KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler Police responded to a commercial burglar alarm at the CVS Pharmacy this morning. It started around 3:10 at the 1710 W. Gentry location. While officers were in route, the alarm company advised at least two suspects could be seen on the security cameras. The video showed one suspect entered the business through the drive-thru window while another remained just outside the window. The man then passed items from the store thru the window to the 2nd suspect. The men then fled the scene. Officers arrived minutes later and began searching the area but the two were not located. Both suspects are described as black men wearing gray hoodies and gray sweat pants. Anyone with information is urged to contact Tyler Police.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is facing a variety of charges after crashing a stolen vehicle following a pursuit. The chase began Sunday in Longview when officers say Alton Dean Jester, 27, sped away from a traffic stop in a stolen pickup. He later crashed the vehicle into a utility pole in Hallsville, where he is said to have fled on foot. He was arrested a short time later and taken to Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview for treatment. Jester is facing charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest.

TYLER — Here’s a quick look at other work planned in Smith County by the Tyler District of the Texas Department of Transportation.

SMITH COUNTY – Texas Department of Transportation maintenance crews this week are scheduled to continue edge work on Farm Road 15 between Troup and the Rusk County Line. Elsewhere, TxDOT maintenance crews are scheduled to begin edge work on Farm Road 2015 between Farm Road 14 near the Wood County Line and Farm Road 16 east of Winona. Daytime lane closures will be in effect in each location while the work is in progress. Motorists are encouraged to be prepared to reduce speed and merge in and around the work zone. Continue reading TxDOT Project Updates

NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man is behind bars after authorities say he assaulted a man and threatened to kill him and his wife with a knife. KETK reports it happened shortly before 5:30 Sunday morning at an apartment complex located in the 2100 block of Pearl Street in Nacogdoches. Officers were told that a man, O’Brian Washburn Duke, 31, of Nacogdoches, was visiting another man and his wife at their home. After several hours, Duke reportedly began to assault the husband by punching him. According to police, the suspect then tied the husband and his wife up for several hours and threatened to kill them while brandishing a knife. Duke was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful restraint.

LONGVIEW — A couple of construction projects will cause lane closures in Longview beginning today. The southbound right lane of Fourth Street will be closed between Loop 281 and Hollybrook Drive starting at 8 a.m. on Monday and continuing through 5 p.m. Monday, April 14. The closure is being extended because of weather and soil conditions for Longview Regional Hospital Street widening. The westbound right lane of Marshall Avenue will be closed between Edith Street and W. Tyler starting at 8 a.m. on Monday and continuing through 5 p.m. Thursday, February 20. That closure is for water main work for the new O’Reilly Auto Parts Store. Continue reading Lane Closures Beginning Today in Longview

NACOGDOCHES — Nacogdoches Police are currently investigating two thefts that happened on two separate car lots Friday morning. KETK reports the first happened at 9:14 a.m. at Rex Perry GM in the 3900 block of Northwest Stallings Drive. The second theft occurred just over 30 minutes later at Pineywoods Motor Company in the 1200 block of Northwest Stallings Drive. In each case, several items were removed from a vehicle on the car lot. Authorities are not sure if the thefts are connected. Anyone with information is asked to call Nacogdoches police.

LINDALE — Lindale firefighter Joe Yeakley continues to recover from burns sustained in a house fire last month — and supporters from all over the state joined hands Saturday to do their part. According to a news release from the Lindale Fire Department, over 600 runners and around 100 volunteers came together to prove that Yeakley is “Not Your Average Joe” — the name given to the run/walk. Fire department Lt. Aaron Munn tells KETK that participants raised $10,000 — and that so far more than $40,000 has been brought in through various Yeakley benefits. On Saturday, around 75 firefighters, most of whom ran in full firefighting gear, came from around East Texas and even as far as the Texas Panhandle to participate. Continue reading “Not Your Average Joe” Run/Walk Brings a Community Together

TYLER — Brookshire’s Grocery Company is responding to a nationwide meat recall prompted by E. coli concerns. In a statement issued over the weekend to our news partner KETK, Brookshire’s says, “PFP Enterprises, LLC issued a voluntary recall this week for a specific lot of ‘Texas Meat Packers Seasoned Beef for Fajitas’ due to possible contamination with E. coli bacteria. Several Brookshire Grocery Company stores in Texas including Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and FRESH by Brookshire’s were identified as those that had received some of the product which was packed in December 2013. Continue reading Brookshire’s Responds to E. Coli Concerns

LONGVIEW — Longview Police have received a report of a child abduction in the area of Mobberly Avenue and Oakdale Street. According to KETK, the person who made the report stated she saw a white van pull up to an unknown Hispanic female Friday. A subject described as wearing all black is said to have grabbed the girl, placed his hand over her mouth, and dragged her into the van. The van then sped away quickly, according to the statement. Continue reading Possible Kidnapping in Longview

LIBERTY CITY — It’s been learned that an elder with the controversial Church of Wells was arrested February 1 in Gregg County. According to jail records, Jacob McGinley Gardner, 25, was arrested for criminal trespassing and resisting arrest according to jail records on the Sabine High School campus during faith-based activities. KETK reports he was booked into the Gregg County Jail and was released the same day on a $1,500 bond. Requests for comments from members of the church were declined.

LONGVIEW — A popular Longview bar could be in some hot water after having a $1-million lawsuit filed against it. Gerald’s Martini Bar is being sued by Wesley and Cindy Bickerdike of Longview after their son, Brian, died in December from alcohol poisoning The Bickerdikes tell KETK employees of Gerald’s served their son until the point he became overly intoxicated and was clear danger to himself and others. Brian, who was 25 at the time of his death, had a blood alcohol level of .479, almost six times the legal limit, when he died on December 14. The bar’s owner, Gerald Rodriguez, refused to comment on the lawsuit. Court documents obtained by KETK show Rodriguez is denying all allegations and responsibility in Bickerdike’s death. Continue reading Lawsuit Filed against Bar after Alcohol Poisoning Death

LONGVIEW — Another candidate has filed for Longview City Council in the May 10 election. 60-year-old tool room attendant Donald Webb faces 40-year-old incumbent Kasha Williams in District 3. One candidate, 32-year-old Kristen Ishihara, has placed her name in the running for District 4.

LINDALE — Authorities in Lindale Friday suspended the search for a robber in the area of South Street. KETK reports detectives with the Lindale Police Department are going to follow up on the case. Officials with Lindale ISD said a “soft lockdown” was canceled at 2:00 p.m. and student release proceeded as normal. Continue reading Lindale Police Investigate Robbery that Caused School Lockdown

TYLER — One of the grand old ladies of Caldwell Zoo has died. In a news release, zoo officials say Sierra, their adult female mountain lion, died February 5. She was born in the wild in Texas in 1992 and raised by her mother. She was relocated to Florida, where she was an integral part of a genetic restoration program for Florida panthers, according to the release. She produced two litters of cubs in the wild, and the surviving cubs from those litters have produced cubs of their own. Continue reading Officials: Oldest Mountain Lion in Accredited Zoos Passes Away

MARSHALL — A Marshall man died Friday from injuries sustained when he was severely burned Thursday night. According to KETK and the Longview News-Journal, Marshall Battalion Chief Jack Hanson said the burns occurred about 7:45 p.m. as two men were working to excite a fire in a cast iron, wood-burning stove in the 3800 block of South Washington Avenue. The men used a “flammable liquid,” likely paint thinner, to help ignite the fire, Hanson said. Then one man tried to stoke the fire by using more of the flammable liquid, and the fire ignited the vapors. Continue reading Marshall Man Dies of Burn Injuries

TYLER — A pit bull found in Gregg County last week is on the road to recovery. KETK reports the dog’s collar was wrapped so tightly it had dug into his neck. The dog, named Nikolas, is in Tyler now, getting some high-tech treatment. Over the next few weeks, Nikolas will go through daily regimens of laser therapy. Considering the abuse, Nik’s recovery is expected to be fairly short. Veterinarian Dr. Gary Spence, who’s been working with Nikolas, says within two weeks or so, the dog should be back on his feet and ready for adoption.

SMITH COUNTY — According to the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office, one man was injured and a house was destroyed in a Friday morning fire. Officials on scene tell KETK the call concerning the blaze came in at around 10:09 a.m., and crews responded to the home in the 14,550 block of County Road 472, just west of Wood Springs Road near Lindale. The owner of the home was able to escape the home to get to his neighbor’s house to call emergency officials, but was injured in the process. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time, but he was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

TYLER — Tyler Police are investigating a reported aggravated assault. It happened around 10:45 Thursday night near the intersection of Tyler Street and Martin Luther King Boulevard. The victim claims when he arrived home, he noticed a suspicious vehicle with a man parked in the road. He circled the block and when he came back, the truck was still there but the man was gone. He continued to watch the truck when he noticed the man sat up and drove off. The victim followed the man, who eventually pulled over, got out with a gun and fired a single shot at the victim, hitting his vehicle. He fled the scene and notified police. The suspect is described as a black male, 6 feet tall, 170 pounds wearing a dark colored hoodie. The truck is said to be a single cab, possibly a Ford. Call police with any information.

LONGVIEW — A Longview man remains in The Gregg County Jail following a chase through Upshur and Gregg Counties. In jail under bonds totaling $30,500 is Damien Cornelius Sherow, 25. The chase began in Upshur County when police discovered, during a traffic stop, Sherow had outstanding warrants against him. A couple of times during the pursuit, officers broke off the case because the suspects reached unsafe speeds. The Longview News Journal reports Sherow was arrested when he attempted to run into a south Longview home. In his car during the pursuit was his girlfriend, her ten year old son and their one year old daughter. Besides two outstanding theft warrants out of Camp County, Sherow is charged with two counts of endangering a child and possession of marijuana.

KILGORE — The Kilgore Police Department is seeking two men who allegedly robbed a man at gunpoint at a Kilgore business. A police department news release says two masked men entered the recycling center in the 300 block of Harris Street around 9:30 Thursday morning, and one was armed with a handgun. After tying the victim up, they stole his truck. The truck is described as a 2004 tan Chevrolet extended-cab Z-71, was later found abandoned in a parking lot a couple of blocks away from where it was stolen. If you have any information regarding the reported crime or the whereabouts of the alleged robbers, contact the Kilgore Police Department at 903-983-1559.

ATHENS – A Tatum resident has been sentenced to serve two concurrent prison terms of twelve years and ten years for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. KETK reports those sentences were handed down in Athens to Norman Wade Yoes, 50, after a punishment hearing on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading Convicted Felon Sentenced for Meth, Possession of Firearm

ATHENS — A Henderson County Jail escapee is back in custody today. Marcus Tyrone Grayson, 28, (pictured) escaped from a work detail at the Henderson County Fairgrounds around 8:00 Sunday night. Authorities say he spent the night in the woods, and then walked to Sand Flats and a friend’s house. Police arrested him there on Thursday. His friend was also arrested. Elexon Dephon Jones, 36, was arrested on a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

SHERMAN – In a case that stretched into East Texas, a 55-year-old Houston man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a multi-state health care fraud scheme in the Eastern District of Texas. Peter Pedro Egede pleaded guilty on Apr. 4, 2013, to health care fraud and was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison Thursday by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone. Egede was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,635,447.60 to the Medicare and Medicaid programs and a fine of $12,500. Continue reading Houston Man Sentenced in Multi-State Health Care Fraud Scheme

TYLER — The former Chief Financial Officer for Dr. Tariq Mahmood’s Texas hospitals has been charged with health care fraud violations. Joe White, 66, of Cameron, Texas, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tyler, and charged with making false statements to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and aggravated identity theft. White appeared for an arraignment hearing yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. If convicted, White faces up to five years in federal prison for making a false statement and up to two years in federal prison for aggravated identity theft. Continue reading Former Hospital CFO Charged with Health Care Fraud

TURNERTOWN — Rusk County officials say according to the autopsy report, Alfonzia Garland, who was found dead in a truck near Turnertown, was killed by a gunshot wound. KETK reports the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident as a homicide and Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information regarding the case. Garland, 64, of Henderson, was pronounced dead at the scene on County Road 4107 near Highway 64.

RED SPRINGS — A relief fund has been set up after a fire north of Tyler destroyed a home and killed the family dog. According to KETK, firefighters were called out to the 15,000 block of Farm to Market Road 14 around 5:00 yesterday morning. Frances Galindo, her two teenage daughters and a two year old boy all managed to escape the fire unharmed. Officials said there were no smoke detectors in the house. The family reportedly did not have insurance. Red Cross has been called in to assist the family. The cause of the fire is under investigation. You can help the Galindo family by visiting any Southside Bank branch or United Heritage Credit Union on Broadway near the Houston Street intersection. The relief fund has been set up under the name “Frances Galindo.”

TYLER – Progress continues as planned on Tyler ISD BOND 2013 construction projects, according to a news release from the school district. The multi-million dollar bond passed by voters last May includes a new 147,000 square foot Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center, two new middle school campuses at the existing Moore MST Magnet School and Boulter Middle School locations, one new middle school at the Three Lakes location in South Tyler, and renovations and additions to Dixie and Rice elementary schools. Continue reading Tyler ISD BOND 2013 Construction Update

LONGVIEW — A Longview man is behind bars after police say he destroyed a classroom at a local college campus while he was drunk. According to KETK, D’Sean James Caldwell, 19, was arrested after allegedly ransacking a classroom at the Kilgore College-Longview campus around 9:00 Tuesday night. Caldwell was booked into the Gregg County Jail on charges of criminal mischief and public intoxication. He reportedly caused between $1,500 and $20,000 worth of damage. He is being held on a $5,000 bond.

GILMER — With two petitions in their hands, Gilmer city officials prepare for two possible alcohol votes this spring. When the city council meets February 26, it will vote whether or not to approve putting the measures on the May ballot. KETK reports that if the petitions are approved, Gilmer residents will vote on two measures. The first: approve the sale of beer and wine for off-premise consumption. The second: approve the sale of mixed beverages in restaurants. Officials point out that the items are “totally separate matters.” They say if they make the ballot, “a person can vote against both of them, vote for both of them, or vote for one and not the other.”

CHAPEL HILL — A recent rash of burglaries in one Smith county neighborhood has residents on high alert. KETK reports several people who live off of Highway 64 in Chapel Hill have seen an increase of suspicious behavior, and some have even had things taken. Bobby Logan and his family have lived in Chapel Hill for more than twenty years. He says they’ve never had to deal with anything like this, but early last week more than $700 worth of tools and equipment went missing from his truck during the night. “I’m just a working guy trying to make it and they took the tools that i use to make my living and that’s really aggravating,” said Logan. Continue reading Burglaries Put Neighborhood on High Alert