KTBB News, Weather, Talk

JACKSONVILLE — Authorities arrested three people early Tuesday during a drug raid at a Jacksonville home. According to KETK, Cherokee County Sheriff James Campbell said deputies executed a search warrant at a home in the 500 block of Sunset Avenue. The warrant was issued by Judge Dwight Phifer. Deputies, along with help from the Jacksonville Police Department, arrested Jessica Lee Wold, 32, of Jacksonville; Justin Wayne Dedmon, 31, of Jacksonville; and Dewey Dolen Dowdy, 44, of Troup. Law enforcement seized meth, marijuana, drug paraphernelia and cash, according to authorities. Continue reading Three Nabbed in Jacksonville Drug Raid

WHITEHOUSE — Whitehouse Independent School District has received notification from a contracted archival company that a vehicle trailer containing certain records of some former students was recently stolen. KETK reports the information comes in a WISD news release. As a part of the district’s ongoing records management program, a third-party service located in Shreveport, Louisiana, periodically archives a portion of WISD’s paper files of former students. After processing, the archival service placed the paper files into a trailer for return to WISD. The trailer was stolen before the archival service returned the paper records to the school district. The theft has been reported to the Shreveport Police Department and, out of what’s termed an abundance of caution, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Continue reading FBI Investigating Theft of Former Whitehouse ISD Student Records

TYLER — Tyler Police investigators received three positive DNA test results from the Department of Public Safety leading to the identity of three suspects deemed responsible for an aggravated robbery that occurred December 19, 2012, in City Park, at N. Broadway and Queen Street. Police say information received by a Tyler/Smith County Crime Stoppers tip allowed investigators to suspect three men who were later confirmed by their DNA that was recovered from the victim’s clothing. The victim was robbed, shot in the neck, left for dead, and paralyzed from the gunshot wound. Continue reading DNA Evidence Links Three Suspects to 2012 Park Shooting

CONROE (AP/ABC/Staff) – Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson will avoid jail time after reaching a plea agreement in his child abuse case. A judge agreed to the plea deal during a hearing Tuesday in Conroe. Peterson gets two years’ probation, will pay a $4,000 fine, will perform 80 hours of community service, and must attend parenting classes. Peterson was indicted in September for using a wooden switch to discipline his 4-year-old son earlier this year in suburban Houston. The All-Pro running back was charged with felony injury to a child and had faced up to two years in prison if convicted. Under the agreement, Peterson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of reckless assault. Peterson says he never intended to harm his son and was disciplining him in the same way he had been as a child growing up in Palestine.

TYLER — A Smith County man pleaded guilty Tuesday to murdering his wife in February and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. KETK reports Adrian Mata, 29, had waived his arraignment Thursday morning. Mata shot Jennifer Mata, 30, February 25 at their home on Poplar Road. The victim was rushed to a local hospital but died from her injuries a few hours later. When authorities responded to the scene of the shooting, the shooter had fled in his car. He was arrested at a home in The Villages subdivision. Jennifer Mata, a mother of three young children, was a pharmacy technician at UT Health Northeast.

TYLER — Due to the railroad overpass construction on SSW Loop 323 at Bellwood Road in Tyler, southbound traffic has been shut down to one lane. Police advise drivers to exercise caution in that area and to seek alternate routes if possible.

SMITH COUNTY — Officials have reported the death of an inmate at the Smith County Jail. According to officials, around 5:30 Monday evening, as rounds were being made to serve the evening meal, an inmate in a cell on the second floor failed to respond to receive his food tray. Detention Officers entered the cell and found the inmate, identified as Robert Reed Rowan, 27, Flint, unresponsive. Officials said a code blue was issued alerting additional jail staff and inmate medical personnel to respond. Tyler Fire and EMS were also dispatched. Efforts to revive Rowan were unsuccessful. His body has been sent to the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science in Dallas for autopsy. Continue reading Smith County Officials, Texas Rangers Investigate Inmate’s Death

TYLER – Polls opened in Smith County this morning at 7:00 in the mid-term election. Predicted rain may cut into the voter turnout. Smith County voters have a number of Election Day choices on the ballot. Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert again faces Democrat Shirley McKellar. GOP state Representative Matt Schaefer squares off against Libertarian Joel Gardner, while state Representative Bryan Hughes is opposed by Ron Walenta, also a Libertarian.

Elsewhere, wet/dry elections are being held in Justice Precinct 5 and the city of Bullard; voters will choose board members in Emergency Service District 2; incumbent Democrat Quincy Beavers is challenged by Republican Flor Nichols in Justice of the Peace Precinct 1; and Arp ISD voters will decide on a bond issue.

Smith County voters are reminded that Election Day polling locations are in individual precincts only. Voters need to visit to their precinct polling location. There is no voting at the Smith County Elections Office/Early Voting location today. To find your polling location, you can enter your address and print out directions from the Smith County Web site at http://www.smith-county.com or call the Smith County Elections Office for assistance at 903-590-4777.

LONGVIEW — The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect in recent vehicle burglaries and credit card abuse. The department’s Facebook page says on September 24, multiple vehicles were broken into in the 3400 block of North US Highway 259. One of the victim’s credit cards was used twice, once at a convenience store in Longview then again at the Whataburger in Liberty City. Surveillance video shows a woman using the card at the convenience store, and there was video footage from both locations showing a small white car leaving after the card had been used. You are asked to contact Investigator David Falco at 903-236-8438 or Crime Stoppers at 903-236-STOP if you have any information about the suspect.

CENTER – A Cherokee County man has escaped injury in a fatal accident in Shelby County. The wreck happened just before 12:15 Monday morning on U.S. Highway 96, about ten miles south of Center. Dead at the scene was Cory Dow Stovall, 44, of San Saba. The Department of Public Safety said Stovall’s minivan was northbound when it crossed the center line and collided with a tractor-trailer truck driven by James Lee Fuller, 69, of Jacksonville. The minivan caught fire and burned. The accident remains under investigation.

TYLER – A sheriff’s deputy and a suspect in a high-speed pursuit in Smith County have been released from the hospital, and the suspect is in custody. The suspect has been identified as Adrian Jason, 17, of Tyler. Officials say the chase occurred around 4:00 Saturday morning and ended off Farm Road 850 in the southeastern portion of the county. Sheriff Larry Smith says a deputy attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle and the driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading the deputy on a short chase. Smith says during the pursuit, the driver took a wrong turn onto a dead end, bringing the chase to a halt. As the deputy was getting out of his patrol car, Jason reversed into the deputy, pinning him to the patrol car.

Sheriff Smith said the deputy feared for his life and fired one shot into the vehicle. He was then able to unpin himself from between the vehicles and fired two more shots into the vehicle, hitting the driver one time. Both the deputy and the driver were taken to the ETMC emergency room where they were treated for their injuries and released the same day. The deputy remains off duty on medical leave at this time per doctor’s orders. He is not currently on administrative leave.

Jason has been booked into the Smith County Jail on one count of aggravated assault against a public servant and one count of evading arrest. His bonds total $7500. The two passengers in his car, 15 and 17 years of age, were interviewed and released into the custody of family members.

LONGVIEW – A Kilgore woman has pleaded guilty to a Gregg County murder in 2011. Samantha Gonzales Lara pleaded guilty Monday afternoon to the shooting death of Renee Garrett. She was killed in January 2011 in the robbery of the Kilgore Adult Video Store on Industrial Avenue. KETK reports Lara has been sentenced to 50 years in prison by 124th District Court of Judge Alfonso Charles. Lara was arrested in February 2012, one day after a Gregg County grand jury returned a two-count indictment for felony murder and aggravated robbery. At the time of her arrest, investigators said she was not the only suspect in the case. DNA evidence taken from the scene confirmed the identity of one of three suspects in the robbery and homicide.

KILGORE — An East Texas man is accused of driving while intoxicated on Halloween. KETK reports Freeman LeJeune was arrested in Kilgore after causing a crash. The Henderson man was released from jail on bond later the same night. LeJeune is facing a number of charges including possession of controlled substance.

LONGVIEW — A Longview woman is behind bars accused of credit card abuse and forgery. According to KETK, 42-year-old Richann Hanna was arrested Friday afternoon by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies. Hanna was wanted in Nueces County on those forgery charges.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is behind bars, accused of beating up a family member. KETK reports 30-year-old Noah Paul Jaramillo was arrested Friday evening by Gregg County sheriff’s deputies. According to jail records, Jaramillo is charged with assault causing bodily injury. This isn’t Jaramillo’s first run-in with local authorities. He was arrested in July for family violence, and last September for theft and assaulting a public servant.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at work planned in the Tyler District during the Week of November 3:

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) maintenance crews in Tyler will be placing an overlay surface on Farm Road 757 between State Highway 31 and Farm Road 2767 this week. Be alert for lane closures and flaggers during this work. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

OAKLAND, CALIF. (AP/Staff) – Authorities say a man with family in Tyler fell to his death after climbing up a restricted area of a Northern California concert venue. The Contra Costa County Coroner’s Office told the Contra Costa Times that Zachary Bradley plunged more than 20 feet Friday after scaling an elevated area behind the stage at Oracle Arena. Bradley was attending the Spookfest 2014 concert with friends on Halloween night. Bradley’s parents tell the newspaper that the 20-year-old from Phoenix, Arizona, was a sophomore at UC Berkeley studying to be a doctor. His mother, Cristal Rodriguez of Tyler, says police told her that her son was intoxicated. She says she doesn’t blame anybody, and that her son made a bad decision. Oakland police Officer Frank Bonifacio says circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain under investigation.

CONROE (ABC/Staff) — Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and his representatives have reportedly been in talks to reach a plea agreement in the former Palestine star’s child-abuse case in Texas. That’s according to sources close to the situation who spoke with ESPN. The sources say the deal could be done as early as Tuesday. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter says to date, the NFL has shown no willingness to allow Peterson to be removed from the commissioner’s exempt list and to return to work. But Schefter says if and when Peterson reaches a plea deal, the conversation and the focus on the situation will heat up dramatically.

TYLER — Some big-name politicians found themselves in Tyler just days away from the midterm elections. KETK reports it was all for Grassroots America’s Champions of Freedom awards dinner. Big names like Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert and Lieutenant Governor Candidate Dan Patrick were all there. They shared their views on the importance of securing the border and keeping Americans safe. Patrick mentioned we apprehend more people who cross the border every week than people born in Texas each week. He also talked about the importance of getting everyone to vote. He said it is not important just to win — but to win big. Continue reading Big-Name Politicians Visit Tyler

TYLER — A sheriff’s deputy and a suspect in a high-speed pursuit in Smith County have been released from the hospital, and the suspect is in custody. Officials say the chase occurred around 4:00 Saturday morning and ended off Farm Road 850 in the southeastern portion of the county. According to KETK, Sheriff Larry Smith says a deputy attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle and the driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading the deputy on a short chase. Smith says during the pursuit, the driver took a wrong turn onto a dead end, bringing the chase to a halt. As the deputy was getting out of his patrol car, the suspect driver reversed into the deputy, pinning him to the patrol car, according to the sheriff. Continue reading Deputy, Chase Suspect Released from Hospital; Suspect in Custody

LONGVIEW – Beginning today, all lanes of traffic will reopen on Green Street from Cotton Street to East Whaley Street in Longview. Green Street from Cotton Street south to Nelson Street remains closed as paving and other improvements continue. This street work is part of the Downtown Parking Streetscape Improvements project approved by voters in the 2011 Capital Improvements bond package. This project consists of improvements to Green Street in the downtown area, including improvements to paving, storm sewer system, sidewalks, streetscape, and landscaping.

MOORINGSPORT, La. (AP) – Officials say that 3,450 barrels of oil have been recovered from an October 13 oil spill along Tete Bayou in Caddo Parish, La. About 4,000 barrels of oil spilled from a rupture in the Mid-Valley pipeline owned by Sunoco Logistics Partners. It carries crude oil from Longview, Texas to Samaria, Michigan. Sunoco spokesman Jeff Shield tells KSLA-TV that emergency response continues, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state officials and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office all involved. Continue reading Oil Spill Cleanup Continues in Louisiana

TYLER – The bariatric surgery program at Mother Frances Hospital, Tyler recently received the Blue Cross Blue Shield “Blue Distinction Plus +” designation. This is the highest level of distinction awarded by BCBS, according to a Mother Frances news release. “Being awarded this distinction not only means that we meet the quality standards that Blue Cross Blue Shield sets, it means that we work hard to go above and beyond them,” said Betsy Carson, RN, CBN, Bariatric Surgery Coordinator at Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. “It is incredibly important to us to provide the highest levels of quality care to our community and ensure they are getting the very best care available.”

TYLER — Smith County Sheriff’s Office detectives in the Property Crimes Division have discovered a theft and burglary ring in Smith County and surrounding counties. The investigation began on Wednesday, October 8, when detectives noticed a trend in various theft and burglary reports. The investigation continued throughout the month of October, so far clearing six burglaries in the southern portion of Smith County and one burglary in Henderson County. Judge Christi Kennedy of the 114st State District Court issued the two search warrants and thirteen arrest warrants following an investigation lasting several weeks. As a result, detectives have recovered over $16,000 worth of property, including four firearms.

Nathan Johns, 30, of Flint, was arrested on Monday, October 27, with four counts of Burglary of a Habitation, one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and one count of Parole Violation, with total bond set at $500,000. He is currently in the Smith County Jail and could face additional charges as the investigation continues.

Also arrested on Monday, October 27, were Keandre Allen, 18, of Tyler, and Ledaryton Pettigrew, 22, of Tyler. Allen is charged with two counts of Theft of Property, with total bond set at $3,000. Pettigrew is also charged with two counts of Theft of Property, with total bond set at $10,000. Allen and Pettigrew are both out of jail on bond.

Christian Collins, 30, of Tyler, was arrested on Tuesday, October 28. Collins is charged with one count of Theft of Property with bond set at $6,000. Collins is also out of jail on bond.

Garrick Mosely, 31, of Tyler, and Gabriel Burget, 33, of Tyler, were arrested on Wednesday, October 29. Mosely is charged with two counts of Theft of Property, with total bond set at $10,000. Burget is charged with one count of Theft of Property, with bond set at $4,000. Mosely and Burget are both out of jail on bond.

The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is asking if anyone has information which could lead to the continued recovery of stolen property in these cases, please contact the police.

TYLER – Tyler police are investigating a reported robbery at First Bank and Trust East Texas, near the intersection of Old Jacksonville Highway and Three Lakes Parkway. The bank was held up at knife point around 2:15 Friday afternoon. Officers were given the description of the suspect and suspect vehicle that left the scene of the robbery. About seven minutes after the robbery, they stopped the vehicle at the intersection of the Old Jacksonville Highway and West Grande. In the car, officers say they found the knife used in the robbery and the money taken from the bank. There, officers took into custody Willie White, 32, of Tyler. The car’s driver is being detained while the investigation continues.

LUFKIN (AP) — Some kindergarten students in East Texas have turned Halloween into a math and science project with treats going to the dogs. The Lufkin Daily News reports that students at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal School in Lufkin created a service project called Howl-A-Ween. The project began as a measuring assignment in math. Teachers Barbara Peterson and Kim Watter also incorporated animal adaptation in science. The instructors had the students create and donate dog treats to the Winnie Berry Humane Society of Angelina County. The treats were presented in paper bags decorated with images of pumpkins and pooches.

AUSTIN — When Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples decided to forgo a third term and run for lieutenant governor, he knew it was a gamble. After he failed to win the Republican primary, his just-completed tour of duty became his final term. Staples remarks, “When I was sworn in as agriculture commissioner for my second term in 2011, I knew the next few years would be a terrific ride, and it certainly has been.” Staples left office Friday to become president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. Staples began his political career in his hometown of Palestine, serving as a state legislator before becoming ag commissioner in 2007.

CARTHAGE — The family of the victim of a now freed infamous killer continues its fight to return him to prison. In the movie “Bernie,” Bernie Tiede was portrayed as a kind man who’d been pushed over the edge by his victim, 80-year-old Marjorie Nugent. Nugent’s granddaughter Shannon Nugent says he stole millions from her and shot her to death the morning she was to meet with her bank in Longview about her missing funds. She says Tiede “cleaned up the body, then went to her purse, stole her credit card, and took people out for pizza. That’s who this guy is, and…I can’t believe that anybody in Texas would want this guy out on the streets.” She says because of the amount of cash stolen, this could have been a capital murder case. She doesn’t want a retrial; she wants Tiede to serve out his life sentence behind bars.

TYLER — Two persons who had been under investigation for misconduct as employees of the Smith County Jail have resigned. One resigned on Wednesday and the other resigned yesterday. This is the result of a continued internal Smith County Sheriff’s Office investigation which has been ongoing for several months. This investigation was self-reported by Sheriff Larry Smith once he learned of its existence. In addition to this internal investigation, Sheriff Smith initiated a criminal investigation through the Texas Rangers. Continue reading More Resignations at the Smith County Jail

The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office recently arrested the ex-husband of a missing Kilgore woman for assault. KETK reports the alleged crime is unrelated to the missing person case. Authorities had been looking for Craig Deallen Davison, 49, for an arrest warrant issued in mid-October. The warrant was for an assault, family violence charge, with previous conviction. This new charge is a 3rd degree felony. The assault is believed to have taken place on or about the day he was released from jail, September 25. Continue reading Ex-Husband of Missing Kilgore Woman Arrested for Assault