KTBB News, Weather, Talk

KILGORE — A man is dead after an industrial accident at East Texas Lumber. Kilgore Police Capt. Roman Roberson tells KETK officers were called to the company Friday afternoon after a stack of materials fell on a customer, killing him. He has been identified as Joseph Barber, 56, of New London.

TYLER — Tyler Police Investigators along with the F.B.I. believe that the suspect responsible for Thursday’s bank robbery at Compass Bank at 6910 South Broadway may also be responsible for several other bank robberies. The suspect has now been dubbed as the “Loan Ranger Bandit” due to the suspect allegedly having robbed banking institutions where loans are given and where the suspect wore a Texas Ranger hat. Investigators believe that he robbed the Summit Bank on 1114 Highway 35 North in Benton, Arkansas, on January 16, 2009, and again on June 30, 2011. According to Tyler police, the suspect then came to Tyler and robbed the Altra Federal Credit Union located at 5523 Troup Highway. on August 11, 2011 before robbing the Compass Bank Thursday afternoon.

Investigators determined that the suspect ran east of the bank yesterday and more than likely jumped into a getaway vehicle. Police are seeking any information from any person who may have observed the suspect get into a suspect vehicle. Anyone with information about the suspect involved in this crime is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833) or 1-800-575-CUFF. Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to arrests and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.

TYLER — Endorsements keep coming in for the May 29 GOP primary. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has announced his endorsement of Leo Berman (R-Tyler) for re-election to the Texas House of Representatives, District 6. General Abbott stated, “Leo Berman is a man of honor and tremendous courage. He is the best qualified candidate in the race with a conservative voting record to prove it.” Berman responded, “Greg Abbott is one of the greatest attorneys general Texas has ever had. He is a tireless defender of our constitutional rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I am extremely honored to have his support.”

Also, the board of Smith County-based Grassroots America – We the People has endorsed Republican Ted Cruz for the United States Senate. The conservative action organization’s executive director, JoAnn Fleming, said, “Constitutional Conservatives in Texas must wrest this United States Senate seat from the Austin establishment crowd and send a proven defender of the Constitution to Washington, D.C. We won’t have to worry about whether or not Ted Cruz understands the Constitution, his proven record of fighting and defending liberty is legendary.”

PALESTINE — Five people are taken into custody as authorities conduct a drug bust in Palestine. On May 17th around 2:45pm, members of the Palestine Police Department along with the tactical team of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department served a narcotics search warrant at a residence located at 626 South Dorrance Street. Officers seized several grams of suspected cocaine, marijuana, PCP, and prescription medications as well as several items of drug paraphernalia. Additionally officers recovered two pistols on or near the property.

KETK reports that four of the five people arrested were arraigned Friday morning. LaBarius Robinson, 18, and Kevin Birdow, 31, were charged with first degree felony manufacturing or delivery of a controlled substance. Each received a $10,000 bond. Other persons charged, who were at the scene at the time of the warrant execution, were Isaiah Ringer, 22, and Diavonte Lockett, 18. They were charged with possession of marijuana under 2 oz. Each of those suspects received a $1,500 bond. An additional 63-year-old man, who was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, had not been arraigned at the time of inquiry.

WOOD COUNTY — Wood County officials tell KETK they have found the body of a missing man. Authorities say a man reported finding Gerald Haley, 62, in a wooded area. When deputies arrived on scene, they confirmed it was in fact Haley who had disappeared from his house on May 15. The body was sent to Dallas for autopsy. Officials said they do not suspect foul play.

TYLER — Three arrests are made in connection to a fatal March shooting. Tyler investigators have ruled the death of James Caleb Stanley, 19, accidental. Officials responded March 6th to the East Texas Medical Center facility on South Broadway and found the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to ETMC hospital where he died a short time later.

Investigators determined that Stanley and his girlfriend, Brittney Mizzles, 19, were involved in an argument on the night the incident. Mizzles had thrown a clothes basket at Stanley inside their residence that had a 22 caliber revolver handgun lying between some clothes in the basket. The gun discharged striking Stanley in the abdomen. The gun was sent off to be tested and the results indicated that the gun has safety malfunctions that would allow a cartridge to be fired without the trigger being pulled.

Brittney Mizzles told police that Stanley had been shot out in the street on Muller Garden and Fasulo and Farrer had taken the gun and attempted to hide it from police at the scene. Mizzles, (pictured) along with Justin A. Fasulo, 19, and Kavan J. Farrer, 19, were arrested and booked into the Smith County Jail. Mizzles is charged with false report to police, with bond set at $5000. Fasulo and Farrer are both charged with tamper / fabricate physical evidence; bond was set at $10,000 each.

HAWKINS — A Hawkins High School student died Thursday, a day after sustaining a head injury while playing flag football in his high school athletics class. Hawkins authorities say Jacob Gatlin, 15, died on Thursday morning of a fractured skull and a subdural hematoma. According to KETK, Jacob was not taken by ambulance from the school after the injury, but went home, where he started feeling ill. He was taken to a local hospital by EMS, and later to Dallas Children’s Hospital, where he died shortly after 9:30Thursday morning.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating an aggravated assault. It happened Friday morning shortly after 1:30 at the intersection of West 28th Street and North Border Avenue. Officers said the victim claims he was sitting in his uncle’s truck when an unknown male got in the drivers seat and an argument ensued. The suspect reportedly exited the vehicle and began walking down the street when the victim attempted to stop him. The suspect allegedly fired several gun shots in the direction of the victim. He was not injured. The armed man is described as a slender African-American, around 5’7 – 6 ft. tall, weighing between 150 – 180 pounds. He was said to be wearing a black shirt and black sweat pants.

LONGVIEW — Longview police say a transient was arrested Wednesday when police found drugs in her hotel room. According to the arrest report, Longview police went to a room at a hotel in the 2700 block of Eastman Road Wednesday afternoon to follow up on a tip they had received from Crime Stoppers. According to the Longview News-Journal, Amanda Wilkerson, 37, Winnsboro, allowed the agents to search her room and told them that she did have drugs in the room. She proceeded to show them where the drugs were located in a bedside nightstand. Police found marijuana and methamphetamine. Wilkerson was arrested and is being held on a $100,000 bond in Gregg County Jail for manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance.

TYLER — A life sentence is handed down in Tyler for Terrance Cuba in a robbery that turned violent last fall. Officials say the late September incident began at Preferred Medical, 805 North Glenwood in Tyler. According to the DA’s office, the business co-owner went to a work van in the back of the business and saw Cuba trying to take a GPS monitor out of the vehicle. Officials say the businessman confronted Cuba, whereupon Cuba pushed the man down and the two began to struggle. The victim was injured, and Cuba began running off.

The victim chased Cuba for half a mile to a mile. At one point, Cuba stopped, picked up a softball-sized rock, and threw it at the businessman’s head. The businessman kept chasing Cuba but lost track of him. Some witnesses, though, saw Cuba enter a house. Police went to the house after getting information and found Cuba there. Cuba was found guilty of robbery. He had two prior felony convictions on his record, along with numerous misdemeanors, and qualified for a sentence of 25 years to life.

LONGVIEW – A fire that started in the attic has damaged a Longview home. It was reported Thursday morning in the 200 block of Morris Drive. Fire Marshal Johnny Zackary said the fire started near an electrical box in the attic. No one was at home when the fire started and no injuries were reported.

NACOGDOCHES – A Nacogdoches man has been arrested on drug charges. Franklin Gines, 24, was arrested after officers received reports of drug trafficking occurring at College Park Apartments at 1516 Pearl Street. In an apartment officers recovered about ½ pound of marijuana and 129 grams codeine. Gines was booked into the Nacogdoches County Jail on charges of felony possession of marijuana and felony possession of a controlled substance.

POYNOR – The Department of Public Safety has identified the man killed in a one vehicle accident 4 miles north of Poynor. Killed was Matthew Joseph Bradley, 37, of Malakoff. The DPS report said his tires drifted off the right side of the road and he overcorrected. His vehicle then left the other side of the road and flipped and hit a tree. Bradley was rushed to East Texas Medical Center Athens where he died. The accident happened around 8:30 Wednesday morning on Farm Road 315.

TYLER — The Tara McSwain trial has been continued until the week of June 18. The case had most recently been on the docket for this week in Tyler’s 7th State District Court. The DA’s office explains that the trial was bumped due to a load of trials involving jailed suspects. Jailed defendants’ cases are given priority when scheduling trials; McSwain is currently out on bond.

McSwain, 38, is the former owner/manager of East Texas Billing and former manager of Apple Swim & Fitness Center. She faces nine counts of fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, a 3rd degree felony. Last June 16, an employee of Walgreens at 5415 S. Broadway called police and said there was a woman in the drive-thru attempting to pick up a fraudulent prescription for hydrocodone. Patrol officers and vice investigators arrived on the scene and took McSwain into custody after further investigation.

Investigators say they found several pieces of paper with physicians’ and patients’ names on them in McSwain’s purse. Police say the materials were discovered during the search incident to arrest and were believed to be used in a fraudulent manner. Police say because of her billing service for physicians, McSwain had access to doctor and patient information.

After investigators contacted several physicians and former patients, they say they developed probable cause that on six different occasions in 2011, McSwain provided fraudulent information to obtain a controlled substance from pharmacies in Tyler. On June 23, investigators arrested McSwain on six warrants for fraudulent possession of a controlled substance. McSwain was booked into Smith County Jail on a total bond of $120,000, set by Judge Randall Rogers.

TYLER — For the second consecutive year, the City of Tyler has published its Annual Report as an E-Book, with linked video, and as a printed document with QR Codes. The 20-page report outlines the financial status of the City and highlights new programs and achievements from 2011. “Because city revenue has continued to be lower than anticipated, we again made the decision to forgo printing the 25,000 copies of the annual report that we have printed in past years,” commented Mayor Barbara Bass. “By choosing to publish the report electronically, we have saved nearly $10,000. Also, the E-report is more interactive and environmentally friendly.” You can go to https://www.cityoftyler.org/ to access the report.

TYLER — Area law enforcement once again will be participating in the Click-It-or-Ticket enforcement program. The Texas Department of Transportation and its law enforcement partners kicked off the 11th Annual Click-It-Or-Ticket campaign at a press conference Thursday morning at T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza in downtown Tyler.

Officers will be stopping violators for not wearing their seat belts from May 21 through June 3. Texas law requires every person sitting in the front or rear seat of a vehicle to wear a safety belt. A child less than eight years old and less than four feet, nine inches tall must be secured in a child safety seat. Drivers can be stopped and ticketed for a safety belt violation if they, or any of their passengers under the age of 15, are not buckled up or properly restrained. Traffic fines for failing to use a seat belt or secure a child in a safety seat can run from $25 to $200, plus court costs.

TYLER — A judge has denied Kerry Max Cook’s request to move his case out of Smith County. According to KETK, he’s trying to prove he did not murder Linda Joe Edwards, Tyler, in 1997. Cook wants new DNA testing in hopes of being formally declared innocent. Judge Christi Kennedy will take on Cook’s case. Cook believes he won’t get a fair trial because Judge Kennedy’s husband worked for former prosecutor, Jack Skeen, who originally sent Cook to death row.

TYLER — A candidate for Upshur County constable was hospitalized in Tyler after a wreck early Wednesday. Two days earlier, Gary Wayne Henson had been arrested in Gilmer on assault charges. According to the Department of Public Safety, Henson, 34, ran the stop sign on Farm Road 555 at State Highway 154 in Gilmer shortly after midnight Wednesday. His vehicle landed in a ditch on the other side of Texas 154. Henson was taken to East Texas Medical Center in Gilmer after the wreck, and then transported by ambulance to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

Henson is a candidate for Upshur County Pct. 4 constable in the May 29 GOP primary. He was arrested Monday by Gilmer police and charged with assault causing bodily injury family violence. He was booked into the Upshur County Jail and released on $3,000 bond, according to judicial records.

Henson is opposing incumbent Pct. 4 Constable Phillip Hill and Dewayne LaGrone in the Upshur County primary.

NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — The Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office assisted the U.S. Marshall’s Office in arresting James Alan Garrett, 52, on an outstanding federal warrant. According to KETK, Garrett, who was paroled from federal prison after serving 23 years for armed robbery, was listed as a federal fugitive after he refused to report to his parole officer and boasted that he would never go back to prison.

Officers began the search near Chireno, where Garrett was supposed to have been living. He was not present at the home when deputies arrived, but was later located in the parking lot of a local nursing home located along U.S. 59 in Nacogdoches. After finding himself quickly surrounded by officers, Garrett was arrested without a struggle.

At the time of his arrest Garrett was wearing two layers of clothing and was carrying items commonly used during the commission of a robbery. Garrett was wearing a set of dark colored clothing underneath a layer of red colored clothing so that his appearance could be quickly changed. Garrett was armed with what first appeared to be a semi-automatic hand gun, but turned out to be an air pistol concealed in the waistband of his pants.

TIMPSON (AP/Staff) – A moderate earthquake rattled an area in east Texas near the Louisiana border. National Earthquake Information Center geophysicist Amy Vaughan says the quake happened at 3:12 a.m. Thursday and had a magnitude of 4.3. It was centered near Timpson, Texas. Shelby County Sheriff’s dispatcher Jacob Allen says the only injury reported they’ve received is an elderly woman who fell out of her bed and cut her arm. Allen says the quake caused broken windows and fallen dishes, but no major damage has been reported. Vaughan says the quake was felt within 75 miles of its epicenter. There have been reports of tremors in Smith and Gregg Counties. Vaughan also said the quake area was the site of a 3.9 magnitude quake on May 10.

LONGVIEW -– Longview police seek suspects after a Tuesday night shooting left one dead and two injured. Just before 10:00 Tuesday night, officers were dispatched to a shooting just occurred in the 2900 block of Signal Hill Drive. When officers arrived they found Deaundray Lamanze Rossum, 23, of Kilgore, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound, inside a vehicle. Police located another male inside an apartment at the location. That victim had also been shot several times and was transported to Good Shepherd Medical Center. During the investigation another victim was brought by private vehicle to Good Shepherd. Both victims sustained gunshot wounds but these injuries were non life-threatening.

Police believe that the suspects in this shooting were black males and may have been wearing hoodies. The case remains under investigation at this time. Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to call Detective Kevin Freeman at 903-237-1199 or remain anonymous by contacting Gregg County Crimestoppers at http://www.greggcountycrimestoppers.org or 903-236-STOP (7867).

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff’s Deputies check up on convicted sex offenders. Currently 264 registered sex offenders live in the county. That’s a number deputies say is growing, and they attribute the climbing stats to law enforcement’s job of catching and convicting them. Deputies tell KETK three offenders were arrested in the sweep, two for non-payment of child support and one for possession of a firearm.

SMITH COUNTY — Several fire departments were called out to a fire that destroyed a structure in Chapel Hill. According to KETK, the fire was reported just after 9:30 Wednesday morning in the 13,000 block of County Road 2241 off of Old Omen Road. No one lives in the home that burned, according to authorities at the scene. The fire was put out, but crews remained on the scene to keep an eye on hot spots. No word on the cause of that fire.

TYLER — The state has presented its evidence against a Whitehouse woman accused of killing her babysitter, and now the defense is presenting its case. Kimberly Cargill has been charged with capital murder in the June 2010 death of Cherry Walker. Walker was killed one day after she was subpoenaed to testify in a custody hearing over Cargill’s 4-year-old son. Cargill testified yesterday that walker died of a seizure. Cargill said she tried CPR on her, but was unsuccessful. She then testified that she burned the body.
If convicted, Cargill faces the death penalty.

LONGVIEW (AP) – The state will begin offering permits for game hunters to use silencers on their guns, effective September 1. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopted rules in March that permit the use of silencers for the hunting of alligators, game animals or game birds. Such devices already were legal for the hunting of exotic animals, including feral hogs. However, hunters will still have to apply for state permits to have and use silencers. Longview gun dealer Bob Godell tells the Longview News-Journal the change is “long overdue.” Longview hunter Earl Ates, a lifelong National Rifle Association member, says he doubts the benefits of silent hunting, though, and worries about its use for poaching and other illegal activities. He says silencers “can also go against making a humane kill.”

FORT WORTH (AP) — Legendary classical pianist Van Cliburn is parting with more than 150 items he acquired over five decades performing around the globe. The items will be part of a Christie’s auction Thursday in New York City. They include a silver soup tureen from the collection of a daughter of a 19th century Russian Czar.

Cliburn, who grew up in Kilgore, says he’s contemplated the sale for years, since moving belongings out of homes in two other states to his Fort Worth mansion. Cliburn started collecting the furniture, paintings and jewelry after winning the first International Tchaikovsky Competition held in Moscow at age 23. The 1958 event was at the height of the Cold War, and the lanky Texan quickly gained international fame.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that Cliburn is keeping plenty of his treasures.

RED SPRINGS — Officials say a fire that struck a Red Springs home was caused by an unattended burner. Authorities tell KETK a man was cooking and left the burner on underneath a pan of grease, sparking the fire. Three fire departments were called to put out the blaze, but not before major smoke and water damage was done to the inside of the home, on County Road 38 just off Farm Road 14. No injuries were reported.

TYLER — An “Early Voting Countdown to Election Day U.S. Senate Debate” is set for Wednesday in Tyler, sponsored by Grassroots America – We the People. It’s to be held at Lakeview Church of Nazarene, 10818 Spur 248. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for a meet and greet with the candidates. Preliminary activities begin at 6:15 with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and rules of engagement. The debate begins at 6:30 p.m. with a target close of 8:15 p.m.

Confirmed candidates are Ted Cruz, Tom Leppert, Craig James, Glenn Addison, and Lela Pittenger. No official word from the David Dewhurst campaign on whether the Lt. Governor will appear or the campaign will send a surrogate. A stand-in will be expected to participate with the other candidates and conform to all debate rules. Panelists for the debate will be representatives from local media and Grassroots America’s executive director JoAnn Fleming. Fleming says the public is encouraged to attend.

TYLER — A Gregg County man has pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Stephen Lehmann, 37, of Longview, appeared yesterday in Tyler Federal Court before United States Magistrate Judith K. Guthrie.

Lehmann was indicted by a grand jury on March 8, along with one co-defendant. According to the evidence presented in court, from a date prior to November 1, 2011, and continuing through that date, Lehmann agreed with other persons to acquire and distribute marijuana in the East Texas and elsewhere. Authorities say Lehmann and his co-defendant possessed more than 5 kilograms of marijuana. Lehmann faces no more than 5 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and at least 2 years of supervised release.

ALBA — A man who disappeared early Tuesday is sought by authorities in Wood County. Around 1:00 that morning, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office got a call from a woman claiming her husband had become upset and left their home on foot after saying he was going to kill himself. Wood County officials and citizens searched for the man in the area around their home on the 2700 block of Farm Road 17 in Alba, but he was not found. The woman, Mrs. Haley, says her husband was last seen wearing a dark green shirt, blue jean shorts, and flip flops. Mr. Haley is 62 years old and has a short mustache and goatee. He is about 5’10”, with brown eyes and hair. He has friends in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. If anyone has seen or had contact with Mr. Haley, you’re asked to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office at 903-763-2201 or contact your local police agency.