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VAN ZANDT COUNTY, Texas (KETK)— A man was arrested in Van Zandt County on Wednesday after drugs were found inside of his vehicle during a traffic stop, according to our news partner KETK and the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office.

James Chandler Groessel was pulled over for a traffic stop by narcotics investigators while driving through the Rolling Oaks Subdivision. During the stop, investigators suspected that drugs were in Chandler’s vehicle and requested assistance from the Greenville Police Department K9 Unit to search the car. The K-9 Unit alerted investigators to the presence of illegal drugs, prompting a search of the vehicle. According to officials during the search of Groessel’s car heroin and meth were found.

Groessel was then arrested and transported to the Van Zandt County Jail. He was charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Groessel is currently awaiting arraignment.

KILGORE – Kilgore Police are seeking the public’s assistance in finding two men accused of burglarizing a storage unit facility according to our news partner KETK.

They need assistance finding 47-year-old Aaron Fouse and 46-year-old Justin Taylor. Both were identified as the suspects in a burglary of the Clayton’s Security Storage facility on Danville Road.

If you have any information regarding the crime or their whereabouts, contact Detective Jacob Lira at 903-985-2442. The case number to referene is 2506-2086.

TYLER – After “One Big, Beautiful Bill” was passed, East Texas Congressman Nathaniel Moran (R-TX-01) released a statement about how he believes the legislation gives American Families a chance to preserve the promise of the American Dream.

After sessions in both the House and the Senate, the bill was officially passed on Thursday afternoon. Moran was one of 218 members of the House who voted in favor of the bill, while 214 members voted against the bill.

The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ is a fiscal package bill from President Donald Trump with the goal of cutting $1.5 trillion from the government’s budget to establish different tax laws, overtime pay, and more.

In his statement, Rep. Moran wrote about how the passing of the bill reinforces the government’s commitment to the American people and small businesses. Continue reading Rep. Moran optimistic on passing of the “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

HARRISON COUNTY – Harrison County officials have confirmed that a domesticated cat located in the Longview area has tested positive for rabies.

According to a release from county officials, the cat that was tested resided within the Honeysuckle Farms area of Longview. All residents are urged to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their pets.

Make sure all pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations, including dogs, cats and ferrets. Avoid contact with unfamiliar animals, wild or domesticated. If a person or their pet has been bitten or scratched by an animal, they are asked to seek medical attention.

People are asked to contact the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to report any animals displaying aggressive or abnormal behavior.

UPDATE: Dyke’s memorial service will be held at the Green Acres Baptist Church on July 9 starting at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers Dykes family requests that donations are made to the Green Acres Foundation.

TYLER — Former Green Acres Baptist Church Pastor David Dykes has died, sources close to the family confirmed on Thursday morning. The church said it will release additional information regarding arrangements later Thursday afternoon. Details into Dykes’ death are unknown. His family requests privacy during this time.

According to our news partner KETK, Dykes began preaching in 1970, and went on to serve as the senior pastor of Green Acres Baptist Church from 1991 to 2021. He then served as Pastor Emeritus of Green Acres.

He was also the author of several books, including Handling Life’s Disappointments, Ten Requirements for America’s Survival, and Angels Really DO exist. Continue reading Pastor Dykes funeral arrangements announced

GREGG COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is searching for several men suspected of stealing fireworks from a stand in Liberty City on Monday night.

According to officials, multiple unknown men broke into the 582 Fireworks stand, and allegedly stole several packages of fireworks before the owner arrived. The owner attempted to stop the burglary while in progress. The suspects were seen driving away from the scene in a 2014 Chevrolet Malibu, according to officials.

Several pictures taken from surveillance footage during the incident were posted on Facebook by the Sheriff’s Office.

Anyone who may recognize any of the suspects or have information related to this case is asked to call Investigator Todd Chastain at (903) 237-2514 or call Gregg County Crime Stoppers at 903-236-7867.

UPSHUR COUNTY– An Upshur County man was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to aggravated robbery that took place two years ago, according to our news partner KETK and the Upshur County District Attorney’s Office.

On June 6, 2023, Dabrodrick Deondre Mathis, along with another person, convinced a man to drive from Texarkana after telling him he was meeting a woman. Once the victim arrived, Mathis and the other person involved pointed a gun at the victim’s face then stole his iPhone, Apple Watch, wallet, credit card, and forced the victim to send them money through Cash App. Once the victim left the scene, he reported the incident to authorities at the Gilmer Police Department, prompting an investigation. Continue reading Upshur County man sentenced to 30 years for robbery

BULLARD — According to our news partner KETK, eight people were taken into ICE custody on Wednesday following a traffic stop in Bullard with one man fleeing the scene. ICE spokesperson Dexter Henson said 8 people were taken into ICE custody after being contacted by Bullard law enforcement. According to Henson, this was a normal traffic stop and not part of any immigration task force investigation.

A Bullard police officer was reportedly conducting a traffic stop for a violation when a Hispanic man fled from the vehicle.

Officials said the man is still on the run, but is not believed to be armed or dangerous. The Bullard Police Department is asking anyone with information about the man to contact them at 903-894-7788.

RAINS COUNTY – Our news partner KETK reports that a second Rains County judge has been arrested for tampering with a witness.

According to records obtained from the Rains County District Clerk, Judge Linda Wallace has been indicted for witness tampering in the case State of Texas v. Robert Jenkins Franklin. Franklin was a justice of the peace who was arrested in May for official oppression and witness tampering. He is accused of telling a victim, “You take that deal, boy – or dead man can’t testify.”

“Wallace….did coerce [victim] who was a prospective witness in an official proceeding, by pressuring her as supervisor of her employment with intent to influence [the victim] to withhold testimony,” the indictment reads.

Wallace was appointed to fill the vacant Rains County judge position for the unexpired term of Rains County Judge Wayne Wolfe in 2021.

ANGELINA COUNTY – One man is dead after threatening members of the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office with what was later revealed to be an airsoft gun, according to the sheriff’s office and our news partner KETK.

On Tuesday morning, deputies were patrolling Stubblefield Road off of US Hwy 69, northwest of Lufkin, searching for John Franklin Carter, who had an active felony warrant for assault family violence. The warrant was issued after investigators say Carter had strangled his girlfriend into unconsciousness and also cut another man with a knife who was attempting to get Carter off the victim.

While searching for Carter, deputies recognized his Toyota and immediately began to approach the vehicle. A female driver, along with Carter, then exited the car. According to officials, Carter began acting upset and was holding what appeared to be a black handgun. Continue reading One dead after officer involved shooting

TEXARKANA -A federal inmate has received an additional prison sentence for assaulting a correctional officer in the Eastern District of Texas, according to a press release from the office of Acting U.S. Attorney Jay R. Combs.

According to information presented in court, on November 29, 2022, Andrew Hunter, 23, of Mount Pleasant, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, had an altercation with a correctional officer in a hallway at the Federal Prison Camp. During the altercation, Hunter shoved the officer causing him to strike the back of his head against a wall. The officer sustained serious injuries that required medical attention.

Hunter pleaded guilty to assaulting a federal officer and was sentenced to an additional 18 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Robert W. Schroeder, III, on July 2, 2025.

TEXARKANA – A 29-year-old Texarkana mother was arrested on Sunday after leaving her children alone for nearly five hours at home, which later caught on fire.

At around 12:50 p.m., officers from the Texarkana Police Department responded to a fire in the 1900 block of Walnut Street, where they saw flames shooting from the roof. A neighbor was able to get the two boys out to safety across the street. As officials spoke to the children, they found out that their mother, Hilda Xona Cojoc, had left them alone since 8 a.m. to go to work. The children had been left alone for about five hours. Officers then contacted Cojoc, who came straight home.

Cojoc was arrested and taken to the Bi-State jail with a bond set at $150,000. Her children were placed in the care of Children’s Protective Services.

“We’re just incredibly grateful this didn’t turn into something even worse,” the Texarkana Police Department said. “This could have been ended in absolute tragedy.”

UPSHUR COUNTY – After an incident occurred on a Union Grove campus, a criminal investigation has been launched against a student and the district’s superintendent, according to a report from our news partner KETK.

The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office received information on on June 11 from Union Grove ISD, and a parent of the alleged student victim who was involved in an incident on campus.

After speaking with the victim’s parents and members of the Union Grove ISD, a criminal investigation was opened against a student for allegedly engaging in invasive visual recording, which is considered a felony in Texas. During the investigation, information was revealed that led to Superintendent Mrs. Kelly Moore being investigated for failure to report, which is a class A misdemeanor.

According to officials, both cases are under active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.

TITUS COUNTY — Authorities are searching for the driver accused of killing a cyclist after a fatal hit-and-run on Tuesday night in Titus County, our news partner KETK reports.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, around 8:40 p.m., officials received a 911 call of a hit-and-run fatality on FM 2152 involving an unidentified vehicle and a bicyclist.

A preliminary investigation indicated that the bicyclist was traveling northbound when the vehicle hit him from behind, throwing the man off the bicycle and into the ditch, and then the vehicle fled the scene.

DPS has since released a picture of a vehicle they believe to be involved in the crash. The bicyclist has been identified and the next of kin have been notified. Officials did not release the victim’s name to the media at this time.

Anyone with information regarding the crash or the vehicle is asked to contact DPS at 903-255-5701.