KTBB News, Weather, Talk

LONGVIEW — Longview Police are searching for two burglary suspects after a car chase and one arrest. It happened Wednesday night around 10:30 in the 100 Block of Hubbard Drive. Officers were told by the victims that three black males armed with semi-automatic handguns had kicked in the door of the residence and stole an undetermined amount of cash. The victims stated the suspects brandished the weapons and demanded money. Once the suspects got the money, they fled on foot from the home.

While Officers were responding to the victim’s house another officer located what was determined to be the suspect’s vehicle traveling North on Estes Parkway and were attempting to pull the suspects over when a chase began. During the pursuit the suspects threw out several items from the moving vehicle. Two of the suspects jumped from the moving car and ran into the woods. The driver of the car stopped the vehicle and was taken into custody. Ledarvion Deante George, 24, of Longview was taken into custody. Authorities were unable to locate the other two suspects at that time. Officers went back to the location where the items were thrown from the vehicle and located 3 handguns and a bag containing approximately 11 pounds of marijuana. George was booked into the Gregg County Jail for evading arrest, possession of marijuana 5 – 50 pounds, and burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony. George remains in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $120,000.00.

SMITH COUNTY — Two men were taken to a Tyler hospital Saturday for “significant” injuries after their 2002 Ford Ranger crashed into a creek bed on Farm Road 724 near Tyler Pounds Airport. The Department of Public Safety says the driver fell asleep and their pickup ran off of the road around 4:00 Saturday afternoon. The driver made the 911 call, but he was unaware of his location, so first responders had to “ping” his cell phone to locate the vehicle.

SMITH COUNTY — Smith County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Britton is still fighting for his life tonight after he was hit by a cow while directing traffic. Law enforcement across the county are waiting and praying for his recovery, including Bullard Police chief Gary Lewis. Lewis calls it a “freak accident.” “He was doing what he was doing to protect others. It could happen a hundred times again and not have hurt anybody,” he says. Lewis was driving on Farm Road 344 near Bullard at 1:30 Thursday morning when he saw what looked like the scene of an accident. He turned around to see if a car was in the ditch, and saw a cow in the middle of the road. He says the cow appeared to have been hit by a car, and there were skid marks.

Since the cow was lying in the road in a valley, Lewis says it would have been hard for drivers to see it and stop in time. That’s when he called Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies to help direct traffic. Deputy Robert Britton was one of them. Lewis says as they were directing traffic, the cow, which hadn’t been moving, got up without warning and started heading toward him and Britton. He says the cow hit Britton in the chest and knocked him over. “His feet went up and hit the back of his head. I was standing within a few feet of him and kind of picked his head up. I put my hand under his head and was trying to talk to him, but he was uconscience, his body stiffened up,” says Lewis.

Deputy Britton suffered head and neck injuries. The Department of Public Safety tells us the cow’s owner could be at fault for having a cow outside of a fence. Officials say the driver could face charges for leaving the accident, since the cow is considered property. So far, the cow’s owner and driver are both unknown.

TYLER — One student was taken to the hospital, one woman was cited after a wreck involving a Tyler school bus. It happened Friday afternoon around 4:25. Officers say Tyler Independent School District bus #35, occupied by
approximately 30 students from Dogan Middle School and John Tyler, had been north bound on Loop 323 at Garden Valley and slowed for traffic that was
stopped ahead. Jesus Dominguez of Tyler was driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe behind the bus. Mr. Dominguez abruptly changed lanes in an attempt to pass the bus on the left. The right front of Mr. Dominguez vehicle struck the back left of the bus. One student was transported to the hospital by EMS as a precaution. All others were transferred to another bus. Dominguez was cited for failing to control speed.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man has been charged in a South Longview shooting, police said Friday. Armando Lorenzo Kaluakini, 28, remained in the Gregg County Jail on $20,000 bond, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police said he shot Daniel Correa twice September 12, while Correa was in his driveway in the 1700 block of Holly Street. Correa was shot in the shoulder and abdomen, court records show. He told police a Lincoln Navigator with two occupants was parked in his driveway.

Correa said he recognized the driver, Delfino “Capin” Rodriguez, 37; the other man was later identified as Kaluakini, court records showed. Correa told police he believed the shooting was related to an incident with Rodriguez on September 11 in Upshur County. Police arrested Rodriguez 12 days after the shooting, and he has been jailed on $30,000 bond and an immigration detainer. Rodriguez and Kaluakini are charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Kaluakini served a 10-year sentence for aggravated assault and aggravated robbery in Gregg County in 2000.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview respond to an armed suspect call and arrest a 20-year-old. Corie James Reed Jr. of Longview remained jailed Friday on $12,000 bond, charged with drug possession, unlawfully carrying a weapon and evading arrest. Longview police responding to an “armed subject” call and found Reed at Johnson Street Apartments in the 400 block of Johnson Street shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, according to reports. Police said Reed tried to hide a Bryco semi-automatic handgun and run from authorities, who caught him a short distance away on Craig Street. Authorities found the gun and 4.8 grams of crack cocaine, reports showed.

TYLER — Tyler Investigators have been informed that James Schell has been located in Marshall, Texas and is ok. The information has been confirmed by Marshall Police Department. James Earl Schell, 44, Tyler, was reported missing on March 24, when he failed to return home.

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — Canton Police arrested seven suspects on drug charges after receiving a tip that methamphetamine was being sold at the Motel 6. Authorities say they received a call about a man looking into the windows of rooms at the motel at around 2:00 this morning. After attempting to detain a man outside the room, officers chased the man into a hotel bathroom, where he attempted to flush a loaded syringe. A large amount of suspected methamphetamine, along with Xanax, were clearly visible.

Taken into custody were: Holly Renee Hortman, 42, of Mineola; Edward Robert Preston, 40, of Fruitvale; Russell Lynn Turner, 36, Gilmer; Barbra Ann Pritchett, 29, of Mineola; Ian Joseph Daley, 25, of Mineola; Matthew John Prough, 25, of Canton: and Kimberly Ann Herring, 21, of Canton. They all face charges of manufacture and/or delivery of a controlled substance.

LUFKIN (AP) – An East Texas man has been convicted of showing two siblings child pornography and then forcing the youngsters to perform sex acts on each other. Wesley Don Parish, 52, of Diboll was sentenced to 10 years on each of 2 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. A jury in Lufkin late Thursday convicted Parish of aggravated sexual assault of the children he was baby-sitting. Investigators say the girl was 8 and the boy was 6. Parish testified that the children were lying about him and that he overheard the boy ask the girl to perform a sex act on him. Parish says he told the children it was bad behavior and to stop. Parish was indicted in December.

TYLER — Tyler’s big spring showcase event, the Azalea and Spring Flower Trail, kicks off today and runs through April 10. Susan Travis is assistant vice president of tourism and servicing for the Tyler Convention and Visitors Bureau. She predicts another year of solid local economic impact, as strong as last year’s $3.2 million or stronger. Travis says things went well in 2010 despite a late blast of winter weather, and that’s not in the forecast this go-round. She points out that the azaleas are already blooming.

There are plenty of activities on the schedule. You can go to http://www.tylerazaleatrail.com for more information. For complimentary visitor packets, go to http://www.visittyler.com or call 1-800-235-5712. You can also check the ktbb.com Calendar of Events for information on the various activities.

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating the death of a teenager. Shortly after 6:45 Thursday morning, Tyler Police, Fire, and EMS were called to 3017 Brookdale on an unresponsive 17 year-old. Officers were told the mother had entered her son’s room to wake her son for school and found him unresponsive. Emergency personnel on the scene were unable to revive the young man. Smith County Justice of the Peace James Meredith pronounced Jacob Aaron Green, age 17, dead at the scene. Tyler Investigators arrived and had the body taken to Southeast Texas Forensic Center for an autopsy. Preliminary results indicate that Green, a student at Robert E. Lee High School, died from an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

TYLER – Authorities say a 32-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Tyler has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Jorge Blas-Mundo pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on Mar. 23 by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis during a Tyler proceeding. Blas-Mundo was also ordered to submit to the forfeiture of $50,000.

According authorities, from an unknown date until Apr. 23, 2010, Blas-Mundo conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Smith County area. Blas-Mundo was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – A 22-year-old Henderson man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas. Kylon Jeffery Henson pleaded guilty in Tyler on Mar. 23 to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2009, Henson possessed approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine with intentions to distribute it in the East Texas area. Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2, 2011 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. Henson faces a minimum of five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — 22-year-old Matthew Dwayne Patton of Tyler, named as the suspect shot by Smith County Deputy Constable Derek Phillips in a home invasion, was released from East Texas Medical Center Thursday. Tyler Officers arrested Patton at the hospital and charged him with burglary of habitation, a first-degree felony. Patton was transported to Smith County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000.00

On March 3, police responded to the Wood Trail Apartment Homes at 1909 Shiloh Rd., apartment # 118, on a report of a home invasion with shots fired. Officers arrived, found Patton shot in the upper chest inside the apartment, and were told that a second suspect had run away on foot. Patton was hospitalized. Phillips was visiting a friend who lived in the apartment. The second suspect, 21-year-old Patric Thurston of Tyler, was later caught. He was charged with first-degree felony burglary and transported to Smith County Jail. According to a police report, officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun that was thrown into the woods when Thurston fled the area. Initial details of the investigation indicated that the home invasion was a random act of violence by the two suspects.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested after allegedly making threats in his neighborhood. Steve Slay Laughlin was taken into custody on unrelated charges. There have been three separate reports in just one week of Laughlin waving a firearm and threatening to shoot people. One neighbor says, “He has said that he has a gun on him and if anything gets in his yard, be it a pet, an adult, or a child, he will not discriminate on which and he will handle the problem.” The resident said she wants to remain anonymous, in fear of retaliation. Tyler police say they’ve been out to the house several times in the past week. Public record shows Laughlin has two counts of theft and one alcohol related charge on his record. We’ll have more on this story as more information is released.

TYLER – A 23-year-old Irving man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Peter Keovongphet pleaded guilty on May 20, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to prosecutors, on July 14, 2009, Keovongphet was arrested in Smith County with approximately a half pound of methamphetamine in his possession. An investigation revealed that since 2007, Keovongphet was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Dallas County, which was then transported through the Eastern District of Texas for redistribution. Keovongphet was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 5, 2009 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities investigate a vicious robbery. It happened on Smith County Road 150, where a man says he was hanging out with friends when he was approached by three men. Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana says a shotgun was pulled on the victim as he was ordered to strip down to his underwear. Dana says the men robbed him of his money, cellphone, and prescription drugs, including methadone, Xanax, Klonopin, and Adderall. The victim was able to get to a gas station and call for help.

BULLARD (AP) – An East Texas deputy who was directing traffic away from an injured stray cow is hospitalized in critical condition after being attacked by the half-ton animal. Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith says Deputy Robert Britton of Tyler early Thursday responded to a call about a cow hit by a vehicle near Bullard. Smith told The Associated Press that the 54-year-old deputy was directing traffic on County Road 344 when the cow charged him. The sheriff says Britton was knocked into the air, landed on his head and “then the animal continued the assault.” Other deputies rescued Britton. He was in critical condition in intensive care at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Smith says the cow has been put down. The owner is sought.

TYLER — An officer is shot while serving a warrant Wednesday night. United States Marshals were at the Arbors on Chimney Rock Drive in Tyler around midnight apparently looking for Christopher Summerville, 26, Tyler, for a parole violation. A woman, Kara Adams-Hanley, 29, Tyler, reportedly answered the door when a shot was fired from inside striking Smith County Deputy Sheriff Josh Caulkins in the chest. A second round was fired from a suspect inside the apartment which struck the opposing apartment door. Caulkins was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was transported to East Texas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Members of the Task Force returned gunfire and were able to take into custody all occupants in the apartment including Summerville, Adams-Hanley and Jeffery Andrysiak, 30, Tyler.

Police say Summerville is hospitalized at East Texas Medical Center for an overdose of methamphetamine that he reportedly had injected into his body just prior to the arrest warrant being served. Summerville was taken into custody at the scene for the parole warrant and transported by law enforcement officers to the Tyler Police Department. While in custody it was determined that Summerville needed to be transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS due to his medical condition. Summerville has been placed under guard by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office until he is released.

Initially, Andrysiak was held on possession of a controlled substance, and Adams-Hanley was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are now additionally charged with manufacture or delivery of controlled substance, a first degree felony. Bond was set at $500,000 dollars each, and the two remain in custody at the Smith County Jail. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate an early Thursday morning burglary. It happened at 3820 Lamb Drive. The resident told officers a white male suspect entered the home through an unlocked door and searched through the residence while the victim hid under a bed. The victim was unable to determine if anything was taken from the residence. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police or Crime Stoppers.

NACOGDOCHES — For months Stephen F. Austin State University Police have been investigating reports of drugs on the campus. So far, 19 persons have been arrested, and not all are students. According to police chief Marc Cossich there are 23 suspects in the case. Along with the arrests they have recovered Marijuana, Xanax and ecstasy.

TYLER — A couple of area organizations team up to draw attention to human trafficking. The East Texas Crisis Center and 21AM are joining hands for a community awareness seminar tonight from 6:30 till 8:30 at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. According to press materials, Texas has been identified as a major hub for the growing crime of human trafficking within the United States. According to Crisis Center spokespeople, over 100,000 American minors are trafficked within the U.S. every year.

Tonight’s event is free, but registration is required; you can go to http://www.etcc.org to register. An all-day professional training conference & awareness seminar on the topic is underway at Green Acres. The Crisis Center works to address family violence, sexual assault, and other violent crime. Spokespeople say 21AM is a community partnership in East Texas committed to abolishing human trafficking at the local level.

LUFKIN — Authorities say an East Texas woman made a mistake when she allegedly flagged down an off-duty Lufkin cop. Cheryl Annette Brown was arrested for solicitation at the Sun-N-Pines Motel. An officer made the arrest in Brown’s hotel room and during the arrest discovered the presence of two other people with outstanding warrants. All three were taken to the Angelina County Jail.

TYLER — For the first time ever, the City of Tyler has published its Annual Report as an E-Book, with linked video, and as a printed document with QR Codes. “Transparency is of the utmost importance to the City,” explained Mayor Barbara Bass. “We continually strive to find innovative and engaging tools to enhance communication with our citizens. I am excited to roll out this newest report that uses YouTube, the City web page, and QR technology to share information with our citizens.”

To view the report:

· Go to http://www.CityofTyler.org and click on the annual report link on the right side of the homepage;
· Pick up a printed copy at City Hall at 212 N. Bonner;
· Access a print version at the Tyler Library;
· Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1297/Default.aspx to scan a QR Code with a smart phone; or
· Go to the link immediately above and click on the 2010 Annual Report link.

QR codes are placed throughout the document and link readers to web pages and videos related to the report’s articles.

“A QR Reader comes standard on many smartphones or can be downloaded from the app store,” explained Mayor Bass. “If you are looking at a printed version of the report, simply scan the code and your phone will automatically take you to the web site or video on You Tube. In the electronic version of the report, simply click on the code and it will serve as a link.” You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1297/Default.aspx for more on this story.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to create a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) that will overlay a portion of a 395-acre master planned community conceptualized by North Chase Development in North Tyler. On October 28, 2008, the City Council originally authorized the creation of a pilot NEZ for a portion of the North Chase Development that was designed to increase public health, safety and welfare. The development has since changed locations, and this newly approved NEZ will now incorporate the new location.

“The synergy of the North Case Development and the programs the City is rolling out is exactly what the Tyler 21 Plan calls for to revitalize this area of our community, ‘’ said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The convergence of public programs and private investment is the perfect recipe for mobilizing further development.” Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Caraway added, “The NEZ is a tool that has been used in many other communities to successfully spark private investment. “We are hoping to see the same level of success here in Tyler.”

In the Tyler 21 plan to revitalize North Tyler, a critical goal was to “add 3,000 more households to North Tyler and downtown in the next 20 years to create mixed-income neighborhoods.” A program that can help bring that goal to fruition is a NEZ. The goal of the NEZ is to:
· Create affordable housing;
· Increase economic development;
· Improve the quality of social services, education or public safety in the neighborhood; and/or,
· Rehabilitate affordable housing.

In addition to meeting at least one of the objectives listed above, an area must meet the following criteria before it can be designated a NEZ by the City Council:
· Have clearly defined boundaries;
· Constitute a new neighborhood in the form of new improvements on at least 20 contiguous lots;
· Properties within the proposed zone must have a residential zoning; and,
· Properties within the proposed zone must be owner occupied.

The NEZ provides incentives to builders who develop projects that address these goals. The prospective incentives include:
· Waiving or rebating zoning fees and platting fees;
· Waiving building permit fees, testing fees and tap fees;
· Providing direct access to the City’s First Time Homebuyers Program; and,
· Providing an infrastructure incentive in the amount of $2000 per unit for single family attached homes or $1,000 per unit for single family detached units – up to a maximum of 50 units.

RUSK COUNTY — A Tatum man has been indicted for a Christmas week murder. A Rusk County grand jury indicted Harris Gene Hale, 55, for allegedly shooting his brother and setting his home on fire. Larry Glen Hale, 54, was found dead in the remains of his burned mobile home in Tatum. Harris Hale was arrested December 27th after an autopsy showed that his brother died from a gunshot wound and not from the fire.

GILMER — Two former Upshur County assistant juvenile probation officers who were indicted on felony charges last September have been placed on probation after pleading guilty to reduced charges of misdemeanor tampering with government record, District Attorney Billy Byrd said Friday night.

Lorie Ann Davidson and Sandra Diane Edwards were each placed on one year’s “deferred adjudication” probation and fined $500 by visiting Judge Joe Clayton after separately pleading guilty to multiple counts of the misdemeanor offense under a plea bargain, Byrd said. They were sentenced in 115th District Court. Deferred adjudication means no final conviction appears on a defendant’s record if he/she completes probation.

The women and then-chief juvenile probation officer Milton Wylie were indicted Sept. 1 on felony charges of forgery of government document. The charges involved documents that the Upshur juvenile probation office gave the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission, Byrd said.

Wylie pleaded guilty to one count of the same reduced misdemeanor charge Dec. 13. He also was placed on one-year deferred adjudication probation, and resigned his post of 11 years.

The two Gilmer women, who worked under Wylie, left the probation department before their indictments. Davidson, 43, pleaded guilty to nine counts while Edwards, 49, pleaded guilty to four, Byrd’s office reported.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a reported burglary. It happened just before 5:00 Wednesday morning at 1920 College. The residents told dispatchers they were barricaded in their bedroom and could hear noises coming from the kitchen and living room. Officers arrived to find the back door wide open, but no suspects. The residents say a lap top and purse were stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tyler Police or Crime Stoppers.

RED SPRINGS – Gusty winds and dry conditions help fuel some fires around the area Tuesday. One was off Hitts Road in the Red Springs area where a fire destroyed a building belonging to Valance Oil Company. No injuries were reported and the cause remains under investigation.

KILGORE – A candidate for Kilgore College school trustee is out of the race because his application was ruled invalid. That leaves school trustee Larry Woodfin unopposed. John Kossa’s application was ruled invalid due to an incorrect portion on his affidavit.

Karol Pruett, election authority for the college, consulted with the Elections Division of the Secretary of State. They advised her that the application should be rejected due to a significant error on the face of Kossa’s application. “This is unfortunate,” Pruett said. “It was a simple mistake that could have been corrected, but there just wasn’t enough time before the deadline.”

Pruett said Kossa, who lives in Liberty City, filed just hours before the deadline. Pruett said she phoned Kossa to let him know about the errors and asked him to submit a corrected application right away so he could be included on the ballot. However, Kossa was out of town and not able to resubmit the application in time.

Since no write-in candidates filed to run against Woodfin, he is now considered uncontested in the KC Board of Trustees election on May 14. Woodfin has served on the KC Board of Trustees since 1999, and has been board president for the past two years.