Today is
Wednesday November 27, 2024
HARRISON COUNTY — The Texas Rangers are conducting an officer involved shooting investigation. According to officials, a DPS trooper was conducting a traffic stop on US Highway 259, in Gregg County, around 10:30 Monday evening. The driver fled, prompting a pursuit, which eventually ended on FM Road 450 in Harrison County. The suspect fled on foot into a wooded area, followed by an exchange of gunfire. The suspect, identified as John L. Stanford, 39, of Avinger, was pronounced dead at the scene.
SMITH COUNTY — Jails in East Texas have been hurting for quite some time now due to staffing shortages. That’s why Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith is proposing another strategy to try and get the facility back up to full strength. “We’re 37 [employees] short in the jail right now,†said Smith. Smith went in front of the commissioner’s board earlier this week to present the current jail report. While filling open positions is still a problem, Smith told our news partner KETK that the biggest issue with the open jobs is that there is no relief factor. “That’s what got us in this situation,†added Smith. This means the jail doesn’t have enough staffing to cover every shift, especially when an employee calls out sick or goes on vacation. This also leads to more employees having to work overtime. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — One person was taken to a Tyler hospital with a gunshot wound, and several were detained following a shooting at Southwest Pines Apartments on Walton Road around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday. According to our news partner KETK, occupants of two vehicles were shooting at each other while driving through the complex. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle. A vehicle that was allegedly seen leaving the complex was pulled over near the intersection of Loop 323 and Copeland Road. The two people who were in the car were detained and police found what they believe may be evidence of the shooting. The vehicle was then towed, according to Andy Erbaugh, Public Information Officer with the Tyler Police Department. Two adults and two juveniles were also detained at the apartment complex.
TYLER — A high-friction surface treatment was recently installed on the Grande Boulevard reverse curve. The treatment is one of two safety improvements recommended by the West Grande Boulevard Reverse Curve Study presented to the City Council in October 2022. According to a City of Tyler news release, an LED Curve Warning system is also being installed, with funding from the Highway Safety Improvement Program administered by the Texas Department of Transportation. New signage, striping, and illuminated chevrons that light up as a vehicle enters the curve are scheduled to be installed later this fall. “The combination of the high friction surface treatment and the LED Curve Warning system are safety enhancements identified to address past crash history in this area,” said Traffic Engineer Cameron Williams. Read the rest of this entry »
WINONA — The Smith County Commissioners Court on Tuesday approved a new sheriff substation in Winona. The city said it is much needed in the area. “It’s not just for the city of Winona, it’s for the whole area,†said Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith. According to our news partner KETK, one of the main issues that local officials in Smith County want to solve with the new substation is people speeding through Winona. “I can tell you right now, the citizens and the ones driving through Winona in the morning through the school zones in the big trucks going 60-70 near downtown Winona, that’s going to come to a screeching halt,†said Smith. Read the rest of this entry »
COFFEE CITY — The number of police officers in Coffee City equals about 20% of the town’s population. The population is 249, according to the city limits sign. But Coffee City has more than 50 full-time and reserve police officers. Records show the officers wrote more than 5,100 citations last year, and the town collected more than $1 million in court fines. More than half of the 50 police have been discharged in some way from their previous jobs, as shown from open records requests. Those prior disciplinary actions range from excessive force, public drunkenness, untruthfulness and association with known criminals. Police Chief John Jay Portillo says many were victims of internal politics. According to KHOU, a spokesperson for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement confirms the agency has an open investigation into the Coffee City Police Department but would not say if it concerns hiring practices or any other issues.
SMITH COUNTY — A Tyler man pleads guilty to leaving his baby beside the road while drunk. Paul Hanna, 38, admitted to child abandonment and endangerment in the incident that happened on the night of January 10th. A motorcycle rider found Hanna’s 1-year-old daughter in her car seat on the side of a road. The biker went to a nearby home and called 911. The little girl was picked up by family members. Hanna was found in his car at a nearby convenience store. He told officers his daughter was at his home with a full-time nurse who was also watching his 4-year-old son. Officers found him to be “uncredible and intoxicated.” Hanna faces up to 20 years in prison.
LONGVIEW — A man was arrested in Longview after a shooting left someone with life-threatening injuries last Wednesday. According to the Longview Police Department and our news partner KETK, officials were told about a shooting victim who was being treated at a Tyler hospital for a gunshot wound. During the investigation, detectives determined the shooting happened within the city of Longview. They issued a warrant for 25-year-old John Lee Smith III for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Smith was reportedly out on a $125,000 bond for murder and felon in possession of a firearm at the time. Longview SWAT served the warrant at a local residence last Friday and Smith was taken into custody without incident. The investigation is ongoing.
SMITH COUNTY — A Henderson man was indicted on one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14 and one count of sexual assault of a child by a grand jury in Smith County. According to our news partner KETK, Russell Lewis Evans, 22, was arrested on April 6 and booked into the Smith County Jail on a $1 million bond. He was indicted on both counts on June 29. According to Evans’ arrest warrants, the abuse started when the victim was under 10-years-old. The warrants detail several instances of abuse over the years as told by the child. The warrants also stated that after each instance, Evans would threaten the victim, warning them about ever telling anyone of the abuse. One time even saying he would shoot the child in the head if they told anyone, according to the warrant. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — A Tyler man has been indicted by a Smith County grand jury in connection to a 2022 aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon. According to our news partner KETK, Adan Orozco, 41, was arrested in April in connection with a kidnapping that took place in September of 2022. According to an arrest warrant, Orozco opened a woman’s car door and pointed a pistol at her. Orozco allegedly “pushed the barrel of the pistol into the left side of her head with the pistol and walked to the passenger side of her vehicle,†and then said “you aren’t leaving until I say you’re going to leave,†according to an arrest warrant. Read the rest of this entry »
WINONA — Winona Elementary will be closed on Monday due to flooding in some areas from overnight rain. According to our news partner KETK, the district said all other campuses will remain open, and elementary staff will report to work at their normal time. Classes at Winona Elementary are expected to resume Tuesday.
SMITH COUNTY — The Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office reminds citizens that all outdoor burning activity in the county is still prohibited. This includes the burning of trash, debris, and yard waste. Over the past three weeks, our county has experienced over 100 grass and brush fires, with almost 50 calls for illegal burning. The Smith County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday, August 1, to issue a burn ban for the County. The burn ban order is in effect for 90 days, unless conditions improve and the Commissioners Court approves terminating the order early. Citations are now being issued as violations are discovered, punishable by a fine up to $500. To date, 33 citations have been issued by the Smith County Fire Marshal’s Office and the Smith County Sheriff’s Office for violations of the burn ban and illegal burning. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Water Utilities (TWU) is encouraging customers to water or irrigate their landscaped areas at certain times to help with the city’s low water pressure issues. According to our news partner KETK, TWU said their water treatment plants see the highest demand for water between 3 p.m. and 9 a.m. so they are asking customers to voluntarily water their lawns and green spaces at night between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. to “help reduce the demand and stress on the water system.†Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — One person was arrested for arson after a Tuesday house fire in Longview. According to our news partner KETK, crews responded to the scene on Alpine Road and reported when they arrived to have found heavy smoke and fire conditions with the possibility of someone still inside. “Once the person who was thought to be in the structure was located in a detached garage a defensive attack was initiated due to the instability of the structure, which later suffered a partial roof collapse,†officials said. One firefighter was treated on scene for a burn injury. Robert Haats, 32, was later arrested for arson and taken to the Gregg County Jail. Bond was set at $20,000.
LONGVIEW — A former Longview police officer pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to entice a child for sexual activity. According to our news partner KETK, Seth Estes Vanover, 51, of Diana, faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years to life in prison, and a potential life term of supervised release. Vanover was arrested at the Longview Police Department in October 2022 where he was employed as a law enforcement officer at the time. He was caught through an undercover operation by an FBI agent who was working to “identify adults seeking to make online contact with and engage in sexual activity with children.†The agent posed as the parent of an 11-year-old child and posted a notice in a public chat room, which Vanover reportedly answered with a private message. Read the rest of this entry »