KTBB News, Weather, Talk

TYLER — Tyler police are investigating the death of a teenager. Shortly after 6:45 Thursday morning, Tyler Police, Fire, and EMS were called to 3017 Brookdale on an unresponsive 17 year-old. Officers were told the mother had entered her son’s room to wake her son for school and found him unresponsive. Emergency personnel on the scene were unable to revive the young man. Smith County Justice of the Peace James Meredith pronounced Jacob Aaron Green, age 17, dead at the scene. Tyler Investigators arrived and had the body taken to Southeast Texas Forensic Center for an autopsy. Preliminary results indicate that Green, a student at Robert E. Lee High School, died from an accidental overdose of prescription medication.

TYLER – Authorities say a 32-year-old Mexican national illegally living in Tyler has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Jorge Blas-Mundo pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine. He was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on Mar. 23 by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis during a Tyler proceeding. Blas-Mundo was also ordered to submit to the forfeiture of $50,000.

According authorities, from an unknown date until Apr. 23, 2010, Blas-Mundo conspired with others to distribute more than 500 grams of pure methamphetamine in the Smith County area. Blas-Mundo was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 6, 2010 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

TYLER – A 22-year-old Henderson man has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas. Kylon Jeffery Henson pleaded guilty in Tyler on Mar. 23 to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love. According to information presented in court, beginning in 2009, Henson possessed approximately 18 grams of crack cocaine with intentions to distribute it in the East Texas area. Henson was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2, 2011 and charged with federal drug trafficking violations. Henson faces a minimum of five years in federal prison at sentencing. A sentencing date has not been set.

TYLER — 22-year-old Matthew Dwayne Patton of Tyler, named as the suspect shot by Smith County Deputy Constable Derek Phillips in a home invasion, was released from East Texas Medical Center Thursday. Tyler Officers arrested Patton at the hospital and charged him with burglary of habitation, a first-degree felony. Patton was transported to Smith County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000.00

On March 3, police responded to the Wood Trail Apartment Homes at 1909 Shiloh Rd., apartment # 118, on a report of a home invasion with shots fired. Officers arrived, found Patton shot in the upper chest inside the apartment, and were told that a second suspect had run away on foot. Patton was hospitalized. Phillips was visiting a friend who lived in the apartment. The second suspect, 21-year-old Patric Thurston of Tyler, was later caught. He was charged with first-degree felony burglary and transported to Smith County Jail. According to a police report, officers recovered a semi-automatic handgun that was thrown into the woods when Thurston fled the area. Initial details of the investigation indicated that the home invasion was a random act of violence by the two suspects.

TYLER — A Tyler man has been arrested after allegedly making threats in his neighborhood. Steve Slay Laughlin was taken into custody on unrelated charges. There have been three separate reports in just one week of Laughlin waving a firearm and threatening to shoot people. One neighbor says, “He has said that he has a gun on him and if anything gets in his yard, be it a pet, an adult, or a child, he will not discriminate on which and he will handle the problem.” The resident said she wants to remain anonymous, in fear of retaliation. Tyler police say they’ve been out to the house several times in the past week. Public record shows Laughlin has two counts of theft and one alcohol related charge on his record. We’ll have more on this story as more information is released.

TYLER – A 23-year-old Irving man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. Peter Keovongphet pleaded guilty on May 20, 2010, to being involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison Wednesday in Tyler by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

According to prosecutors, on July 14, 2009, Keovongphet was arrested in Smith County with approximately a half pound of methamphetamine in his possession. An investigation revealed that since 2007, Keovongphet was involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Dallas County, which was then transported through the Eastern District of Texas for redistribution. Keovongphet was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 5, 2009 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

SMITH COUNTY — Authorities investigate a vicious robbery. It happened on Smith County Road 150, where a man says he was hanging out with friends when he was approached by three men. Sheriff’s Lt. Tony Dana says a shotgun was pulled on the victim as he was ordered to strip down to his underwear. Dana says the men robbed him of his money, cellphone, and prescription drugs, including methadone, Xanax, Klonopin, and Adderall. The victim was able to get to a gas station and call for help.

BULLARD (AP) – An East Texas deputy who was directing traffic away from an injured stray cow is hospitalized in critical condition after being attacked by the half-ton animal. Smith County Sheriff J.B. Smith says Deputy Robert Britton of Tyler early Thursday responded to a call about a cow hit by a vehicle near Bullard. Smith told The Associated Press that the 54-year-old deputy was directing traffic on County Road 344 when the cow charged him. The sheriff says Britton was knocked into the air, landed on his head and “then the animal continued the assault.” Other deputies rescued Britton. He was in critical condition in intensive care at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler. Smith says the cow has been put down. The owner is sought.

TYLER — An officer is shot while serving a warrant Wednesday night. United States Marshals were at the Arbors on Chimney Rock Drive in Tyler around midnight apparently looking for Christopher Summerville, 26, Tyler, for a parole violation. A woman, Kara Adams-Hanley, 29, Tyler, reportedly answered the door when a shot was fired from inside striking Smith County Deputy Sheriff Josh Caulkins in the chest. A second round was fired from a suspect inside the apartment which struck the opposing apartment door. Caulkins was wearing a bullet-proof vest and was transported to East Texas Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. Members of the Task Force returned gunfire and were able to take into custody all occupants in the apartment including Summerville, Adams-Hanley and Jeffery Andrysiak, 30, Tyler.

Police say Summerville is hospitalized at East Texas Medical Center for an overdose of methamphetamine that he reportedly had injected into his body just prior to the arrest warrant being served. Summerville was taken into custody at the scene for the parole warrant and transported by law enforcement officers to the Tyler Police Department. While in custody it was determined that Summerville needed to be transported to East Texas Medical Center by EMS due to his medical condition. Summerville has been placed under guard by the Smith County Sheriff’s Office until he is released.

Initially, Andrysiak was held on possession of a controlled substance, and Adams-Hanley was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are now additionally charged with manufacture or delivery of controlled substance, a first degree felony. Bond was set at $500,000 dollars each, and the two remain in custody at the Smith County Jail. The case remains under investigation.

TYLER — Tyler Police investigate an early Thursday morning burglary. It happened at 3820 Lamb Drive. The resident told officers a white male suspect entered the home through an unlocked door and searched through the residence while the victim hid under a bed. The victim was unable to determine if anything was taken from the residence. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tyler Police or Crime Stoppers.

NACOGDOCHES — For months Stephen F. Austin State University Police have been investigating reports of drugs on the campus. So far, 19 persons have been arrested, and not all are students. According to police chief Marc Cossich there are 23 suspects in the case. Along with the arrests they have recovered Marijuana, Xanax and ecstasy.

TYLER — A couple of area organizations team up to draw attention to human trafficking. The East Texas Crisis Center and 21AM are joining hands for a community awareness seminar tonight from 6:30 till 8:30 at Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. According to press materials, Texas has been identified as a major hub for the growing crime of human trafficking within the United States. According to Crisis Center spokespeople, over 100,000 American minors are trafficked within the U.S. every year.

Tonight’s event is free, but registration is required; you can go to http://www.etcc.org to register. An all-day professional training conference & awareness seminar on the topic is underway at Green Acres. The Crisis Center works to address family violence, sexual assault, and other violent crime. Spokespeople say 21AM is a community partnership in East Texas committed to abolishing human trafficking at the local level.

LUFKIN — Authorities say an East Texas woman made a mistake when she allegedly flagged down an off-duty Lufkin cop. Cheryl Annette Brown was arrested for solicitation at the Sun-N-Pines Motel. An officer made the arrest in Brown’s hotel room and during the arrest discovered the presence of two other people with outstanding warrants. All three were taken to the Angelina County Jail.

TYLER — For the first time ever, the City of Tyler has published its Annual Report as an E-Book, with linked video, and as a printed document with QR Codes. “Transparency is of the utmost importance to the City,” explained Mayor Barbara Bass. “We continually strive to find innovative and engaging tools to enhance communication with our citizens. I am excited to roll out this newest report that uses YouTube, the City web page, and QR technology to share information with our citizens.”

To view the report:

· Go to http://www.CityofTyler.org and click on the annual report link on the right side of the homepage;
· Pick up a printed copy at City Hall at 212 N. Bonner;
· Access a print version at the Tyler Library;
· Go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1297/Default.aspx to scan a QR Code with a smart phone; or
· Go to the link immediately above and click on the 2010 Annual Report link.

QR codes are placed throughout the document and link readers to web pages and videos related to the report’s articles.

“A QR Reader comes standard on many smartphones or can be downloaded from the app store,” explained Mayor Bass. “If you are looking at a printed version of the report, simply scan the code and your phone will automatically take you to the web site or video on You Tube. In the electronic version of the report, simply click on the code and it will serve as a link.” You can go to http://www.cityoftyler.org/Home/tabid/36/ctl/NewsArticle/mid/865/CategoryID/11/NewsID/1297/Default.aspx for more on this story.

TYLER — The Tyler City Council has voted unanimously to create a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) that will overlay a portion of a 395-acre master planned community conceptualized by North Chase Development in North Tyler. On October 28, 2008, the City Council originally authorized the creation of a pilot NEZ for a portion of the North Chase Development that was designed to increase public health, safety and welfare. The development has since changed locations, and this newly approved NEZ will now incorporate the new location.

“The synergy of the North Case Development and the programs the City is rolling out is exactly what the Tyler 21 Plan calls for to revitalize this area of our community, ‘’ said Mayor Barbara Bass. “The convergence of public programs and private investment is the perfect recipe for mobilizing further development.” Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Caraway added, “The NEZ is a tool that has been used in many other communities to successfully spark private investment. “We are hoping to see the same level of success here in Tyler.”

In the Tyler 21 plan to revitalize North Tyler, a critical goal was to “add 3,000 more households to North Tyler and downtown in the next 20 years to create mixed-income neighborhoods.” A program that can help bring that goal to fruition is a NEZ. The goal of the NEZ is to:
· Create affordable housing;
· Increase economic development;
· Improve the quality of social services, education or public safety in the neighborhood; and/or,
· Rehabilitate affordable housing.

In addition to meeting at least one of the objectives listed above, an area must meet the following criteria before it can be designated a NEZ by the City Council:
· Have clearly defined boundaries;
· Constitute a new neighborhood in the form of new improvements on at least 20 contiguous lots;
· Properties within the proposed zone must have a residential zoning; and,
· Properties within the proposed zone must be owner occupied.

The NEZ provides incentives to builders who develop projects that address these goals. The prospective incentives include:
· Waiving or rebating zoning fees and platting fees;
· Waiving building permit fees, testing fees and tap fees;
· Providing direct access to the City’s First Time Homebuyers Program; and,
· Providing an infrastructure incentive in the amount of $2000 per unit for single family attached homes or $1,000 per unit for single family detached units – up to a maximum of 50 units.