KTBB News, Weather, Talk

CHEROKEE COUNTY — Jacksonville Police said a man wanted in a New Year’s Eve shooting has been arrested. Carlton “Hammer” Johnson, 27, has been accused of shooting two people after an altercation. Arriving officers say they were met with a “chaotic and uncooperative group of people” and requested backup, with several area law enforcement agencies responding. Both victims were taken to local hospitals. Witnesses identified the shooter as Johnson. He was wanted on multiple warrants. Johnson was booked into the Smith County Jail Wednesday morning on numerous charges, including evading arrest, failure to identify as a fugitive or giving false information, aggravated assault and parole violation. His bonds total $278,500.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is getting five new patrol units. According to KETK, county commissioners gave the go-ahead for the purchase Tuesday morning. Sheriff Larry Smith says these vehicles will replace units almost 8 years old. “We don’t need to be sitting on the side of the road, broken down waiting on a wrecker, when somebody’s life is at stake,” said Sheriff Smith. “I don’t think it’s good judgment to let that happen.” Sheriff Smith says his plan is to replace units before they get too many miles on them. The county will make more money when it sells them.

TYLER – Weather service records show Tyler set a record low maximum temperature for December 2nd. The temperature of 28 degrees beat the 29 degree temperature for December 2nd, 1928. Also 2017 was Tyler’s 4th warmest year on record. The mean temperature was 68.7 degrees, which is 3.1 degrees above normal. The previous warmest years on record were 1921, 1998 and 2016.

SARDIS – A man found hunting on a road in Cherokee County is facing a variety of charges. Around 2:00 Monday morning, A Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputy took a Rusk resident into custody for evading. He was near the Sardis community, south of Rusk, when a report came in of shots being fired. It took about two miles before the man finally stopped for the deputy. The driver told the deputy, and a game warden who had responded to the call, he had shot at a hog along Farm Road 1857 with a 12-gauge shotgun. After searching the area, a deer was found in the road with a shotgun blast to the head. When the game warden interviewed the man at the jail, he admitted to killing the deer. In addition to charges related to shooting a deer from the road at night and the initial stop, he also faces a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The man’s name was not released.

PALESTINE – The 4th person sought in a Palestine burglary has been arrested. Armando Ortega, 26, of Palestine, (pictured) was arrested on Monday after Palestine Police received an anonymous tip on his location. Ortega had an active arrest warrant in connection with the burglary as well as numerous warrants from other agencies. Previously arrested the case were Tomas Rosa, 30, Josephine Gonzales, 34 and Jennifer Turner, 46. All three are from Palestine. They were booked into the Anderson County Jail last week on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Continue reading Another Palestine Burglary Suspect in Jail

MARSHALL – The 1400 block of Warren Drive in Marshall is closed due to ice concerns linked to a water leak that is running across the road at Republic Industries. Repairs are expected to be made today. Police public information officer Kelly Colvin reminds you that speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not winter road conditions. Motorists are urged to slow down and drive carefully.

TYLER – The City of Tyler Streets Team would like to remind businesses and residents to turn off automatic sprinklers when temperatures drop below freezing. Sprinkler systems left on when temperatures drop below freezing may cause sheets of ice to form on streets and on sidewalks. This can create hazardous driving conditions, as well as hazardous walking conditions on both sidewalks and at crosswalks.

JACKSONVILLE – The investigation continues after two people were injured in a shooting New Year’s Eve night on Crockett Street in Jacksonville, reportedly after an altercation at an outdoor gathering — and KETK reports one suspect is still on the loose. Arriving officers say they were met with a “chaotic and uncooperative group of people” and requested backup, with several area law enforcement agencies responding. Both victims were taken to local hospitals; their conditions weren’t immediately known. Witnesses identified the shooter as Carlton “Hammer” Johnson, 27, but police say other people may have been involved. Johnson is wanted on multiple warrants. Continue reading “Armed and Dangerous” Suspect Still at Large Following Jacksonville Shooting

GLADEWATER – Gladewater police are looking for the man who robbed the Valero gas station on East Broadway shortly after 11:15 Tuesday morning. He left with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries were reported. He is described as a black male, thin build, about 6 foot tall and is believed to be in his early 20’s. He was wearing white gloves, a blue Superman hoodie and had a blue bandana over part of his face. If you can identify the man, you are asked to call the Gladewater Police Department 903-845-2166. You can also send any tips, anonymously, to https://local.nixle.com/tip/city-of-gladewater or text tip 75647 “your tip” to 888777.

MARSHALL – There is a change in the school zone hours near two Marshall Schools. The change is for the school zone on South Washington near Travis Elementary and Marshall Christian Academy. Beginning next Monday, the school zone hours in this area will begin at 7:00am and end at 4:00pm on days school is in session. The Marshall Police Department says it will have patrol officers monitoring the school zone frequently, not only during the times of heavy school traffic, but while students are at school.

LONGVIEW – Longview is reporting a drop in homicides in 2017. Ten homicides were recorded in Longview last year. That is five fewer homicides than reported in both 2015 and 2016. Before that, only 5 homicides were recorded in Longview in 2014 and 8 were reported 2013. Last year, the first four homicides were all recorded in February. The police department’s Kristie Brian tells the Longview News Journal they stepped up patrols in “problem areas” in town. And she says that will continue in 2018.

TYLER — One East Texas mom, Cortney Gill, will be bringing home the first baby born in Tyler this year: Conner Antonn Reid Sparks. KETK reports he was born at 10:30 Monday morning at Christus Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler, coming in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces. Mom says this is her first born. The only thing she feels post-labor is blessed and she’s glad her baby boy is healthy.

TYLER – The Smith County Sheriff’s Department is looking for kidnapping suspect Austin Ray Bowers, 26, whose last know address was in Whitehouse. He is wanted for aggravated kidnapping and endangering a child. The sheriff’s department says on its Facebook page, Bowers has threatened to buy high powered rifles to kill anyone who stands between him and his ex-girfriend. He has also said he would be “racking up” felonies before he goes back to prison. If you know where he can be found, you are asked to contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. Jail records show Bowers has been booked into the Smith County Jail 17 times since 2009. He was first arrested by the Bullard Police Department for possession of marijuana. His last arrest was last month when he was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested after his involvement in a three-car wreck. According to the Longview News-Journal, Scott Garrett Oliver, 44, was held on charges of driving while intoxicated with at least two prior convictions of the same charge, evading arrest, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Longview police responded to the wreck at 11:15 a.m. Saturday on Alpine Road in which witnesses said the northbound vehicle driven by Oliver rear-ended another vehicle, then collided with a parked vehicle on Williams Street before coming to rest at a laundromat. Continue reading DWI Suspect Jailed following Multi-Car Crash

JACKSONVILLE – Two people were injured in a shooting New Year’s Eve night on Crockett Street in Jacksonville, reportedly after an altercation at an outdoor gathering, and KETK reports one suspect is on the loose. Arriving officers say they were met with a “chaotic and uncooperative group of people” and requested backup, with several area law enforcement agencies responding. Both victims were taken to local hospitals; their conditions weren’t immediately known. Witnesses identified the shooter as Carlton “Hammer” Johnson, 27, but police say other people may have been involved. Johnson is wanted on multiple warrants. Continue reading “Armed and Dangerous” Suspect at Large Following Jacksonville Shooting

LONGVIEW — The Longview Police Department is investigating the city’s first fatal wreck of 2018. According to KETK, on Monday morning, around 12:20 a.m., police responded to a one-vehicle accident on Page Road. Investigators determined a car, driven by Sharika Lata Hicks, 35, of Longview, was traveling west on Page Road and disregarded the stop sign at Alpine Road. The vehicle continued to drive off the roadway before hitting a tree. Police say Hicks was not wearing a seatbelt and had been drinking. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

EAST TEXAS — A powerful cold front has sent temperatures plunging across Texas as far south as the Rio Grande Valley, where the National Weather Service has issued a freeze watch through Tuesday morning. The freeze watch for far South Texas could endanger crops and other sensitive vegetation. Much of the state Sunday was under some form of winter weather, freeze or wind chill advisory, watch or warning. Texas Department of Transportation crews last week pre-treated 10,000 miles of roads with a brine solution to keep ice from sticking. Department spokeswoman Natalie Galindo says crews in the Fort Worth and Dallas area have been spreading a magnesium chloride granular mixture on roads to help drivers. Icy conditions have been reported north and west of Dallas through the Panhandle and West Texas.

HARRISON COUNTY — A Hallsville mother and her 3-month-old child were killed Sunday in a wreck in Harrison County. A Jefferson man also suffered life-threatening injuries in the wreck. According to the Longview News-Journal and the DPS report, Jessica Click, 19, and her son, Waylon Click, were pronounced dead Sunday at Longview hospitals. Jessica Click died at Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center and Waylon died at Longview Regional Medical Center. The wreck happened around 3:30 p.m. on FM 2208, about five miles from Alpine Road. Click was driving north on FM 2208 when her car swerved into the southbound lane of traffic and hit a truck, driven by 24-year-old Christopher Derr of Jefferson. Rescue workers used the Jaws of Life to remove Click from her car. Derr was taken to Christus Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview to be treated for injuries. The wreck remained under investigation.

KILGORE — Kilgore Police are investigating a fatal shooting. It happened around 11:30 Sunday night at the Meadow Green Apartment Complex. According to officers, Tracy Lynn Reedy, 50, Kilgore, was found with multiple gunshot wounds outside of the apartment complex. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The unidentified suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information in regards to this crime can contact Detective John Rowe at 903-218-6906. You can give information anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP. Anonymous information may also be submitted through the Kilgore Police Department’s Website, facebook page or tip411.

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Forecasters have issued an overnight hard freeze warning for a four-state region as an Arctic cold front pushes its way through the area. The National Weather Service issued the warning Sunday for parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana from midnight until 10 a.m. Monday. The service says temperatures will range from the teens in northeast Texas, southeast Oklahoma, southwest Arkansas and eastern sections of north-central Louisiana to the low 20s across east Texas and northwest Louisiana. Temperatures began plummeting Saturday as the front moved into the area, bringing light snow and freezing drizzle that coated some highways and bridges with ice. Continue reading Forecasters Issue Overnight Hard Freeze Warning

PALESTINE – Three persons have been arrested and a 4th is being sought in connection with a Palestine burglary. Arrested were Tomas Rosa, 30, Josephine Gonzales, 34 and Jennifer Turner, 46. All three are from Palestine. The three were booked into the Anderson County Jail on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity. Still being sought is Armando Ortega, 26, of Palestine.(pictured) Ortega has an active arrest warrant in connection with the burglary as well as numerous warrants from other agencies. Continue reading Arrests Made in Palestine Burglary

LONGVIEW – The City of Longview’s emergency warning siren located at Stamper Park is temporarily out of service until maintenance can be completed on Tuesday, January 2. Maintenance on the siren will be conducted to repair the battery system. The city’s 19 other sirens are not impacted and are still operational. Fire Chief JP Steelman is quoted in a city news release as saying, “We expect to have the siren back online very soon. With the possibility of severe cold weather in the forecast, we encourage anyone who has not done so yet to sign up for our free CodeRed Emergency Warning service so you can receive notifications by phone call or text.”

TYLER – You will see a bright yellow decal on some area gas pumps, compliments of the Smith County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s department fraud detectives are putting out the decals as a proactive measure against gas pump skimmers. They are to remind you to be aware of this type of credit card fraud. It also serves as a caution to any would be suspects that the detectives check many gas pumps throughout Smith County on a daily basis. They encourage you to report any suspicious activity at gas stations to the sheriff’s office. Also, be sure to check your credit card statements for potential fraud. And, should you become a victim of fraud, contact the sheriff’s office or your local law enforcement agency.

TYLER – With the possibility freezing drizzle coming to the area, the Texas Department of Transportation crews are preparing Interstate Highway 20 and other major roadways for winter conditions forecast for the area New Year’s Weekend and into next week. Pre-treating operations using a brine solution began Thursday and will continue through Saturday, targeting roadways and elevated structures that have the potential to freeze during winter conditions. Continue reading TxDOT Preparing for Winter Weather

LONGVIEW – Once again this year, Longview Transit, in partnership with R&K Distributors, are providing a “Safe-Ride-Home” on New Year’s Eve. For the tenth consecutive year, Longview Transit will give free rides to anyone within the Longview city limits. This is on New Year’s Eve between 8:00pm and 3:00am. The curb to curb service will be available to any destination within the city limits of Longview. The service is for persons who that have had a couple of drinks or those that simply do not want to drive that evening. To get more information about Safe-Ride-Home, or to schedule a reservation, you can visit the website at http://www.longviewtransit.com or call 903-753-2287 ext. 10.

SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Sheriff’s Office have arrested an Arp man in connection with a child sex crime. According to KETK, a Smith County booking report indicated Danny Heldenbrand, 42, was arrested and charged with one count of indecency with a child sexual contact. He was arrested on a warrant issued by the 7th District Court. Heldenbrand is currently in the Smith County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

LONGVIEW — A wreck involving a truck and a train closed a Longview roadway for several hours. It happened around 4:45 Friday morning on Estes Parkway. Police said the Dodge pickup was traveling north bound when it struck the train. The railroad crossing lights were on and the train was moving across Estes Pkwy. There were two people in the truck and both sustained minor injuries. The roadway was briefly closed but has since reopened.

DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — Two men have been taken into federal custody on charges of trafficking a Texas middle-school student for sex. Federal prosecutors in Dallas said in a statement Thursday that Shenandoah West Moneypenny, 34, of Gladewater, and Shawn Dale Sanders, 43, of Dallas, each face one federal count of conspiracy to use a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct. The 13-year-old victim told law enforcement she met Moneypenny online earlier this year. Using a Craigslist ad, Moneypenny arranged for the girl to have sex with men, including Sanders, who sent pictures to Moneypenny as payment. The two were arrested December 18 and are being held at the Kaufman County jail without bond. Continue reading Gladewater Man Held on Sex Trafficking Charge

LUFKIN – All three suspects wanted in a Lufkin murder are now in custody.The Lufkin Police Department and the U.S. Marshal Service on Thursday morning arrested two of three men wanted in the shooting death of a Lufkin man earlier this month. Taken into custody following a raid on an Orange County home, were Jermaine Gray, 34, and Clifford Gray, 32. The third suspect , McClendon Harrison, 29, turned himself in Thursday afternoon in Shelby County. The three are accused of the murder of Jerone Jones, 38. He died at a Lufkin hospital December 18, following an argument with the men in the front yard of a home on 1819 Spence Street.