KTBB News, Weather, Talk

NACOGDOCHES — A man wanted for a South Texas murder has been arrested in East Texas. David Cantu, Jr., 24, was arrested in Nacogdoches less than 45 minutes after an alert was issued for his arrest. Cantu is the 4th person to be arrested in connection with a gang shooting in Alice, Texas on July 22nd. The shooting left four men dead.

A patrolman noticed Cantu’s vehicle around 7:15 Wednesday night. It matched the vehicle named in the alert issued by the U.S. Marshal’s office. The vehicle was stopped at South Street and Loop 224 and the suspect was taken into custody.

LONGVIEW — Longview police are renewing an advisory not to leave pets and children alone in cars. During the past week, the Longview Police Department has responded to at least four incidents of children and pets being left in vehicles unattended. Luckily, none of the incidents in Longview have resulted in death or serious injury to those involved.

It is a class C misdemeanor to leave a child under the age of 7 in a vehicle alone for more than 5 minutes and not attended by a person 14 years of age or older. This includes a vehicle left running with the air conditioner on. Unknowingly, police say, a vehicle thief may take off with more than just a person’s valuables; the thief may have that person’s child or pet in the car. To avoid this and other potentially tragic situations, police advise that you simply take your children or pets inside with you or wait until you have made other arrangements for your children or pets to be taken care of.

Other tips to help end children and pets left in cars:
– Place an item, such as a purse, briefcase, diaper bag, cell phone, etc. near the child to remind the driver to pick up the child as well.
– Practice a “look twice before you leave” routine to scan the vehicle’s interior each time you get out of the vehicle.
– Make a plan with the child care provider to call you if your child does not show up on time.
– If you see an unattended child or pet in a hot vehicle call 9-1-1 immediately.

LONGVIEW — Police in Longview say they’ve taken two burglary suspects into custody. Just after 8:00 Wednesday morning, officers were dispatched to the 1700 Block of Swan Street for a residential burglary that had just occurred. When officers arrived, the victim told police she had been sitting at her table when an unknown male kicked her door in. She said the male spoke to her and then left the house. The suspect reportedly left his phone in the driveway, and police were able to identify him as Michael D. Usery, 18, of Hallsville. Usery was found a short time later, arrested for burglary of a habitation, and transported to the Gregg County Jail without incident. During the course of the investigation a male juvenile was also detained with Usery and taken to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with burglary of a habitation.

AUSTIN — Texas Education Agency officials said Wednesday there is an open investigation against a Union Grove ISD assistant coach and teacher. That’s according to KETK and the Longview News-Journal. The state is investigating Steven Mulkey, said Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, director of communications for the TEA. Ratcliffe said there is a note on Mulkey’s certification that notes he is under review by the State Board of Educator Certification’s professional discipline unit. Ratcliffe would not comment on why Mulkey is being investigated. She said the length of an investigation by the Texas Education Agency varies, but it is typically quicker if law enforcement agencies are involved. She could not say whether law enforcement agencies are assisting with Mulkey’s case.

Union Grove ISD placed Mulkey on paid administrative leave “pending further review” in late July. Superintendent Brian Gray said Wednesday the district does not intend to hire anyone to fill Mulkey’s position. Mulkey was hired earlier this year to coach and teach history this fall semester, Gray said.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested by Tyler police for alleged improper photography or visual recording. Booked into the Smith County Jail was Dennis L. Brown, 55. Officers received a phone call that a male was seen taking pictures of women behind Woodcreek Athletic Club at 6110 South Broadway. Bicycle officers working in the Rose Rudman Park area arrived at the location and contacted the suspect. Officers talked to the suspect and say they were able to locate pictures on his phone. According to police, the pictures of clothed women were randomly taken at the location and at Robert E. Lee High School. Brown reportedly officers he took the pictures specifically for his own personal sexual gratification.

LONGVIEW — A pregnant woman told Longview police that her boyfriend beat her with an unplugged alarm clock and punched her in the face during a fight late Tuesday night. Shahzad Imtiaz, 27, of Longview was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 3600 block of McCann Road after police responded at the Budget Inn. According to KETK, Imtiaz became violent and pushed the woman. She told police she tried to call 911, but he yanked the phone away from her. Imtiaz then grabbed an alarm clock and reportedly beat her. The girlfriend told police she is four months pregnant with his child. Imtiaz was charged with assault causing bodily injury family violence and interfering with an emergency call. He’s in the Gregg County Jail under bonds totaling $2,000 and an INS detainer.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A Mount Pleasant police officer has resigned after being charged with sexual assault of a child. Arrested Tuesday was Eric Jason Campbell, 41. His bond has been set at $250,000. Investigators are trying to determine if this was a one time incident or if there were other incidents.

WHITE OAK — A home in White Oak has been extensively damaged by fire. It was reported Wednesday afternoon in the 100 block of Archer Drive. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

GRAPELAND — An Anderson County man has died in a two vehicle accident in Houston County. Dead at the scene was Timothy John Ronnebaum, 54, of Tennessee Colony. He was killed when hiscompact car ran a stop sign and collided with a pickup driven by Kenneth Anderson, 42, of Elkhart. Anderson was not injured. The Department of Public Safety reports the wreck occurred around 1:00 Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of Farm Roads 2423 and 2022, about six miles east of Grapeland.

DALLAS (AP) — Retired hockey star Mike Modano and actress Willa Ford have decided to end their five-year marriage. A spokesman for the former Dallas Stars team captain said the couple was divorcing but didn’t have further details. The 42-year-old Modano and 31-year-old Ford married in 2007 in Athens, Texas.

MARSHALL – Two East Texans have pleaded guilty and another has been sentenced in a large-scale East Texas drug case. All three actions came in Marshall federal court; each involved a charge of possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine.

41-year-old Gregory Scott Covey and 44-year-old Christine Francis Sirmans, both of Karnack, pleaded guilty. According to information presented in court, from Mar. 21, 2010 to Sep. 3, 2010, Covey purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at stores in Marshall at least 32 times. Prosecutors say from Oct. 12, 2008 to Nov. 16, 2010, Sirmans purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at stores in Marshall and Carthage at least 74 times. Covey and Sirmans each face up to 20 years in federal prison. Sentencing dates have not been set. In the other case, 39-year-old Adrian Demond Noel of Jefferson was sentenced to 68 months behind bars. Noel pleaded guilty on May 4, 2012.

According to federal authorities, the case involved a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute methamphetamine in East Texas. The conspiracy involved defendants traveling to multiple pharmacies to purchase numerous boxes of cold pills containing pseudoephedrine for use in the manufacture of methamphetamine. An 839-count federal indicted was returned on Feb. 1 charging Sirmans, Covey, Noel, and 14 other co-defendants with federal drug crimes. Of those defendants, 14 have been convicted.

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – An East Texas man accused in a fatal shooting at a crew camp in the western North Dakota oil patch has been formally charged with murder, attempted murder and terrorizing. Victor Lamont, 24, of Lufkin is accused of killing 57-year-old Gerald Schild of Katy, Texas, and injuring 38-year-old Travis Lomax, of Fort Smith, Ark. Lomax was treated at a Minot hospital and released. A judge on Wednesday set bond at $1 million or Lamont. Authorities say the shooting happened late Saturday at the crew camp near Tioga. All three men were working for a Wisconsin-based pipeline company. Williams County Chief Deputy Verlan Kvande tells the Forum newspaper that Lamont also is accused of threatening two other company workers. Court documents do not list an attorney for Lamont.

MARSHALL — A Harrison County man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations. Gary Lynn Corpier, 53, of Marshall, pleaded guilty on February 14 to possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap.

Federal prosecutors say on June 9, 2009, Corpier purchased cold pills containing pseudoephedrine at a Walgreens and a WalMart store in Marshall, Texas, as well as on other occasions at other stores in the area, all in furtherance of his methamphetamine manufacturing activities.

HALLSVILLE — DPS officials have released the names of the people involved in Tuesday night’s fatal wreck near Hallsville. According to Trooper Jean Dark, one passenger, Alejandro Olvera, 16, was killed in the crash. The driver, Samuel Ellis, 18, and Austin Urbellis, 17, are listed in critical condition at a Longview hospital. According to KETK, all three people were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The one-vehicle accident occurred on Willow Road in Harrison County. The Department of Public Safety reports the driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve. The car left the roadway, overturned and hit a tree. All three victims are said to be students at Hallsville High School.

GLADEWATER — One person is in Gregg County custody after unintentionally causing a bomb scare Tuesday night. According to the Gladewater Police Department, Joshua Hadley was involved in a rollover wreck on Shell Camp Road just after 7:00 p.m. Police say he left the scene and was arrested at his house shortly after the crash. According to KETK, police say they found a black pipe in Hadley’s vehicle that resembled a bomb. This prompted authorities to block off roads around the accident until a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives unit from Tyler inspected the device. After the pipe was deemed non-explosive, the scene was cleared. Hadley is currently in the Gregg County Jail on charges of fleeing the scene of an accident and resisting arrest.

DALLAS (AP) – An Austin lawyer has taken up the case of an ex-funeral home director convicted in a 1996 killing featured in the movie “Bernie.” The Dallas Morning News reported Tuesday that attorney Jodi Callaway Cole, shown here, has met with director Richard Linklater of Austin. “Bernie,” starring Jack Black as Bernhardt Tiede II, was released this year. Tiede is serving life in prison for the fatal shooting of 81-year-old Marjorie Nugent of Carthage. The wealthy widow, portrayed by Shirley MacLaine, was found dead in a freezer at her home. Cole says she told Linklater that the movie raised issues for a possible appeal. Cole, who’s met with Tiede, declined to elaborate or say who hired her. Tiede on Wednesday was in the Telford Unit. He’s not eligible for parole until 2027.

TYLER – Tyler ISD students have exceeded the standard set in three of the five Adequate Yearly Progress categories. Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, is a measurement standard set by the Federal Government under the No Child Left Behind Act. All public school districts, campuses and the state are required to meet AYP criteria on the following measures: math performance, reading/English Language Arts (ELA) performance, math participation, reading/ELA participation, and graduation rate. On Wednesday, the State released the preliminary AYP results for the 2011-2012 school year. Tyler ISD students exceeded the standard in math participation, reading/ELA participation, and graduation rate. You can go to the Press Releases section of the “In the News” tab at http://www.tylerisd.org to read more.

TYLER — As part of the proposed 2012-13 budget presented by City Manager Mark McDaniel to the City Council Tyler is planning to decrease its property tax rate by $.0012, to 20.77 cents per $100 valuation. Officials say the city also plans on continuing to set the standard for performance excellence in local government. “Tyler has a long history of performance excellence that was built upon the foundation of the Blueprint launched in 1996,” said McDaniel. “Since then, we have carried that legacy forward and the outcomes speak for themselves.” In 1994 Tyler’s tax rate was 53 cents. In the last 16 years, it has decreased by more than 60% to the proposed rate of 20.77 cents. You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org to read more.

NACOGDOCHES — Charges against two Nacogdoches Jailers have been dropped after a visiting judge signed an order to quash the indictment against them. According to KETK, Elizabeth Ann Owens, 40, Nacogdoches, and Danny Ray Russell, 35, Douglass, were charged with criminally negligent homicide, a state jail felony, after an inmate, Edwinta Deckard, 53, died December 5. Nacogdoches County District Attorney Nicole LoStracco the defense attorney requested a motion to quash the case, and the state agreed. LoStracco explains a quash is similar to a motion to dismiss. Basically, it means there was not enough evidence to charge the defendants with a crime. However, the accused can be re-indicted if more evidence is brought forward. Judge Guy Griffin signed the order.

TYLER — A teenager has been killed when the bicycle he was riding was hit by a sanitation truck just west of Tyler. The accident, just before 8:45 Tuesday night, killed Martin Gutierrez, 15, of San Antonio. Initial reports are he apparently rode his bike into the path of the truck. The accident happened on State Highway 31, just west of Greenbriar Road. The accident is being investigated by the Department of Public Safety.

TYLER — Tyler’s old Goodyear plant could finally be seeing some new business. KETK reports that county commissioners Tuesday approved a three-year tax abatement for Scott’s Fertilizer Company. Tom Mullins of the Tyler Economic Development Council says if the company chooses to move in, it would set up shop on just 63 acres of the area. He says the firm would provide products to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, bringing up to fifty new jobs to East Texas. Commissioner Jeff Warr says the prospect is particularly attractive “because not only does it create the core jobs there in the plant; it creates a tremendous amount of peripheral dollars coming in with truckers, transportation fuel sales, things like that.” The land was recently bought by IRG Industrial, which has a history of buying old industrial buildings and re-purposing them.

TYLER — The Better Business Bureau Serving Central East Texas is alerting consumers of a phone scam in which the caller claims to be from Microsoft. In an effort to gain remote control access to the victim’s computer, the caller offers to solve the consumer’s computer problems or sell him or her a license for software. According to the BBB, once cybercriminals have gained a victim’s trust, they can do one or more of the following:
– Trick people into installing malicious software on their computer.
– Take control of a victim’s computer remotely and adjust settings in order to leave the computer vulnerable.
– Request credit card information so that cybercriminals can bill for the phony services.

“Scammers know how to get around our better judgment”, said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. “By using the names of well-known companies in order to gain the trust of consumers, cybercriminals and other scammers are able to gain access to accounts and attack the computers of their victims.” According to the Microsoft website, the company will not make unsolicited phone calls to help you with your computer. If you receive a phone call similar to the one described, Mills says you should delete the message or hang up.

Here are some of the organizations that cybercriminals claim to be from:
• Windows Helpdesk
• Windows Service Center
• Microsoft Tech Support
• Microsoft Support
• Windows Technical Department Support Group
• Microsoft Research and Development Team (Microsoft R & D Team)

BBB advises consumers follow these tips to protect themselves from scammers attempting to access their computer:
– Go through your service provider directly. If you are concerned your computer may be exposed to viruses or other security threats, contact your service provider directly. Some providers offer free tools that can help detect and remove viruses.
– To help protect your computer from viruses make sure you have virus detection software installed on your computer. This software can also help identify if a virus appears on your computer.
– Don’t trust cold calls. Never give out personal information, over the phone, to someone you don’t know. If the caller claims there is a security threat to your computer, hang up and call your computer company directly.

Mills says you can go to http://www.bbb.org to find a computer repair company you can trust. To report a fraud or scam, call the BBB Hotline: (903) 581-8373.

TYLER — A Tyler man claimed the last of four $1 million top prizes in the Maximum Millions scratch-off game at the Texas Lottery claim center in Tyler on Monday. Ricky Henderson said “I don’t think it really hit me when I first scratched off the ticket,” said Henderson. “It finally sank in when they gave me the check and now I’m really excited!”

Henderson, a single father, is a longtime Texas Lottery player and said he plans to use some of his winnings to buy homes for himself and his mother, and to invest a large portion for his daughter’s future. The winning ticket was purchased at the D & N Grocery store located at 1007 West Bow Street in Tyler. The retailer is eligible to receive a $10,000 bonus.

WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – The former wife of a Texas man who was shot and killed at an oil patch crew camp in North Dakota says he was a race car driver and once donated a kidney to his sister. Gerald Schild, 57, of Katy died on Saturday at the crew camp near Tioga. Police have arrested Victor Scott Lamont, 24, of Lufkin in the shooting, which also injured a man from Arkansas. Lamont has been charged with murder and attempted murder and two counts of terrorizing.

Authorities say all three worked for a Wisconsin-based pipeline company. Schild’s former wife, Cindy Adams, of Houston, tells the Williston Herald that Gerald Schild was well-liked in his community and that a racetrack plans to dedicate a race to him on Aug. 18. Authorities have not released details about the circumstances of the shooting.

LONGVIEW — Longview police have arrested a man after he allegedly led law enforcement on a wild chase that began in Camp County Tuesday afternoon. According to KETK, Longview police say the chase started in Pittsburg at the ETMC clinic, where Camp County officials were attempting to serve felony warrants on Jonathan Lee Anderson, 20, of Pittsburg. Police say Anderson took off, allegedly striking two Camp County vehicles in his rush to escape. Authorities say the chase continued from Pittsburg to Longview, with several wrecks reportedly happening along the way. Authorities say, at times, sppets hit 120 miles an hour. According to officials, police arrested Anderson near Eva Street and Gilmer Road in Longview after Anderson’s vehicle wrecked and he fled on foot. He was caught in a residential area behind a grocery store on Gilmer Road around 2:15 p.m.

LONGVIEW — Two people are displaced after a fire damaged their Longview duplex. According to Longview fire officials, they received a call for help Just after 1:00 Tuesday morning. When crews arrived at the scene in the 400 block of Tammy Lynn, they found fire and smoke billowing from the front windows of the building. According to KETK, the blaze caused approximately $48,000 worth of damage to the building before firefighters were able to extinguish the flames. Officials believe the fire originated from a couch near the front window. The cause is unknown at this time. One of the displaced people was treated on scene for minor smoke inhalation. No firefighters were injured.

ATHENS — Henderson County commissioners have extended the county’s burn ban to include the entire county, according to the Chandler Volunteer Fire Department. KETK reports the ban is in effect until August 21. The Texas Forest Service website currently shows 123 of 254 counties under burn bans.

TYLER — Smith County commissioners have accepted Precinct 3 Constable Dustin Rust’s resignation, effective at midnight Tuesday night. The Commissioners Court also appointed Constable-Elect Jim Blackmon to the office through the remainder of the calendar year. Rust (pictured) tells KETK-TV that he has a new position, but is not at liberty to discuss it at this time. Rust was indicted by the Smith County grand jury in April. The indictment stems from charges that Rust and his deputies had been running an unlicensed private security business.

TYLER — Westboro Baptist Church plans to picket East Texas soldier Sgt. Russell R. Bell’s funeral, according to a report by The Fort Bragg Patch. Kansas-based Westboro Baptist is known for its extreme and disruptive protests at military funerals, because they believe the deaths are a punishment from God. One of the organizers for Westboro Baptist’s protests, Jonathan Phelps, tweeted “Thank God for killing Sgt. Russell Bell, Tyler, TX by IED. WBC 2 picket funeral as service 2 all. God is not mocked: U reap what U sow. Gal 6:7.” Fort Bragg’s 4th Brigade soldier, 1st Sgt. Russell R. Bell from Tyler, Texas was killed by an IED last Thursday in Afghanistan.

Military support organization Patriot Guard Riders will occasionally attend soldiers’ funerals where Westboro plans to picket, in a show of support for the family. KETK spoke with a representative of the East Texas Patriot Guard Tuesday morning, who said that the organization has not yet heard confirmation that Westboro Baptist was planning to picket, and had no plans to attend Bell’s memorial service. KETK has learned that the funeral service will be held at Fort Bragg. The date and time of the service will not be released, per request by the family. No word yet on whether there will be a local memorial.

In July, a large group of students and supporters turned out at Texas A&M to form a human wall to block Westboro Baptist protestors from the funeral of soldier Roy Tisdale. Just last week, congress passed a veterans bill that included restrictions on demonstrations at service members’ funerals. The Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012, introduced by Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe, states that protestors can not picket military funerals two hours before or after a service. Demonstrators are also required to stay at least 300 feet away from family members during a memorial.

LONGVIEW — The former president of the Gladewater Youth Baseball Association has pleaded guilty to taking around $6,000 from the organization. Bradford Coy Webb was sentenced to four years probation Monday. Webb told the court, “It should have never happened. I used poor judgment.”