Today is
Sunday July 26, 2026
NACOGDOCHES — An East Texas man surrendered to police in connection with the robbery of a gas station. According to KETK, Darrell Twain Forney, 47 of Nacogdoches, turned himself in to authorities at the Nacogdoches Police Station Thursday. He was wanted in connection with the Wednesday night robbery of a Chevron on University Drive and Martinsville. Forney’s in the Nacogdoches County Jail charged with robbery. His bond has not been set.
DALLAS (AP) – The suspect in the fatal shooting of a Texas state trooper during a traffic stop on Thanksgiving Day had previously beaten a deputy and tried to take his gun, but had the charges dismissed or reduced to a misdemeanor in a plea deal. Police camera footage from the 2015 incident shows Dabrett Black, Lindale, beating the deputy. The deputy suffered black eyes, a broken nose and lacerations. The footage also shows him talking to the in-car camera saying to imagine if he had a weapon. A plea agreement filed in March 2016 shows a Smith County prosecutor recommended a one-year jail sentence on a misdemeanor charge in lieu of the two felony charges.
EAST TEXAS — A Mount Pleasant junior high coach and teacher was let go Monday as an investigation continues into inappropriate communication between him and multiple students within the district. According to KETK, the Mount Pleasant School Board voted to terminate Justin Choate’s employment agreement at Monday’s board meeting. Marshall added that a number of law enforcement agencies are currently investigating Choate including the TEA, CPS, and the Titus County District Attorney’s office. But Marshall says that the investigation has nothing to do with inappropriate touching. It’s all about inappropriate communication. Choate was a history teacher at Mount Pleasant Junior High, and the head coach of the 7th grade football team. He also coached pitchers and catchers for the baseball team.
LONGVIEW — A former Kilgore College student charged last year with sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking is back in jail after assaulting a man in Lake Jackson. According to the Longview News-Journal, Malik Antoine Brown, 19, of Richwood was indicted on the trafficking charges last November in the U.S. District Court in Galveston and held in the Gregg County Jail for more than two weeks on a U.S. Marshals Service detainer. He was released in December on $50,000 bond with the condition he remained in his home. A U.S. magistrate judge found Nov. 22 that Brown had broken the conditions of his bond, assaulting a man at a Motel 8 in Lake Jackson.
TYLER — Tyler Police search for two men wanted in an aggravated robbery. Devonte Antoinne Black (pictured), 23, and Dikembi Spencer, 18, both of Tyler, are wanted following a November 14th armed robbery at Fox Run Apartments. Police said it happened between the hours of 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. The suspects reportedly stole a pound of marijuana along with a firearm. They are considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tyler Police Department, at 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833). Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed against the suspects in this case or any felony case.
SMITH COUNTY — DPS says the scene has been cleared after multiple agencies responded to a multi-vehicle wreck on Highway 110 near FM 849, just west of Toll 49. According to KETK, Highway 110 was shut down on both sides for a time. Two people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, but their injuries are deemed non-life threatening. Authorities said a garbage truck was stopped when a car ran into it. The other cars then followed, causing the pile-up. Five vehicles were involved, including the garbage truck.
HENDERSON COUNTY — An East Texas man has been charged with murder following a Sunday morning altercation in Payne Springs. Doyle Wayne Deason, 65, has been charged in the death of Bryan Rodgers, 43. Henderson County Sheriff Deputies were responding to a suspicious person call around 5:00 in the Cherokee Shores Subdivision when they found Deason, armed with a butcher knife. Rodgers was located nearby with a stab wound and taken to ETMC in Gun Barrel City. He was pronounced dead around 6:45. Deason suffered a minor gunshot wound. Officials said he confessed to stabbing Rodgers.
DALLAS (AP/STAFF) — The suspect in the shooting death of a state trooper during a Thanksgiving Day traffic stop in East Texas was charged Friday with capital murder of a law enforcement officer. Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale, is being held in the Brazos County jail in Bryan. He is accused of fatally shooting Trooper Damon Allen on Thursday. The Texas Department of Public Safety said in social media posts late Thursday that Allen initiated a traffic stop shortly before 4:00pm on Interstate 45 near Fairfield. DPS said Black shot Allen with a rifle after the trooper walked back to his vehicle. Allen died at the scene, DPS officials said, adding that he had been with the department since 2002. An obituary posted Friday by the funeral home said Allen is survived by his wife Kasey, three daughters and a son. Read the rest of this entry »
GREGG COUNTY — AEP Southwestern Electric Power Co. and other utility companies are warning residents of scams from fake sweepstakes to people claiming to be police, according to the Longview News-Journal. “Scammers are targeting local businesses, senior citizens and customers whose native language is not English,” said Brett Mason, SWEPCO’s director of customer service and marketing. SWEPCO teamed with other electric, water and natural gas utilities and trade associations this past week in support of Utilities United Against Scams, a weeklong advocacy and awareness campaign. Scammers pose as electric, water, or natural gas company employees, and they threaten a customer’s services will be disconnected or shut off if immediate payment isn’t made — typically using a prepaid card or other non-traceable form of payment, according to SWEPCO. Read the rest of this entry »
UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer man accused of capital murder beat an 11-month-old toddler to death, an indictment shows. According to the Longview News-Journal, Javarrious Troy Kimeyan Dixon, 22, of Gilmer remained jailed Monday in Upshur County on $5 million bond, charged with capital murder in the March 2 death of Armani Troy Berrospe. A grand jury indictment obtained Monday says that Dixon “intentionally or knowingly” caused 11-month-old Armani’s death by “striking him on or about the head, face and neck with the hands, fists, arms or feet” or with an unknown object. The Upshur County Sheriff’s Office said in March that deputies responded to a 911 call March 2 to FM 2088 near Bettie in reference to an injured child. The child was taken to East Texas Medical Center-Pittsburg, where he later died from the injury. A preliminary autopsy released in March showed that Armani died of “blunt force injury to the head” with the manner of death believed to be homicide. Longview police arrested Dixon Friday on an Upshur County warrant and booked him into the Gregg County Jail. He was transferred from Gregg County to Upshur County.
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY — The Nacogdoches Sheriff’s Office is searching for a woman who authorities say escaped a high-speed chase and subsequent manhunt. According to KETK, Terran Speaker, 32, of Huntington, is being sought in connection with the incident on November 19 when the sheriff’s office received a call from a homeowner reporting a theft in progress. When deputies arrived on the scene, they saw a vehicle with three adults leaving the area. After a high-speed chase along Highway 59, the car pulled into a residence on CR 250 and the three suspects ran away. Deputies were able to catch Julie Saxon, 33, of Corrigan, and Travis Wilbanks, 33, of Hudson, after a short chase. Both were taken to the Nacogdoches County Jail, where they were charged with theft of a firearm and evading arrest. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office at 936-560-7794.
MARSHALL — A Harrison County grand jury has indicted a 24-year-old Hallsville man on a charge of intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle in connection with the death this summer of a Gladewater teen. According to the Longview News-Journal, Melvin Brandon Bradshaw also was indicted on a charge of intoxication assault with a vehicle, causing serious bodily injury. According to the indictment, on June 29, Bradshaw, “operated a motor vehicle in a public place while intoxicated, causing the death of 17-year-old Bobbie Renee Burke, by accident or mistake, by operating the vehicle at an unsafe speed causing the vehicle to leave the roadway, resulting in a collision.” According to Texas Department of Public Safety officials, the one-vehicle wreck occurred west of Harleton in Harrison County. Burke was one of three passengers in the vehicle driven by Bradshaw that crashed.
MINEOLA — Tammy Stanford was inside her home on Friday. She was getting ready to go into town when her cell phone began ringing, “ADT, the alarm people called and said you have a fire.” According to KETK, Stanford says she ran out of her bedroom to see her house up in flames. “I didn’t just want to run out and save myself. I love my bird and I wasn’t going out let nothing else die in my house. I started dragging the cage, I kept tugging it and that’s when I fell down and got trapped under the cage.” She was at home, all alone with no one there to help her. “I was just yelling and yelling because I couldn’t move my body and then this guy came,” said Stanford. Mike Nance, a neighbor who lives, “probably 200 yards” away from Stanford’s home heard noise and he came running. “If he wouldn’t have gotten here with five more minutes we would have been dead,” said Stanford.
UPSHUR COUNTY — A Gilmer man was arrested Friday on charges of capital murder of a person under 10, according to Gregg and Upshur County Jail records. KETK reports, Javarrious Troikimeyan Dixon, 22, was arrested by Longview police on an Upshur County warrant in connection to the March 2 death of an 11 month old. He was booked into the Gregg County Jail Friday night. Dixon has been transferred to the Upshur County Jail, records show, with his bond set at $5 million.
GREGG COUNTY — A Gladewater man has been sentenced to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to a 2015 sexual assault. According to the Longview News-Journal, Shanon Carroll Wiess, 48, displayed a pocketknife before repeatedly raping a Gladewater woman Aug. 28, 2015. Wiess and the woman were friends who met through a recovery group, and Wiess offered to drive her home. After multiple assaults, he dropped her off at Warren City City Hall on George Richey Road. Wiess will not be able to appeal his sentence as part of his plea and must complete at least one half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
SMITH COUNTY — Three men have been indicted on charges arising from the use of credit card skimmers in the Tyler area. According to KETK, Yoslays Garcia-Torres (pictured), 34, Daykel Madruga-Cartaya, 24, and Nelson Lemus-Torres, 24, were indicted for engaging in organized criminal activity by a Smith County Grand Jury November 9. Madruga-Cartaya also was indicted on a charge of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information. All three are in the Smith County Jail, with bonds for Garcia-Torres and Lemus-Torres at $1.5 million each and for Madruga-Cartaya at $2.5 million. Read the rest of this entry »
BULLARD — A Bullard man is behind bars on one count of sexual assault. According to KETK, Smith County online judicial records show Jeffrey Deane Hayden, 51, was arrested by the Bullard Police Department on Tuesday for sexual assault. Hayden has been booked into the Smith County Jail on $200,000 bond.
LONGVIEW — A Longview woman has been indicted on several felony family violence charges, including injury to a child. According to KETK, Brittney Nicole Fitts, 25, has been charged with injury to a child/elderly/disabled person with intentional bodily injury, assault of a family/household member impeding breath or circulation and continuous violence against the family. Longview police arrested Fitts on those charges, as well as a DWI charge, on Nov. 10. She remains in the Gregg County Jail, with bond set at $92,500. Fitts is accused of assaulting a person by “applying pressure to the throat or neck and blocking the nose or mouth” and “striking and pulling” in an incident on April 17, and incident on April 19 when Fitts struck the same person with her hand.
TYLER – Tyler police continue their probe of a Monday night shooting. It occurred at the Chelsea Creek Apartments on Thistle Drive. Dead at the scene was Darryl Dewayne Washington Jr., 25. In stable condition with multiple gunshot wound is Terry Demond Rogers, 23. In good condition is Nadarius Houston, 18. All three are from Tyler. Investigators say the shooting stems from narcotic activity. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — Tyler Police continue to ask for the public’s help in finding a Tyler man reported missing. Brandon Harward was reported missing by his family October 23. Police said he left his Shiloh Road apartment without any belongings. A search party scoured the area of Shiloh Road with no luck. Harward is said to suffer mental illness and might not be able to find his way home. He’s 32 years old, 5’8†tall, 130 pounds and has blonde hair with blue eyes. Anyone with information related to his disappearance is urged to contact Detective Andy Erbaugh at 903-531-1099 or Tyler Police Department at 903-531-1000.
ANGELINA COUNTY — An East Texas police officer has been arrested for sexual assault of a child. According to KETK, Angelina County judicial records show Billy Joe Murphy was arrested by Texas Rangers Friday on one count of child sexual assault. He was booked into the Angelina County Jail on $75,000 bond. Murphy is an officer with the Jasper Police Department. He previously worked as deputy for the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office.
WOOD COUNTY — A Harmony ISD school bus was involved in a wreck just before 7:30 this morning. According to the Department of Public Safety report, the school bus was stopped on Hwy 154 at Private Road 7573 when it was struck from behind by a woman in a Ford Mustang. There were 26 kids on the bus at the time and no injuries were reported. The driver of the Mustang was not injured. Troopers are investigating.
MARSHALL — An East Texas man was arrested on Wednesday by Marshall Police Department on allegations of aggravated sexual assault of a disabled or elderly person. According to KETK and the Marshall News Messenger, Larry Carlisle, 39, of Marshall, was jailed with bond set at $50,000.
LONGVIEW — A Longview man was arrested Wednesday after stealing more than $2,000 by pretending to be a private investigator. According to the Longview News-Journal, Ulysses Harris Jr., 46, was charged with habitual theft and booked into the Gregg County Jail with bond set at $102,000. Police said Harris posed as a private investigator and offered to help a woman with a lawsuit regarding her brother’s death. The woman said she gave Harris about $2,150 in cash. Online judicial records indicate Harris’ previous arrests include theft of property and contempt of court.
SMITH COUNTY — Nathan Ryan Garcia, 20, Whitehouse, has been charged with murder. According to online judicial records, Garcia was booked into the Smith County Jail Wednesday and posted a $500,000 bond Thursday. Additional details were not available.
LONGVIEW — A Longview ISD teacher is being investigated for reportedly discussing pornographic materials in class. High School biology teacher Christopher Good has been accused of discussing porn in front of his students. Good was placed on leave Tuesday. School officials sent KETK this statement: “School is supposed to be a safe place and we are actively investigating this matter.”
GREGG COUNTY — An East Texas man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of three counts of aggravated robbery. According to KETK, Juan Solis, 19, of Longview, accepted Tuesday’s sentence as part of a plea agreement. Solis, who was identified as an illegal immigrant, was also being held on an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detainer. He will have to serve at least half of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. When released from prison he will be deported. Read the rest of this entry »
EAST TEXAS — Officials are searching for the suspects wanted in a multi-state high-speed chase overnight. It started around 9:40 on I-20 east in Smith County when a trooper attempted to make a traffic stop. During that stop, the officer discovered that the maroon Volvo SUV was stolen from the Cedar Park area. The driver sped off continuing on through Gregg and Harrison Counties before crossing into Louisiana. The driver and passenger dumped the stolen SUV in Shreveport and bailed out.
GREGG COUNTY — A Longview couple arrested after police found 260 grams of methamphetamine in their pickup after a traffic stop, police chase and wreck in June have been indicted. According to the Longview News Journal and KETK, Walter Earl Dixon, 59, and Venus Marie Kaisler, 47, have been charged with manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance. Dixon also has been charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. Dixon remains in the Gregg County Jail on bonds totaling $325,000. Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW — Mark Edwin Sebren, 20, of Longview, was released from jail Monday on $25,000 bond after being arrested for shooting his girlfriend with a pellet gun. According to the Longview News-Journal, Sebren was arrested Sunday by Longview police and jailed on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. An officer made an investigative stop of Sebren’s vehicle on Loop 281 after receiving a call that shots were fired by someone fleeing the area in a vehicle of the same description. The officer found a carbon dioxide-powered pellet gun in the car. After investigating, the officer learned Sebren shot his girlfriend with the pellet gun inside of the vehicle.