Today is
Tuesday May 21, 2024
SMITH COUNTY – Romanian national Alin Nistor was given 12 years in prison on three separate charges of fraudulent use of debit card information, food stamp fraud, and theft of property. He was sentenced by Judge Reeve Jackson in the 114th District Court on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Nistor and his wife were identified by the Texas Financial Crimes Intelligence Center to be connected to a large organized crime ring of other Romanian nationals committing fraud across the country. According to a release and an investigation headed by the Tyler Police Department, a traffic stop resulted in officials finding “345 large cans of baby formula in their car” with the intent to resell and several Lone Star welfare cards and gift cards that had modified information from California residents. Evidence was also presented of Nistor’s wife stealing over $5,000 worth of printer ink cartridges from a Walmart weeks prior.
GLADEWATER, Texas – Gladewater Police need the public’s help searching for two men involved in a recent store robbery. Our news partner KETK reports that the robbery occurred at the EZ Mart on 400 W. Upshur Ave. early Monday morning. Police announced that an undisclosed amount of money and merchandise were stolen from the store. People are encouraged to contact the police department or Gregg County Crime Stoppers if they have any information.
TYLER – Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips has been found guilty of misdemeanor interfering with public duties after a March 2023 traffic stop that led to the arrest of her son, his friend and herself. According to our news partner KETK, her trial began on Wednesday, and her sentencing has been scheduled for June 14. Her son Derek was sentenced for the same offense and was sentenced to 30 days in the Smith County Jail. Body cam footage of the incident from KETK shows their confrontation with police which led to their November indictment.
TYLER – Stephen Dinger and Petra Hawkins’ race for Tyler City Council District 2 will be heading to a June runoff election. Neither candidate was able to earn the majority with Dinger winning 45.65% of the vote, Hawkins with 36.52% and Dexter Floyd in third with 17.83%. Our news partner KETK reports that according to Dinger and Hawkins, low voter turnout was a “big factor” ahead of their June 15th rematch. You can learn more about the candidates’ backgrounds here.
EAST TEXAS – Multiple school districts and counties held multi-million dollar bond elections along with municipal elections. Our news partner KETK has compiled a list of results that can be found here.
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, the city of Longview has announced downtown road closures for construction of a new parking garage indefinitely. Methvin Street between Center and Fredonia Streets, directly in front of the Gregg County Courthouse, will be closed. Additionally, the northbound lane of Center Street between Bank Alley and Methvin Street will also be closed.Starting next Monday, a shuttle will run from the City of Longview parking lot at the intersection of Cotton and Center streets from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Friday.
TYLER – Road closures will start on Friday, May 3, for the Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival, which will be held on Saturday, May 4. According to a release from the City of Tyler, Broadway Avenue from Erwin Street to Ferguson Street and the left turn lane for the East Ferguson Street and Broadway Avenue intersection will be closed. Portions of North College Avenue, Ferguson, West Erwin Street, and Broadway near the Downtown Square and Courthouse will close at 5:30 p.m. All roads will be opened on Sunday, May 5.
RUSK COUNTY, Texas – Texas DPS released a report announcing that two men are dead after being in consecutive crashes involving a cow six miles west of Tatum. According to our news partner KETK, Jerry Moore, 58 of Tatum, was traveling on CR 2142 when he struck a cow on the road at approximately 2:23 a.m. on April 23. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Five minutes later, the same cow was struck by Michael Moore, 53 of Tatum, along the same road. He was also pronounced dead at the scene.
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the City of Tyler announced that certain bus routes downtown have been rerouted by Tyler Transit due to the upcoming Red Dirt BBQ and Music Festival this Saturday. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – An arrest was made by the Gregg County Sheriff’s office in the case of a murder dating back to 2016. Officials said that the suspect arrested was Reza Kamali, 87 of Longview. At his arraignment his bond was set at $7.5 million. Ron Horaney was murdered in his home on May, 30, 2016. Witnesses said that Horaney was shot multiple times while answering the door. The sheriffâs office said he was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Horaney was the owner of a major architecture business in Longview. An announced press conference scheduled for Monday afternoon will provide more details.
TYLER – Tyler man has been indicted with capital murder for the death of an 18-year-old woman who was found in a ravine behind a Tyler apartment. According to our news partner KETK, 19-year-old Jamaurea Britton was charged with capital murder in the death of Dejah hood. After speaking to authorities for over an hour, Britton confessed to the murder. Read the rest of this entry »
BIG SANDY, Texas – Our news partners at KETK report that Big Sandy City Hall has moved to a new location. First announced on Friday, the new location is on 119 E. Gilmer St., across from the Big Sandy Fire Department. Even though phone and internet services are down, the city is working to get everything re-connected. Citizens can either visit in-person or call 903-714-0917.
TYLER – A Tyler man, who was formerly on the DPS 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List, has been sentenced to 50 years in jail for a 2021 murder. According to our news partner KETK, Dakevian Scroggins, 29, was sentenced to 50 years in prison after being found guilty of murdering Christopher Frank Eiglebiger. Scroggins was apprehended in June after being on the run for two months. One of his associates, 26-year-old Zaccheus Dunn, was arrested two days after the shooting. Dunn was then found guilty and we sentenced to 44 years in prison in connection to Eiglebiger’s murder.
TYLER – Our news partner KETK reports that Lance Phillips, 40, has been arrested on multiple charges including the assault of a public servant. He was held in contempt at a meeting where he signed up to give public comment on three agenda items. A video shows Phillips saying he is with God and reciting scripture from Ephesians. Smith County Judge Neal Franklin can be heard shortly after reminding Phillips to speak only on the agenda items. He was then seen leaving the court escorted by officers while shouting his arrest goes against his First Amendment rights. Lance was booked into the Smith County Jail for contempt, resisting arrest, hindering proceedings by disorderly conduct and assault of a public servant. His bonds total $200,000.
LUFKIN – Four men were charged with aggravated robbery after a Dominoâs pizza employee reported being robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday. According to our news partner KETK, Michael Harris, 17, Floyd Hennington, 19, Deanthony Minor, 19, and Amare White, 20, robbed a delivery driver for 2 pizzas and an order of wings. During a search, officials found: “Dominoâs pizza boxes, a pistol hidden in a laundry hamper, and uneaten pizza slices in a bathroom toilet as if the suspects were trying to flush the evidence.” Harris and Hennington are being held on a $150,000 bond while Minor and White have bonds of $100,000 at the Angelina County Jail.