news partner KETK.

Benjamin Munoz Ruiz, 56, answered Angelina County Sheriff’s Office deputies knocking on his door with a bloody crowbar in hand and blood covering his shirt, according to Angelina County Sheriff Tom Selman. Deputies say they found his wife, 55-year-old Rita Ruiz Tovar, “laying in her bedroom with a large pool of blood around her head.” Tovar was unconscious and breathing but sustained life threatening injuries, including a partially severed finger, the sheriff’s office said.

She was air lifted to a nearby hospital for treatment and her current condition is unknown. (more…)

Man gets 40 years in prison for setting constable’s boot on fire

HAWKINS – According to our news partner KETK, a 49-year-old Winnsboro man has been sentenced to 40 years in state prison after he lit a Wood County constable’s boot on fire in 2022.

The Wood County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call about a man damaging a residence and pouring gasoline throughout the entire house in Hawkins on July 27, 2022. According to the Wood County Criminal District Attorney’s Office, when law enforcement arrived on scene they attempted to detain a man outside before he fled into the home. A Wood County constable entered the home with law enforcement and saw a man, who was later identified as Eric Wade Berkenkamp, 49 of Winnsboro, lying in a pool of gasoline.

“Berkenkamp then ignited a lighter and dropped it in the pool of gasoline starting a fire,” officials said. “[The constable’s] boot caught on fire as a result and [the constable] fled outside the residence ‘in fear for his life.’”

The constable’s boot was then extinguished and he was able to assist in Berkenkamp’s arrest. He was later charged with arson causing bodily injury and aggravated assault against a public servant with a deadly weapon, judicial records show. (more…)

Open Forum held in Kilgore for upcoming candidates

KILGORE – With Kilgore set to enter one of the most significant election cycles in recent memory, an open forum was held on Monday allowing candidates a chance to share their viewpoints on current issues.

According to our news partner KETK, the forum took place at the Kilgore First Baptist Church and ran from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday. During the event, candidates were given the opportunity to answer questions asked by moderators and vocalize why they would be a good fit for their respected office as Kilgore residents begin to prepare for local elections which will be held this May. Several different positions will be up for election this year, including spots on the Kilgore ISD school board, Kilgore College Board of Trustees and the position of mayor.

Ronnie Spradlin is currently serving as the Kilgore Mayor and has held the position since 2010. Spradlin will be running against local business owner Darrin Mallett in the upcoming election. Mallett joined the race with the focus on improving city functions and services. (more…)

Woman charged with forgery amid allegations of theft from ETX church

TATUM – A woman has been arrested for forgery amid allegations that she stole funds from a church in East Texas.

According to our news partner KETK, the Tatum Police Department received a complaint from a church member who provided evidence of theft dating back several years. Following a meeting, officers identified three incidents in which the suspect, Stephanie Gipson—who was serving as the church treasurer—had allegedly forged multiple checks, with records going back to 2024. Several church members were interviewed, providing the department with evidence supporting a charge of forgery of a financial instrument.

On Thursday, authorities obtained an arrest warrant for Gipson. That same day, she met with officers, was interviewed, and subsequently arrested on one count of forgery of a financial instrument. She has been booked into the Rusk County Jail. The police department stated the investigation is ongoing and additional arrest warrants are expected.

Elderly woman scammed into paying $64,000 for fake roof repairs

TYLER, Texas (KETK) — According to our news partner KETK, a man was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly tricking an elderly Tyler woman into believing she needed more than $60,000 worth of roof repairs. According to an arrest affidavit from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, on March 21 deputies received a report of an elderly woman who had been lied to and tricked by suspects, Levy Lee and his accomplice, about a roof repair that was not needed at her home in Tyler.

The report said that the victim ended up giving Lee six checks and $14,000 in cash totaling $64,000 for the work they told her needed to be done. The victim had a contractor come out to her house and inspect the “damages” that Lee and his accomplice said the roof had.

The contractor told her Lee had lied to her, all Lee and the accomplice did was paint roofing tiles around an alleged “rotted chimney flute.”

The victim met Lee and his accomplice when they came up to her house and told her that her roof was “unstable” and that when they get on the roof and jumped, they would “sink a little,” showing her where a soft spot was. The victim said that this “scared her.” (more…)

Man gets life in prison for murder, arson

HARRISON COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner, KETK, a man has been sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty of murder and arson in connection to the 2022 killing of a Cass County man.

Back in September of that year, Blake Reddock, a 31-year-old from Avinger, was found dead on Hershel McCoy Road on Sept. 10, 2022, according to the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office. A burned vehicle connected to the case was found that same day.

Later, on Sept. 12, 2022, Canton James Echols, 36 of Diana, was arrested and charged with murder and arson, Harrison County Jail records show.

Reddock was reportedly stabbed several times and was first identified through his tattoos because law enforcement said they found no identification with his body.

Echols was given two life sentences in state prison plus 25 years on Thursday for murder and arson. Echols’ sentences both started on Thursday.

New ordinances for Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East

WHITEHOUSE – Our news partner, KETK, reports that this week, Tyler City Council decided to update ordinances that are now in effect for both Lake Tyler and Lake Tyler East.

Lake Tyler Marina Resort owner and resident, Brent Allen, said people who live by the shore line have been waiting for the update because the rules could mean big changes for them.

“It’s been a topic of conversation since the day I got here,” Allen said “So it’s been back and forth for a long time.”

Allen emphasized how he supports any law that increases the safety and the quality of the lake. (more…)