May - The Police News

Transcription

POLICE NEWS
VOLUME IV, NUMBER 5
GULFCOASTPOLICENEWS.COM
May 2007
Debra Crosby’s Footlocker The Criminal Gets The Money
By Marie Beth Jones, Feature Writer
Gulf Coast Police News
he body of a woman sometimes
known as Debra Ann Crosby
and sometimes as Debra Ann
Hodges was found in Brazoria County on
Jan. 18, 1977… Or was it?
The body was inside a partially submerged footlocker lodged on a bank of
Clear Creek just inside the county line. But
the remains were so badly decomposed
that only tentative identification was possible.
As a result a court order was issued,
requiring that they be held in a medical
examiners office until positive identification could be made.
Now, thirty years later, the remains are
still there. The case is now being worked
by the third investigator for the Brazoria
County Sheriffs Office, in an effort to
confirm the victims ID, so that if it is,
T
indeed, Debra, her family can finally bury
her.
A 21-year-old black Houstonian who
disappeared in May of 1976, Debra was
a single mother who was still married but
A footlocker like this one contained what is
believed to be the remains of Debra Crosby
separated from her husband.
She worked two jobs in an effort to support herself and her two sons, then 2 and
4 years old.
Before her disappearance Debra had a
boyfriend, but the relationship was
apparently stormy. Family members said
she had told them the man could be
somewhat violent and she wanted to get
away from him.
He was responsible for the broken foot
one of her sons had suffered, relatives
said, but it is not known whether that
injury was reported to either police or
child welfare workers.
A few days after Debras disappearance, relatives filed a missing persons
report with the Houston Police
Department. Investigating officers
learned that she had last been seen with
her boyfriend.
When family members ran into the man
several weeks later and asked if he knew
where Debra might be, he told them that
she wanted to start a new life in
California, and he presumed thats where
she was. Since they knew she had wanted to break off the relationship, they
were less worried about her safety than
they might otherwise have been.
The ex-boyfriend told them that he not
only had no objection to her leaving, he
even gave her a thousand dollars to
finance the move, went with her to buy a
military-style foot locker for the trip, and
helped her pack her belongings in it.
Since he hadnt seen her since, the onetime boyfriend said, he didnt think she
was really missing at all, according to
continued on page 6 (Footlocker)
The Cop Gets The Shaft
n April 2005 a deputy sheriff in
Rocksprings, Texas shot at a car that
tried to run over him to avoid arrest for
bringing a load of criminal aliens across the
Mexican border into Texas. In the end, one
of the occupants of the vehicle, a woman
criminal alien, who lost a couple of teeth
from a bullet fragment, went back to Mexico
with $100,000 in her purse and the deputy
went to federal prison. This was after an
investigation by Texas Rangers and the
Edwards County District Attorney had determined that Deputy Gilmer Hernandez had
acted lawfully and within the scope of his
duties.
So, what happened late that night and why
did Hernandez wind up in jail weeks later?
To make a long story short, it was Big
Brother. The long arm of the United States
Department of Justice, acting in concert with
and at the request of the Mexican government, went to the defense of criminal aliens
against one of its own American law enforcement officers.
Gilmer Hernandez was one of two deputies
in the Edwards County Sheriff’s Department.
The entire department consisted of the
Sheriff, Don Letsinger, his Chief Deputy, and
the two deputies. They were the only four
sworn law enforcement officer’s in the entire
county other than a Constable who lived 30
miles away in the northern part of the county, a DPS Trooper, a Game Warden, and five
Border Patrol Agents. The Sheriff’s Office
also has full and part-time civilian dispatchers, but only four commissioned peace officers.
On Thursday, April 14th, just before time
for Hernandez to get off duty at midnight, he
made a pit stop at home before checking out
for the night. While there, his wife Ashley
asked him to drive her to a nearby grocery to
get a soft drink from one of the outside vending machines, which he did.
As they were leaving the grocery, a blue
Chevrolet Suburban blew through a stop sign
right in front of him. His instant reaction was
to flip on his emergency, overhead lights and
stop the vehicle. However, the driver of the
Suburban continued on, passing several places where he could have
safely pulled over and stopped.
One place, a school parking lot
was big enough to park an 18-wheeler, according to the Sheriff.
By Breck Porter,
Editor
I
Deputy Gilmer Hernandez before his arrest
Hernandez radioed his dispatcher that he
was in pursuit of a vehicle that was refusing
to stop. An alert Border Patrolman working
an immigration check point about a mile
away, heard Hernandez, got into his vehicle
and started that way just in case the deputy
would need his assistance. Actually,
Hernandez and the Border Patrolman were
the only two lawmen awake and on duty at
that time of night in Edwards County. It was
no time, or place, for a lone lawman to be
without backup.
About a mile further down the road the
Suburban finally pulled over and stopped.
Hernandez took notice that the driver had
chosen a spot outside of town in a dark,
remote area. He radioed his dispatcher again
that he was getting out of his patrol car and
that he could not report a license plate number since the Suburban had a paper license
plate on it that was not clearly distinguishable.
Leaving his wife in the squad car,
Hernandez approached the suspicious
Suburban, flashlight in one hand and his free
hand resting on the butt of his holstered pistol. In his mind, he had just stopped a load
of drugs or a coyote bringing a load of crimicontinued on page 10 (Shafted)
ON THE SCENE with
POLICE NEWS
Breck Porter Editor/Publisher
[email protected]
Writers
Anthony Jones — Marie Beth Jones
Jes Garza — Mark Timmers
Jamie Nash — Marshall Frank
is it that when
❝ Why
You try to pass
The guy in front
Goes twice as fast?
❞
The Gulf Coast
Police News
Gary A. Jones
Advertising/Distribution
[email protected]
409-632-0082
Visit us on the Web
www.gcpolicenews.com
Scott Engle
Photographer
CONROE — Montgomery County Sheriff Citizen’s Academy Alumni Association president
Thomas Bach presented an appreciation plaque to Sheriff Tommy Gage at the group’s April
16 meeting in Conroe. The plaque displays a photograph of the most recent graduating
class of the Montgomery County Sheriff Citizen’s Academy. The MCSCAAA assists
Montgomery County law enforcement agencies and with support and manpower at charity
and other events. For more information, visit the organization’s Web site at
www.mcscaaa.org
Photo by Jeannette Graff
Bob McPeak
Graphics Artist
Editor/Art Director
[email protected]
Mirror Publishers, Inc.
Printing
[email protected]
The Police News is publishedmonthly on the first of the month
by Gulf Coast Police News LLC in
Galveston County, Texas. © 2006,
All rights reserved.
Send tips, story ideas or comments
to:[email protected]
Phone: 409-762-NEWS (6397)
Sales: 409-632-0082
Fax: 409-632-0103
2950 Hwy 87
409-684-0161
EMERGENCY FLASHERS
A car driven by a woman breaks down on the Interstate one day.
So she eases it over onto the shoulder of the road. She carefully steps out of the car and opens
the trunk. Out of the trunk jump two men in trench coats who walk to the rear of the vehicle
where they stand facing oncoming traffic and begin opening their coats and exposing their nude
bodies to approaching drivers.
Not surprisingly, one of the worst pileups in history of this highway occurs.
It’s not very long before a police car shows up.
The cop, clearly enraged, runs toward the woman yelling, “What the heck is going on here?”
“My car broke down,” says the woman, calmly.
“Well, what are these perverts doing here by the side of the road?” asks the cop.
And she said ... “Those are my emergency flashers!”
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INDEX
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Santa Fe, TX
Page 2 - Gulf Coast Police News
(409) 927-2570
Debra Crosby's Footlocker
The Criminal Gets The Money – The Cop Gets The Shaft
Wanted Fugitives
Question: Civilian Police Review Boards? – Yes or No?
Ex Cop Cop’s To Bank Robbery
State CPA Head Calls for Proactive Anti-Drug Interdiction
Candidates running for Sheriff
Beach Patrol Rescue Heroic (Editorial)
Ex-Cop on The Jury
I Have Got to Get to the Children
Texas Executions
Grass and Cash Seized in Woodlands Bust
Sex Offenders
pages 1-6-26
pages 1-10-16-17
pages 4-5
page 7
pages 8-9
page 11
page 12
page 13
pages 14-15-26
pages 20-21-23
pages 22
page 25
pages 28-29
Across
1. Sticks up
5. Big bash
9. Scissors sounds
14. Continental coin
15. Author Bagnold
16. Fortuneteller’s card
17. Be particular about formalities
20. Apt. feature
21. Cleveland’s lake
22. Halloween color
23. Like much of MTV’s viewership
25. Fourth down option
26. Grand __ Opry
27. Dipstick wiper
28. Pint, to a quart
32. __ acid (protein component)
35. Cut off
37. Lav, in London
38. Don’t play for a full year
41. Lyricist Gershwin
42. Gogol’s “__ Bulba”
43. Palm leaf
44. Put up on eBay
46. Black or chocolate pooch
47. Relative of ante48. Hard to grasp
50. Ballerina Moira
54. __-Matic (classic tabletop
baseball game maker)
57. Neighbor of Cambodia
58. “The odds __ ...”
59. Be a slacker
62. Burns partner
63. Division word
64. Weigh down
65. Hacienda drudges
66. Like excellent corned beef
67. Author Silverstein
Down
1. Bowling alley button
2. Protruding navel
3. “I __ for animals”
4. Business partner, perhaps
5. Babe Ruth’s given first name
6. Sandy’s owner
7. Mature nits
8. Suffix with cannon
9. Howard of Sirius radio
10. Football’s “Broadway Joe”
11. Spinach is rich in it
12. Beer __ (bar game)
13. Eyelid woe
18. Distribute, as cards
19. Red cosmetics
24. “__, Nanette”
25. Blacktops, say
27. “Drying out” program
29. To boot
30. Bird on a Canadian dollar
31. Warmly affectionate
32. Buyer’s caveat
33. Mucky stuff
34. Slanted: Abbr.
35. Like an alley cat
36. Update, as a computer screen
39. Soap maker’s need
40. Surface figure
45. Like a sinker
47. Particle with zero mass
49. Some jackets or collars
50. Year-end temp
51. Big Indian
52. Chip away at
53. James Dean persona
54. Assault from Moe
55. Mah-jongg piece
56. Move, in Realtor lingo
57. Without company
60. Zilch
61. Ernie of the PGA
Solution on page 23
Coupon must be presented on first visit. Exp: 5/31/07
Gulf Coast Police News - Page 3
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If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (979) 864-2392
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Delaune, Gary Mark
W/M DOB: 6/30/1985
6’2”, 200lbs, blonde/blue
LKA: 9126 Wineglass
Richwood, Tx. 77531
Wrt # 46781 Alias Capias
Charge: MTAG / Poss C/S
Domingues, Margaret
H/F DOB: 08/04/1976
5’5”, 150lbs, bro/bro
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Assault F/V enhanced
Lunford, Allen Ray
B/M DOB: 01/28/1975
1300 Buchta # 106
Angleton, Texas 77515
Wrt # D-043324 Warrant
Possession controlled
Substance
Lopez, Martin Enrique Jr
H/M DOB: 3/8/1986
1803 W. Lane / Texas House,
Alvin, Tx. 77511
Wrt # 46689 Alias Capias MTAG /
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W/F DOB: 2/18/1978
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Tropical Taxi
Sauceda, Michael
H/M DOB: 05/18/1983
129 Houston St. Angleton, Tx. 77515
Wrt # 51048 Alias Capias MTR/Poss
Marijuana
& Galveston Island
(409) 621-4000
Clean, Full Sized Cars and
7 Passenger Vans
24 Hour a Day Service
On the Island or Off the Island
White, Kenneth Glenn
B/M DOB: 1/2/1983,
5’9”, 200 lbs, blk/bro
1209 N. Ave O, Freeport, Tx. 77541
Wrt # 51137 Alias Capias Sur to
Sur / UUMV
Taylor, Prescilla Marie
B/F DOB: 8/16/1982
5’1”, 135 lbs, bro/bro
3029 Amboy St. Houston, Texas
Wrt # 51205 Alias Capias MTR /
Credit Card or Debit Card Abuse
Williams, Calvin Odell
B/M DOB: 03/02/1983,
5’10”, 150, blk/bro
430 SH 332 E # 441 (Palms Apartments)
Lake Jackson, Tx. 77566
Wrt # 50947 Alias Capias Poss of C/S
with intent, Man Del C/S, Poss C/S
WANTED
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—G
C
UGITIVES
ALVESTON
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OUNTY
TONY
&
If you have information on any of these wanted fugitives call the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office (409) 766-2322
or your local Crime Stoppers organization
BROWN, DERIUS QUARTZ
B/M, DOB11/26/1984
5’07” 165 lbs BLK BRO
LKA: LAMARQUE
WARRANT VIOLATE SEX OFFENDERS DUTY TO REGISTER
BOND 25,000
KINKADE, DALE ALBERT
W/M, DOB: 03/26/1969
6’00” 190 lbs BRO/BRO
TAT R. ARM
LKA: SAN LEON
WARRANT VIOLATE SEX
OFFENDERS DUTY TO REGISTER
BURTON, LEPOLEON LEE
B/M, DOB: 05/03/1954
5”04 “ 120 lbs BLK/BRO
LKA: TEXAS CITY
WARRANT VIOLATE SEX OFFENDERS DUTY TO REGISTER
BOND 250,000
PEREZ, ROBERTO MORAN
W/M: DOB 02/14/1965
5’07” 170 lbs
BLK / BRO
SCAR CHEST
BOND FORFEITURE
AGG SEX ASSAULT CHILD
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W / M, DOB: 06/12/1965
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INDICTMENT: INDECENCY WITH
CHILD
BOND 40,000
SANTOS-VELAS, JUAN LUIS
W / M, DOB: 10/29/1988
5’11”
140 lbs
BRO / BLK
LKA: DICKINSON
INDICTMENT: AGG SEXUAL
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BOND 40,000
RESENDIS, JESUS
W / M, DOB: 04/27/1982
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WARRANT: SEXUAL ASSAULT OF
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W / M, DOB: 10/13/1983
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WARRANT VIOLATE SEX OFFENDERS
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VASQUEZ, ADRIAN
W / M. DOB: 05/08/1978
5’08”
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POSSIBLY IN MEXICO
WARRANT: SEXUAL ASSAULT
CHILD
BOND 150,000
ZUNIGA, JOSE BERNABE
W / M, DOB: 09/18/1987
5’02”
125 lbs BLK / BRO
LKA: WEBSTER
MTRP SEXUAL ASSAULT
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be picked up at our main office located at 4700
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www.Galvestonhousingauthority.org
Public Housing offers many amenities for qualified
applicants such as computer learning centers, on site
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continued from page 1 (Footlocker)
what he told the relatives.
No indication of foul play surfaced for
the next several months, and the case
appeared to be one of an adult who simply had left the area and had failed to
contact her family.
But then a dispatcher at the Brazoria
County Sheriffs Office received a call
reporting that someone had found a
dark, military-style footlocker in Clear
Lake, inside Brazoria County, but near
the Harris County line.
The trunk contained the badly decomposed remains of a woman. Lime had
been sprinkled inside, apparently in an
effort to hasten decomposition.
Sheriffs deputies investigating the matter at first found no indication of the victims identity. Then they heard that the
Houston Police Department had a report
of a missing woman, and obtained the
name of persons who might be able to
identify the victims remains.
Basing their identification solely on the
clothing and jewelry found with the body,
family members said they believed it was
Debra.
Decomposition was well advanced,
which also affected the information available from the autopsy, though it
appeared that the woman had been
killed by a single shot to the head fired
from a pistol of unknown caliber.
Investigators took photographs of the
footlocker, as well as of the remains and
the clothing and jewelry inside it, and
placed photocopies of these pictures in
the case file.
Debra and her sons had lived in a poor
Houston neighborhood where people
particularly men are often known only by
street names, rather than by those with
which they were born, and where they
move frequently. This complicated investigators efforts to find more information
about Debras acquaintances.
In the years that followed, the case
remained unsolved, and original photos
and bits of information and evidence
were placed with other old records in the
sheriffs department archives. Prior to
construction of the countys criminal justice facility north of Angleton, these
archives were stored in an old, countyowned building in Angleton.
The building flooded at some point,
soaking the records, which had to be
destroyed. All that now remains of the
original pictures is a photocopied page in
the case record.
The remains presumed to be those of
Debra were first stored in the Harris
County Medical Examiners office in
Houston, which was then used by
Brazoria County in its murder investigations. Flooding of that office and Brazoria
Countys contract with the medical examiners office in Galveston led to moving
the remains there.
During the 30 years since the trunk was
found, three different sheriffs investigators, the most recent being Chris DuBois,
have been assigned to the case.
The matter of identity is the first priority, of course, because until he knows for
certain who the victim is, DuBois cant
talk to anyone he might consider of interest in her murder.
We got the name of her boyfriend and
checked records of Texas Department of
Corrections inmates, DuBois says.
What we found was that two men with
absolutely identical names, both first and
last, had been prisoners there. One was
convicted on narcotics charges; and the
other was originally charged with sexual
assault but was convicted of kidnapping.
Debras relatives told DuBois that her
boyfriend had very distinct identifying
marks, particularly a deep facial scar
under his left eye.
Photos of the inmate who appears the
closest match to this description are not
easily available, however, because it has
been some years since his release. This
means that the pictures are stored in TDC
archives and have not been computerized.
Trying to find information about the
people who might have been involved in
this case has been a nightmare, DuBois
says. Everything I need is in archives,
and very little information is available. I
dont even know who the original
responding officer was.
DuBois believes that one of the men
bearing the name of Debras boyfriend is
probably deceased.
He appears to drop off the face of the
earth. I found that his Social Security
number was last used in 1996, so apparently he has not held a job since then.
A crime analyst from the Department of
Public Safety is looking for vital statistics
records now, in an effort to find out if this
man is still alive.
DuBois describes this DPS employee as
our little ace in the hole who receives
data from investigators and runs it
through a computer program to obtain
additional information.
We have found that the other man is at
an address in north Texas, DuBois says.
He believes obtaining photos of these
two men is important because Debras
relatives may be able to identify one of
them.
Since all of this began 30 years ago,
however, a lot of the people who may
know something have died or are not
now where they can be located.
We know Debras grandmother could
give us more, but she is in the last stages
of cancer and can no longer communicate, he said. A lot of her relatives tell me
to talk to their auntie or someone else.
Some dont remember, and others probably dont want to.
He said authorities also have a statecontinued on page 26 (Footlocker)
Q. … Civilian Police Review Boards?
The Police News asked it’s online readers in April, their views and opinions about
civilian police review boards:Should there be a civilian review board appointed to
look into matters of police misconduct? If so:
• Who should appoint the board?
• What qualifications should a member have?
• Why shouldn’t the city council, elected by the people, act as a review board?
• Should a person with a police record be permitted to serve on the board?
• Should a retired or former police officer be permitted to serve on the board?
• How long should a member be permitted to serve? 1-2 or more years.
No police review boards.
No. Police matters should be kept inhouse. The general public should not
Monday Morning Quarterback an Officers
There should not be a civilian review board
for police officers. The only people qualified
and knowledgeable enough to judge matters
of policing are former and retired law
enforcement officers. Unless you have been
is their shoes, you really can’t judge the
proper way to react in the dangerous and
life-threatening circumstances these police
officers face.
No civilian review board. It will just be a
waste of time and tax dollars. We should
require the elected council, along with the
city manager hired to do a job, to oversee
the city’s police.
Externally, the FBI and Department of
Justice already serve as a check & balance
for the local police.
We need to demand greater enforcement
of existing laws, whether criminal or traffic.
It shouldn’t matter if you are a BOI or a billionaire, or whether you live, work, or visit
here.
When police are seen turning on their
lights to run a red light and immediately
turning them off, that is a sign of abuse of
power.
When a police car sits running, while the
police person sits in a coffee shop, that’s a
waste of gas and our tax monies.
There are far more wonderful police people than bad ones, but someone needs to let
the bad ones know we are watching.
Yes, there should be a review board.
1. Mayor
2. A working knowledge of police behavior
and parameters for protecting both the citizens and the police
3. They can barely take care of City business.
4. NO.
5. Yes, but not the majority, less than 2 to
1 ratio.
NO.
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Must be in business for 2-years or more
Must have at least a 660 average personal credit score
• No Bank Statement • No Tax Return • No Profit or Loss Statement
2425 West Loop South
Houston, Texas 77027
409.741.5625 Office
409.741.5627 Fax
[email protected]
VIP GALVESTON COUNTY FIRST
RESPONDERS GOLD PASSPORT
This Certificate Entitles ALL Galveston County
FIRST RESPONDERS to ALL NEW PATIENT Services
including Consultation, Examination and
Spinal X-Rays.*
✄
I support and have always supported our
police and law officials in our city state and
nation. I have never been in trouble with the
law and I have written editorials in your periodical in support of these very brave law
enforcement officers that protect our community.
I believe that your periodical is a very
important community service and applaud
the Gulf Coast Police News for its work and
reporting.
I am a Registered nurse and as a nurse I
am responsible not only to the patient, institution, my community and state I am also
responsible to a certain state board of nurse
examiners who protects the public.
I am also responsible to a local peer review
board.
We need a civilian review board because of
late many incidents have happened within
our community involving law enforcement
officers in where there has been questionable actions by those law enforcement officers.
A nurse, and public servant or police officer who is tasked daily with the professional
and unpredudicial action of using restraint,
force or deadly force should be held to a
higher standard and scrutiny than others.
The review board should live in, work in and
represent the community of Galveston and
be appointed by the council members. The
members of this board should not be permitted to have a criminal background (conviction) of any type other than a minor traffic
violation and should represent various occupations including a lawyer, an active law
enforcement officer, clergy, and an ethicist.
The members should also be represented by
all races and genders that encompass the
community.
The board should not be made up of any
elected individual or individual who could by
virtue of their service on the board be
coerced, be swayed or represent the community in fear of retaliation.
The members would serve for a staggered
period of time or terms so the board could
not be “packed” or hand picked in order to
represent one faction or viewpoint.
split-second decision. The general public has
no idea what an Officer faces on a daily
basis
If the Officer is a “bad-apple” per say, the
Officer will be dealt with and terminated
accordingly with the Police Dept. A group of
political appointees should not have a say so
in the matter…
STEWART
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Michelle Hatmaker
Dr. John Massare
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Chiropractic
1021 61st St., Galveston, TX. 77551
409-740-6800
*Spinal X-Rays only taken if indicated. This Certificate has no cash value after purchase & may only be used for future New Patient Services.
Ex Cop Cop’s To Bank Robbery
By Breck Porter
n January a former 13-year veteran
Texas City police officer was arrested by federal agents in La Marque,
Texas, in a plot to rob a Clear Lake bank.
Plans for his arrest started unfolding the
previous month when a person who 45year old Stephen Paul Presley thought was
his partner in crime, secretly passed plans
for the heist to FBI agents in Midland,
Texas.
The accomplice/informant told the
agents that Presley was recruiting help to
rob a bank in the Clear Lake area.
A month later the informant again contacted the agents with word that Presley
wanted a meeting to plan the robbery, but
he would not divulge the name or location
of the bank. The meeting was to be at the
William P. Hobby Airport in Houston.
During the several conversations, Presley
boasted that he had robbed a bank in The
Woodlands and so far had gotten away
with it.
A few days later Special Agents Robert
H. Stolt, Jr. and Richard H. Sharp met with
the informant at Hobby Airport and the
three of them drove to the FBI’s Texas City
office where they wired the informant with
a transmitter and recording device, then
drove back to the airport in time for the
informant to meet Presley.
Presley arrived at Hobby shortly after
three o’clock that afternoon and picked up
the informant in the baggage claim area.
From that point on, Presley and the
informant were kept under surveillance
and constant monitoring via the bug planted by the feds.
As Presley drove, the agents listened as
he talked of his plans to rob the bank and
detailed the procedure they would employ
in the robbery. They went to the Grand
Suites Hotel in La Marque where the
informant checked into a room and they
continued their discussion of the bank robbery. Presley still was not revealing the
name of the bank that would be targeted.
He did, however, describe in detail how
they would enter the bank and subdue the
employees and customers making sure to
disarm everyone in the bank of their
Bluetooth cell phone devices. Presley was
particularly concerned about the bank
manager and described how he would
handle her himself. The robbers were to
wear two pair of gloves, one pair of latex
and one pair of cloth gloves.
According to the informant, Presley said
there would be a third accomplice joining
them in the escapade and that he would
meet with him about three o’clock on
January 14th and then all three would
meet later that day. However, the next
day, Presley was back at the Grand Suites
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Hotel saying that there had been no meeting with the third party but that the bank
job would go forward anyway.
Stephen Paul Presley
Next, the two drove to nearby Bay Brook
Mall in Houston where they went to the
Radio Shack so Presley could buy a police
radio scanner. However, the store did not
have a scanner that would pick up the
radio frequencies that he wanted to monitor, so they drove to another Radio Shack
on Palmer Highway in Texas City. During
the drive there, Presley revealed that the
bank he had targeted for the robbery was
the Guaranty Bank on 23rd Street in Texas
City. When they arrived at the second
Radio Shack, Presley instructed the
informant to go inside and purchase the
scanner and gave specific instructions as
to what radio frequencies should be programmed into it. While inside the store,
the informant was able to call one of the
FBI agents and relay the name of the targeted bank and the fact that Presley had
reset his meeting with the other accomplice for eight o’clock that evening in the
bar of the Grand Suites Hotel.
The informant had also learned that
Presley had “acquired” a weapon and that
he was planning to steal license plates
from another vehicle to use on the getaway car. The plan was that Presley would
pick up the informant at the Grand Suites
the next morning at 7:15 and they would
go to the bank and wait for it to open at
9:00 o’clock. As soon as the bank
opened, the informant and the other
accomplice were to go inside and put the
robbery in motion while Presley remained
in the car to monitor the police radio. He
would join the two inside about thirty seconds later or as soon as he was confident
there were no police being dispatched to
the bank.
The two accomplices upon entering the
bank were to immediately order all of the
bank employee’s and customers to lie face
continued on next page (Cop Cops)
continued from previous page (Cop Cops)
down on the floor with their arms outstretched and their palms up.
When they left the second Radio Shack
with the new scanner and the federal
agents close behind, the two scoped out
the bank that would be their target the
next morning, then headed back to the
hotel where Presley said he would meet
the third accomplice and his girlfriend. He
told the informant to go to the hotel room
because he did not want all the parties
involved to meet yet. They were not to
meet until the morning of the robbery.
Shortly after the informant went to the
hotel room, the agents saw a man and a
woman arrive and meet with Presley in the
hotel bar. Both were wearing camouflage
jackets. Earlier that day, Presley had
called the man using the informant’s cell
phone. The agents were able to retrieve
the phone number from the cell phone
and trace it to Presley’s nephew, Gladdin
Louis Presley and his fiancé.
On the morning of January 16, 2007,
Presley called the informant at the Grand
Suites Hotel saying that he was running
late but was on the way. He arrived at the
hotel at about 7:30 where he was met by
special agents of the FBI and placed under
arrest. He was taken to the Texas City FBI
office where he gave written permission
for the agents to search his car. Inside the
car was the Radio Shack scanner along
with, an open box of disposable, Latex
gloves, two camouflage hunting masks, a
pair of black Gore Tex trousers, and a
black Gore Tex jacket. In the pocket of the
jacket was a black, Powerline BB gun, a
pair of mirrored sunglasses, a pair of
brown work gloves, two pair of surgical
gloves and five zip ties. The BB gun was
a realistic replica of an actual .45 caliber
semi-automatic handgun, according to the
agents.
Louis Presley and his fiancé also showed
up at the Grand Suites Hotel and they
were also detained by the agents that
morning. In his possession Louis had
some dark clothing that agents discovered
he had purchased at Wal-Mart earlier that
morning. At the FBI office, he and his girlfriend gave agents essentially the same
story, that Presley had called them to
come to La Marque from Longview to discuss a job. Louis Presley is a painting contractor and said he assumed they were to
talk about a painting job. He told agents
he later learned that his cousin planned to
rob a bank and wanted him in on it.
According to the agents report, Presley
and his finance agreed to help rob the
bank.
On March 21, 2007, a Federal Grand
Jury in Galveston returned a two-count
indictment against Stephen Paul Presley
for Attempted Bank Robbery and
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery.
Attempted Bank Robbery is punishable by
imprisonment up to and including 20years in a federal penitentiary, and a fine
up to $250,000 plus 3-years of supervised
release upon completion of the sentence.
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery is
punishable by imprisonment for a period
up to five years and/or a fine of $250,000
and three years of supervision after
release.
The day after the indictment was handed
down Presley agreed to plead guilty to the
second count of the indictment,
Conspiracy to Commit Bank Robbery. In
doing so he agreed to waive his right of
appeal. In the event he were to file an
appeal the government can bring him
back to trial on the first and more serious
charge of Attempted Bank Robbery.
A date for his sentencing has not been
set.
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Crime Stoppers
Montgomery County
Crime Stoppers
Lloyd, Paul Edward
White/Male
DOB: 01/08/1978
Height: 6’01”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Warrant: Surety to Surrender Harassment from Correctional Facility
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
936-760-5800
Montgomery County Crime Stoppers
1-800-STOP (7867)
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continued from page 1 (Shafted)
nal aliens across the Rio Grande River into
the U.S. He said he could see movement in
the back of the vehicle. There appeared to
be about seven people lying down. The driver was the only person sitting upright in a
seat and he wasn’t rolling his window down.
As Hernandez tapped on the window glass
with his flashlight, the driver suddenly turned
the steering wheel hard left. The vehicle
lunged forward and took off missing the
deputy by mere inches and almost running
over his foot with the left rear wheel. In an
instant reaction the deputy drew his pistol
and fired one shot at the left rear tire.
“He actually didn’t hit the tire,” said Sheriff
Letsinger, “he hit the pavement, but the bullet then hit the tire. Then he shoots another
round at the left rear tire but he shoots a little high and it hits to the right, goes through
the rear tailgate of the Suburban. We don’t
know if that bullet hit anybody or not but the
bullet was recovered from the back of the
third row seat.” In all, Hernandez fired four
shots at the fleeing Suburban, but it continued speeding away with a flat rear tire.
The vehicle continued about 1500 feet
down road then hit a steel guardrail bringing
it to a crashing stop. Before the dust settled
the doors flew open and the occupants hit
the ground running, disappearing into a dark
field, never to be seen again, at least not that
night.
Would a lone deputy and a border patrol-
man chase more than a half-dozen desperatos across a field in the middle of the night?
Hernandez said he didn’t. The aliens would
later tell authorities that Hernandez chased
them across the field, cursing and shooting
at them and that they ran because they were
in fear of their lives.
Left in the rear of the Suburban all alone,
was 26-year old Maricela Rodriguez Garcia, a
criminal alien woman, bleeding from her
mouth. She was rushed to a hospital in Del
Rio then transferred to another hospital in
San Antonio where she was treated and
released at three o’clock that afternoon.
Upon her release, she was picked up by her
husband who said he came from Austin. It
was never determined whether or not the
husband was a criminal alien himself or if he
may even have been the driver of the
Suburban that had escaped into the field with
the others that night.
Sheriff Letsinger, having been called to the
scene by his dispatcher, said one of the first
things he did was to notify the Texas Rangers.
“That is standard procedure in our department when one of our officers is involved in
an incident where there is gunfire,” he said.
“And when it involves citizens of another
country, we notify the consulate of that country, as we did in this case.”
Even in all the excitement and turmoil,
everything seemed to have been done by the
book. The deputy, it seemed, had reason to
fire, after all, the vehicle tried to run over
him. It was loaded with criminal aliens who
had just committed a felony by being smuggled into the United States. It was later determined that the driver was a human smuggler,
a coyote, who had been paid by his passengers to smuggle them across the border.
They were headed for Dallas until Deputy
Gilmer Hernandez put a kink in their plans.
The shooting that night was investigated
thoroughly by Texas Ranger Bobby Smith and
it was his judgment and the opinion of the
District Attorney that the case not even be
presented to the county grand jury.
Everything changed five months later when
the FBI subpoenaed the Edwards County
Sheriff’s Office for all investigative reports in
the case. Sheriff Letsinger was told that the
Texas Rangers were no longer in charge of
the investigation and that the FBI was taking
it over.
That came about after the Mexican
Consulate in Eagle Pass sent a letter to
Sheriff Letsinger demanding that the injury to
Maricela Rodriquez Garcia, the criminal alien
who was hit by a bullet fragment, “not go
unpunished.” That letter was copied to
everybody who was anybody in the Mexican
hierarchy in the U.S. as well as officials in the
U.S. Justice Department. Soon thereafter,
Johnny Sutton, the U.S. Attorney for the
Western District of Texas, ordered Deputy
Sheriff Gilmer Hernandez jailed for violating
the civil rights of Garcia. Not only was he
jailed, he was denied the right to make bond
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pending his trial the following December.
Edwards County taxpayers spent $20,000
for a lawyer to defend Hernandez at his trial,
but as Letsinger said, “the efforts of the
defense lawyer could not overcome the
power of the federal prosecutor. Nobody has
the resources of the federal government.”
Letsinger claimed that the U.S. Attorney
manipulated the facts of the case placing in
doubt the intentions of Hernandez that night.
In other words, the government was claiming
that Deputy Hernandez opened fire on this
carload of criminal aliens with the express
intention of injuring or killing one or all of
them.
A miracle occurred in the case when five of
those aliens that ran off into the dark that
night, miraculously reappeared as witnesses
for the prosecution. This is when they gave
statements that Hernandez chased them
across the field shooting and cursing at
them. That claim was dispelled however,
when an agent of the Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms Bureau examined the scene with an
explosives sniffing K-9 and found no evidence
of spent shells, bullets or bullet fragments or
gun powder residue anywhere. According to
the ATF Agency, there had been no shooting
that night as claimed by the criminal aliens
who gave statements under oath. However,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Bauman, who
prosecuted the case in court, persuaded the
jury that Deputy Hernandez had violated the
civil rights of these fine, upstanding criminals
continued on page 16 (Shafted)
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State CPA Head Calls for
Proactive Anti-Drug Interdiction
Gulf Coast Police News – Breck Porter
DICKINSON — Ben Hernandez, State
President of the Texas Citizen’s Police
Academy Alumni Association, recently
called for CPAA groups across Texas to
become more proactive against drugs and
drug dealers by adopting an anti-drug theme
for the coming statewide convention in
Austin. And he urged CPAA chapters who
have been complacent in being involved
with their regional and statewide organizations to get involved.
Ben Hernandez
We have CPA’s out there that are not participating. We need to contact them, visit
them, send out a special invitation to get
them involved in regional activities,” he told
members at the Region One meeting in
Dickinson.
“And we want to set themes for our conventions. Themes that are representative of
our communities. Themes that we as citizens want to do. An example is citizen’s
against drugs.
“Now we need to address issues that are
going on in our communities, our regions,
our areas and our state and address what
we can do about them. How can we help
our police departments identify some of
these things and make it happen? What do
we as citizens need to take charge of?”
Hernandez suggested to the more than
thirty gathered for breakfast and an all day
workshop, that “Citizens Against Drugs”
could be a theme. “Citizens against drunk
drivers, everybody talks about drunk drivers. Everybody talks about things that are
already on the radar screen,” he said.
“What we want to do as an association, as
an alumni, is take something that no one
else is really addressing that is really broken
and needs to be fixed. We need to identify
drug dealers for example.”
Delegate Dottie Duby told about activities
taken by the Citizens Police Academy
Alumni Association in Angleton when a
group of members there, gathered in front
of a known drug house carrying signs and
chanting, in an effort to make it known to
the community that the house had been
identified as a location of frequent drug
activity.
“Crystal meth and how it is produced is an
example of things that our citizens should
be more knowledgeable of. It’s what’s
killing our communities. It’s throughout the
whole State of Texas. It’s throughout the
United States and you can turn on the TV
and see it everywhere,” said Hernandez.
“When the Mayor of New York City is
popped for doing cocaine like happened
four or five years ago, that means we’ve got
a problem,” he commented to the gathering.
“Sex offenders have to be registered.
That’s great. I want to know where they’re
at, but I also want to know where the guy is
that’s dealing those drugs to our kids. I
want to know where HE lives also, but HE
doesn’t have to register. He may be on
parole after his fifth felony and that’s what
we need to know.
“We’re concerned citizens, and by increasing awareness, and by education, we can
make decisions and we can work with our
police officer’s. Their lives as well as ours
are in jeopardy if we don’t get these people
off the streets, and we can help,” concluded
Hernandez.
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For more information about the statewide
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Sirens
By Elisabeth Wolfe
Whene’er I hear a siren’s wail,
I say a little prayer
That God go with our boys in blue
And keep them in His care.
For danger lurks where sirens go,
No matter where they are.
Could bullet or blade or fire await
When the hero leaves the car?
A routine traffic stop, you say?
There’s no such thing, my friend.
A simple thing may be its start,
But death may be its end.
And so I pray when sirens pass
That God will safely keep
And set His angels round about
The warrior on his beat.
Elisabeth Wolfe is the daughter
of Llano County, TExas Deputy Sheriff
and Chaplain Bill Wolfe.
Citizens of
Galveston
County, I am
the
most
viable candidate in the
race
for
Galveston
C o u n t y
Henry Porretto
Sheriff. As a matter of fact, I have prepared
my whole life for this calling and I am more
than willing to serve you. As your candidate
I have a well-balanced and beneficial skill
set in the law enforcement community. The
time is now to elect a candidate that is highly qualified and has both the education and
experience to lead the Galveston County
Sheriff’s Office.
Through personal dedication I have taken
the time and energy to attend institutions of
higher learning earning a Master of Science
Degree in Strategic Leadership along with
the distinguished Certified Public Manager
designation obtained from Texas State
University, and I have also completed the
Harvard Trade Union Program in
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
I have continually updated my law
enforcement training which has included
the Leadership and Command College, FBILEEDA Command College for Law
Enforcement Executives, and the FBI
Command College just to name a few.
It’s never been more important to elect a
candidate that has the best interest of our
taxpayers at heart. My experience demonstrates both progressive and innovative
ideas along with team building and career
development of the personnel that provide
service delivery to you the members of our
community.
It is no secret that I have worked hard and
earned my place as a Commander with the
Galveston Police Department. The value of
working my way up through the ranks has
given me great insight into challenges and
obstacles that our citizens face. It is my goal
to eliminate these obstacles and challenges
that hamper the quality of life of our residents. This is precisely why I chose to
become involved, so that I can actually help
the citizens of our county who feel they
receive little or nothing from the sheriff’s
office.
The uniqueness of my broad range of
experience will compliment and serve both
the employees and citizens of our county
well. The status quo will be a thing of the
past when you elect Henry Porretto as
Sheriff of Galveston County.
There are no other candidates that can or
will work as hard in securing your vote as I
intend to do, nor is there another candidate
for Sheriff that can match the work ethic
that I bring to the table, now and once elected your Sheriff. That is my commitment to
you. Porretto will make you safe! Please
visit my website www.porrettoforsheriff.com
My Name is Freddie
Poor and I am honored
to announce my candidacy for the position of
Sheriff for Galveston
County
in
the
Democratic Primary.
My
qualifications
include 40 years of law
enforcement experience with 25 years in
upper level manageFreddie Poor ment. In my opinion, I
offer the citizens of Galveston County a candidate with
a genuine reputation of LEADERSHIP THROUGH EXPERIENCE.
My career began with the Galveston Police
Department in 1967 as a patrolman. The next 26
years broadened my experience with assignments within the Department including Patrol, Vice and Narcotics,
Criminal Investigation, Identification & Crime Records
and Administration. During my tenure, I was promoted
to investigator, evidence technician, polygraph examiner, sergeant, captain and then to chief of police. As
Chief of Police, I commanded a force of 204 fulltime
employees with an annual budget of 6.8 million dollars.
Upon being selected as the Chief in 1989, I developed
an aggressive 5 Year Business Plan which addressed
improvement of employee morale; reestablishment of
the public’s trust and confidence in the Department;
reduction of neighborhood crime; development of community relation programs; and the replacement of outof-date departmental weapons, computer and communications equipment using drug seizure funds. Through
this plan, the Galveston Police Department Citizens’
Police Academy was adopted and the first class graduated in March of 1992. The slogan of the Academy
was Understanding Through Education and the program is still effective to this day and has been proven
invaluable to the community through the formation of
the Galveston Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni
Association. The 5 Year Plan was successfully completed upon my retirement in 1993.
In August of 1993, I was hired by Sheriff Joe Max
Taylor to command the newly formed Criminal
Investigation Division and was assigned the rank of
major. My additional duties included the supervision of
the Communications Division and the School Liaison
Officer Program. Upon Sheriff Gean Leonard’s election
to office, I was appointed his Chief Deputy on January
1, 2001. As Chief Deputy, my duties include the supervision of the bureau and divisions commanders and
the oversight of 403 fulltime and 50 part-time employees with the administration of a General Fund Budget
of 20.2 million dollars with a total 22.6 million dollars
including grants and reimbursed programs. I have an
excellent working knowledge of Galveston County’s various departments and their functions.
As Sheriff, I will offer leadership and direction to the
members of the agency through understanding and
communication. My priorities are the professional
development of the men and women in the Sheriff’s
Office in order to prepare them to assume leadership
roles in the future; improve the salary structure through
the Career Path Program for employees to stop their
flight to other higher paying police agencies; reduction
of crime in the unincorporated areas of the County;
maintain a close working liaison with all law enforcement agencies within the County in order to address
the public safety concerns; continue our Mental Health
Diversion Plan in our County Jail; and to work closely
with County officials to affect these goals.
I am a graduate of the FBI National Academy and
the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development
Seminar. I hold a Master Peace Officer and Instructor
Certificates through the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement Standards and Education. My professional memberships include the International Association
of Chiefs of Police, Texas Chief Deputies Association,
FBI National Academy Associates of Texas and Texas
Jail Association.
My community involvement includes having served
as a board member with the Texas Department of
Family and Protective Services; Galveston Teen Health
Center; Communities in Schools; Rotary Club of
Galveston Island; Galveston Mayor’s Gang Task Force;
Galveston County Emergency Services District No. 1;
and the United Way of Galveston.
I am proud to
announce my candidacy for Galveston
County Sheriff. This
is not the first time. I
entered the race in
2004 as a proud
Republican and I surprised a lot of people
J.L. Campbell, Jr.when I lost a very
close race. This time,
we will win, and let me tell you why. I have the
experience, the integrity, and a set of clear
goals for the department.
This county is going to continue to grow and
we need a Sheriff who can meet these needs
by providing a professionally trained and service oriented law enforcement agency. I have 27
years of law enforcement experience and 15 of
those years have been as a police chief. I started my career in 1980 with the Galveston
County Sheriff’s Office where I spent 12 years.
I’m currently the Chief of Police of the 6th
largest school district in Texas. My department
is made up of 49 sworn police officers and 120
civilian personnel. We are charged with the
safety of an estimated 68,000 students. I have
lived in this county all of my life and I understand the different challenges facing us. My
family has always been my strength and I’m
sincere when I promise to provide the best-prepared, best-organized, most up to date department possible.
How do I plan to do that? Some of the things
I will focus on:
• I feel it is imperative to re-establish a sheriff’s sub-station on the North end of the coun-
ty. This would not only improve our level of
service to the citizens, but also at the same
time not deplete our patrol coverage at certain
times. It should allow for the expansion of our
prisoner intake system and booking operations
and reduce the strain on manpower for municipalities who at times are forced to hold county prisoners for extended periods of time.
• It is imperative that we conduct another
salary survey and action based so that we are
sure to keep and attract the best deputies for
this county.
• The county jail continues to be a “warehouse” for the mentally ill in our jail. We must
pursue more effective methods.
• The Galveston County Sheriff’s
Department has the biggest budget in the
county. I support that a performance audit be
conducted department wide. It’s time that we
let our taxpayers know that their money is
being well spent and where there is waste
those funds can be redirected into improving
services in other areas and salaries.
I’ve always managed my departments knowing that the success of any law enforcement
agency is gauged by the performance of the
officers that are in the trenches every day. And
that performance is fueled by morale. I am a
proven leader and I promise that as your next
Sheriff I will get back to fundamentals, protect
all of the people of Galveston County, display
high ethical standards and do good, tough,
police work. I stand firmly by my slogan
“Proven Leadership…For Tough Times”!
J.L. Campbell, Jr.
Republican Candidate For Sheriff
Galveston County
I am a dedicated professional, proven manager, and
strong leader with exceptional communication skills.
Accountable for administration, management and
supervision of personnel,
planning, budgets, coordinating activities with other
departments, outside agencies, media relations, policy
and procedure developEric Nevelow
ment.
Qualifications:
• Thirty-two years of law enforcement experience gaining a
strong reputation with diverse contacts in law enforcement and
the community.
• Committed to a background of creativity and effective
problem-solving skills with the ability to combine workloads to
increase productivity.
• Demonstrated the ability to work independently or cooperatively as part of a team to meet deadlines.
• Outstanding leader with a “firm but fair” approach to
develop ideas to their full potential towards a common goal.
• Excellent qualifications in a variety of law enforcement
operations, correctional operations, support services, human
resources, management of staff, and criminal law enforcement.
• Eighteen years of executive command level management.
• Eleven years of mid to upper level management.
• Ten years as an instructor in a variety of course instruction in the field of law enforcement.
• Master Peace Officer License
• Master Jailers License
• Instructors Certificate
• Graduate of the FBI National Academy 195th Session
• Assistant Chief of Corrections: 1989-1991
• Managing the daily operations of the jail facilities with a
capacity of 496 inmates, 125 officers, and 25 civilian employees.
• Operated a $4.7 million dollar budget.
• Operation and management of the newly constructed
direct supervision jail with a capacity of 384 additional
inmates.
• Responsible for the changes in policy to address direct
supervision, training of staff, transition of staff, inmates and
services to the new facility.
• Director of Corrections: 1991 - 2001
• Administrative responsibility for the operation of the coun-
ty jail facilities with a capacity of 880 beds, (1000) inmates,
158 officers, and 35 civilian employees with a $6.5 million dollar budget.
• Ten years of experience at the command level. involving
everything from public relations to criminal investigations
involving confined inmates.
• Worked with architects on renovation projects and assisted with design layout and security features for the new construction of the Crystal Beach sub-station and the $95 million
dollar Criminal Justice Facility.
• Public speaking in a variety of venues and presentations
at the Texas Commission on Jail Standards in Austin, Texas on
behalf of the Sheriff of Galveston County.
• Bureau Commander of Support Services: 2001-2006
• Managed a combination of civilian and law enforcement
personnel with a staff of 32 personnel in the Bureau of Support
Services which involved the administrative oversight of:
» Criminal Warrant/Civil Process Division
» Mental Health Division
» Training Division
» Community Service
» Citizen Sheriff’s Academy
» Payroll/Billing Divisions
• Developed a working relationship with the U.S. Marshall
Service (Violent Offender Task Force), FBI, Inspector General’s
Office and the thirteen (13) municipal law enforcement agencies within Galveston County.
• The Support Services Bureau has an annual operating
budget of $1.6 million dollars.
• Bureau Commander - Criminal Law Enforcement: 2006
to Present
• Managing a combination of civilian and law enforcement
personnel with a staff of 120 personnel in the Bureau of
Criminal Law Enforcement. Services include:
» Patrol, Criminal Investigation
» Warrant/Civil Process
» School Officer Program
» Marine Patrol/Dive Team
» Environmental Crimes
» Auto Crimes Task Force
The Criminal Law Enforcement bureau operates a budget of
$5.8 million dollars. This bureau works closely with the DEA
Drug Task Force, FBI/CTIG (Counter Terrorism Intelligence
Group), Federal Bureau of Investigation (Safe Streets Task
Force), and the U.S. Marshall Service (Violent Offender Task
Force).
During all of my assignments, I have worked diligently
with staff to reduce the fiscal burden and liability of the citizens of Galveston County.
Beach Patrol Rescue Heroic
COMMENTARY – Breck Porter,
Editor – Gulf Coast Police News
Lt. Tony Pryor fights wind and riptide
with victim in tow.
Crowds of onlookers gathered on the
seawall and along the length of the
jetty, rooting him on and finally letting
out a cheer and applause as he finally
brought the man to shallow water
where firefighters waded in to help
bring the man to dry land.
The entire rescue operation was flawless and a sight to behold. Of course
the water rescue by Pryor was the center of attention, but as he struggled to
bring the victim ashore, firefighters,
EMT’s and police officer’s were all in
motion back on the beach, on the jetty
and in the street. Lifesaving equipment was on the beach waiting when
the man was carried to dry land. In a
split second movement a Galveston
firefighter, who I assume was a trained
EMT also, was performing resuscitation.
Pearland police are seeking information about a man who robbed the
CVS Pharmacy on April 20. The suspect is described as a light-skinned
male, 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 5 inches tall and 180 to 200 pounds.
He reportedly pulled a chrome colored handgun, ordered the cashier to
give him money from the register.
He was wearing a handkerchief over his lower face and wore blue jeans
and a baggy sweatshirt.
Anyone with any information is asked to call the Pearland Police
Department at (281) 652-1100, or call Officer Matherne at (281) 5621125, or Brazoria County Crime Stoppers 1-800-460-2222
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A Galveston firefighter attempts resuscitation of victim.
I’m sure that if one were to ask Lt.
Pryor about his performance that day,
he would simply say, “it’s my job.”
Over the years I have heard so many
police, firefighters and EMT’s use that
phrase after performing a truly heroic
deed, and to them it is, just their job.
But to us, it could mean our life, or our
death.
We are blessed to have these men
and women, who without hesitation,
without fear, put their lives in danger to
in an effort to save ours.
The victim that day, a newspaper
man from Louisiana, was rushed to the
hospital, but died two days later after a
valiant effort by these several men and
women to save his life.
YES -
$30 a year. All subscriptions mailed First Class, 12 issues for Gulf Coast Police News
to:
Name _____________________________________________________________________
Address ____________________________________________________________________
✃
GALVESTON –
On April 12th I
was within six
blocks of the 61st
Street Fishing Pier in
Galveston when a call came over my
emergency scanner radio that a man
was in the water in distress at the pier.
I was there within a minute or two,
before any emergency vehicle or personnel arrived.
As I left my vehicle and went onto the
pier, I could hear a siren coming from
the east end. Looking, I immediately
recognized it as a Galveston Island
Beach Patrol Rescue Truck. These lifeguard pickup trucks with the surfboard
rack and emergency lights are a familiar sight on Galveston island.
Just before the beach patrol vehicle
arrived, a Galveston police unit
arrived. The officer motioned to the
pedestrians on the pier to clear the
way for the approaching emergency
rescue unit. Within a matter of minutes, Lt. Tony Pryor drove onto the pier
and rushed to where people were
motioning for him to “hurry”.
It seemed it was only a matter of seconds before Pryor was out of his truck
and into the waters that were slapping
against the rock groins on the east side
of what is actually a jetty. In one swift
motion, Pryor jumped from his truck,
grabbed his floatation device and without any hesitation, climbed down the
slippery rocks and dived into the choppy water.
A minute or so later, I saw Pryor
swimming around to the west side of
the jetty heading towards the beach
with what appeared to be the lifeless
body of a man in tow.
Watching
through the telescopic view finder on
my camera, I watched as Pryor held
the man’s upper torso face- up out of
the water with one arm, while swimming the sidestroke with the other.
The winds were blowing at a steady
pace and the tide seemed to be pushing against him as he fought to get the
man to the beach where EMT’s were
waiting with lifesaving gear. Pryor
would swim a few strokes and then it
appeared that he would stop for a few
seconds, taking deep breaths and
observing the condition of the victim
he had in tow.
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>
EX-COP ON THE JURY
By Marshall Frank
or nearly thirty-one years, I
had
been
exempt from jury duty.
No more. This time
when I received my
summons, I would not
be entitled to automatic exclusion as a law
enforcement officer.
Now retired, I would have to report.
Like most people, I dreaded the prospect
of time away from home and other responsibilities. I thought it would be simple. A
right wing cop to the core, I had ascended
to the rank of Captain in the largest police
department south of the Mason-Dixon line,
Miami-Dade. A prosecutor’s dream, a
defense attorney’s nightmare. I’d be
home in no time.
I reported to the courthouse on a bright
Monday morning and flashed my retiree’s
badge to the young lady in charge.
“There’s not a chance of being accepted,”
I explained. “So why waste my time and
yours?”
“Sorry, please be seated”… Hmmmm.
My name became a number; UR1003,
one of more than three hundred exasperated men and women mustered in the
F
huge assembly room listening to boring
orientations about courtroom procedure
and demeanor. Old stuff.
For each judge scheduled to preside over
a trial, thirty would-be jurors were called
and then shuttled into their respective
courtrooms. Of those, only six jurors and
one alternate would be selected. The rest
would return to the assembly room and
wait again. It portended a long week
ahead.
At 2:30 in the afternoon, my number
was finally called. Thirty of us proceeded
into a small, pristine courtroom nestled on
the ninth floor of Ft. Lauderdale’s Justice
Building. As we queued into our seats, I
ogled the familiar scenario. First, a masculine, sandy blond judge with chiseled
good looks. The lawyers, both male and
white, sat at their tables in scrutiny of us.
An African America youth dressed in a
rumpled black shirt and black tie sat next
to the youngest lawyer. No one had to
guess who the players were.
My inner prejudices began to surface.
I’d seen it too many times. The defendant
was probably charged with a major felony
and is hep to the system. He’s assigned a
Public Defender who’s under pressure of
mounting case loads. The prosecutor
looked confident, undoubtedly pro-cop.
I figured the guy was guilty. After all, it’s
rare that they’re not. Just another dirtbag…a social parasite clogging the criminal justice system. That’s my orientation,
my background. I came by it honestly.
As the proceedings unfolded, my interest
began to pique. This was a whole new
adventure, a totally different perspective.
What a wonderful opportunity. Inwardly, I
hoped to be selected. But, once they knew
about me, I knew I’d be excused on the
spot.
I listened carefully to the lawyers questioning each juror. They spent an inordinate amount of time trying to qualify the
only two blacks in the group of thirty. They
were both very elderly, fragile and confused. Despite the good intentions of both
sides, this jury was destined to be comprised of all non-Hispanic, middle class
whites.
During the first round, everyone was
asked if they were related to or had
acquaintances in law enforcement.
Finally, at my turn, “I have hundreds,” I
said. “I’m a retired Captain from the
Miami-Dade Police Department.”
The kid on trial cringed when he heard
me speak.
The prosecutor asked me no questions.
He figured I was just like him. He would
love for me to be on the jury.
The gangly young defender waited until
the very end before posing one simple
question to me about the concept of
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weighing evidence and defining reasonable doubt. Academic. No way this lawyer
would be stupid enough to select me.
The lawyers and the judge huddled at
side bar and returned with their selections.
They had a panel. “Number one juror...”
announced the judge, “is Mr. Frank.”
I would have been less surprised if a
dozen dancing dolphins wearing tutus performed a ballet through the courtroom.
Here I was, a career ex-cop being sworn in
as a juror on the other side of the fence.
As the judge rambled through his
speech, I peered at the defendant thinking
of how often I had arrested punks just like
him. They were always guilty. Now I sat in
a position, not of accusation, but of final
judgement, to listen and evaluate only that
information that the judge will allow as
appropriate for the jurors to hear. I know
there will be much information deemed
inadmissable that we will never know
about.
So often, over the years, I sat in the back
row of a courtroom eyeballing a jury, speculating how they would think, feel, decide.
I would want to win! Sure enough, sitting
in the last row, there he was, a mirror
image of me - the polyester detective eyeballing all of us. After a while, they all look
alike. Don’t we?
I was beginning to feel the metamorphosis that takes place anytime a citizen is
sworn in as a juror. How fortunate I was to
continued on next page (Cop on Jury)
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Trying hard to portray himself as Joe
America, the defense attorney artfully
exposed Willie as a three time convicted
felon for drug dealing and other miscellaneous depravities.
My old investigator’s adrenaline kicked
in with the urge to leap across the jury box
and fire off about eighty questions myself.
He’s an impeacher’s dream. On cross, the
Public Defender was polite, almost too
nice. He reminded me of a young Jimmy
Stewart, pausing, reaching out...hesitating.
Next witness for the state; Mongo. No,
that’s not a name for another dirtbag, it
was the robbery detective’s nickname. A
cop for eight years, Mongo knew the street
people better than he knew his own family. He had been notified about the robbery
that afternoon, but he went home anyway.
Never said why.
Four days later, Mongo took a statement
from Willie. Four days! At this point,
Mongo had probable cause to go after
Reggie and arrest him that afternoon, but
he did not. Never said why.
Nine days later, Reggie received a minor
gunshot wound in the streets. When he
was being released from the hospital,
Mongo was there to make the collar.
In a taped statement played before the
jury, Reggie never admitted to robbing
Willie. He said he “asked” Willie for the
chain, and he gave it to him. The so-called
“confession” is one of the sloppiest I’ve
ever heard. I used to teach the subject.
One more witness; Willie’s girlfriend.
Neither attorney ever met her until the day
of the trial. She never came forward.
Suddenly overwhelmed with a sense of
civic duty, she now testified how she stood
outside her place and witnessed the entire
robbery. She accused Reggie.
Again, I squirmed in the jury box. Nail
her, I thought to myself. No way could she
have seen it from her vantage point. Her
testimony was full of holes. Contrived.
Coached. So obvious. – The state rested.
To his credit, Reggie took the stand. It
was no surprise that he admitted being a
small time drug pusher and a thief.
Wearing a glazed stare, he spoke almost
unintelligible.
“This”, he said, “is nothing more than a
debt.” A dispute. Street stuff. Willie owed
him money and Reggie took collateral.
Yes, he may have intimidated Willie, but he
never robbed him with a gun...not someone he’d known all his life. So, who are we
to believe?
The trial ended abruptly. We retired to
the jury room and, not ironically, I was
elected foreman. Then we tried to put the
pieces together. Where was the cop who
arrested Willie? How could Reggie hold a
gun in one hand and open Willie’s car door
with the other, all while holding his bike?
Why did Mongo wait so long to act? The
girlfriend’s testimony was discredited.
continued on page 26 (Cop on Jury)
0
continued from previous page (Cop on Jury)
be able to play a part in another cog in the
system’s complicated wheel. My cynicism
evolved into enthusiasm.
This was no jury of his peers. Four of us
were carved right out of an Archie Bunker
script. Over fifty and fed up with government bureaucracy, taxes and crime. The
lone woman was a chain smoking
bleached blonde in her sixties. The two
younger fellows comprised a rock band
musician and a jet ski enthusiast living on
a houseboat.
Sure enough. This defendant was a parasitic dirtbag. A 24 year-old small time
dope pusher charged with robbing another
dirtbag. A drug pusher. No wonder the
Public Defender took this case all the way.
It was fascinating, indeed, lawyers standing before us each eager to win. That’s
what it’s all about. In my mind, the courtroom was never that utopian forum where
justice is truly dispensed, where those
who labored there sought only truth. In
the real world, it’s the arena for legalistic
combat. The prosecutor’s aim; convict
the bastard. The defense; get him
off...guilty or not – I sat back and ate it up.
Next day, first witness. A too-well
dressed dude wearing gold rimmed glasses sauntered to the stand and took an
oath on behalf of the state. His name:
Willie. He’s 22 years old.
As soon as he opened his mouth, I recognized the attitude, the personality. His
character seeped through the phoney
facade. No matter how clean he appeared
or how he struggled to speak in middle
class, he was just another street thief –
like the defendant.
I caught myself drawing conclusions,
then thinking to myself; listen to the facts.
That is what counts here.
Willie had been driving through his slum
neighborhood one afternoon when Reggie
(the defendant) approached him walking
his bike. The two were lifelong chums having grown up on the same street in Ft.
Lauderdale.
Willie testified how Reggie pointed an
automatic through the driver’s window
and demanded his neck chain and some
money. Reggie reached into the car and
opened the door so that Willie could stand
up to get the money out of his pocket.
Reggie then pedalled off into the sunset on
his rusty old Schwinn and made his
escape.
Irate and indignant, Willie hurried to a
girlfriend’s apartment to get his gun.
Why? Of course...to look for a cop to make
a robbery report. The gun was for “self
protection” in case he saw Reggie. Yeah.
Before he could find a pay phone, along
came a uniformed police officer who
noticed that Willie’s gun was lying on the
car seat. He not only got his chance to
report the “robbery”, he was arrested on
a firearms charge and carted off to jail.
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by shooting at their car and accidentally
wounding Ms. Garcia as she was hunkered
down in the back of the Suburban.
Keep in mind that Deputy Hernandez is
being prosecuted by the same U.S. Attorney
that got convictions against Ignacio Ramos
and Jose Compean, the Border Patrol Agents
that were charged with shooting a criminal
drug smuggler on the border at El Paso.
Ramos was sentenced to 11 years and one
day in prison for shooting and wounding
Osvaldo Aldrete-Davila near the Fabens settlement of unincorporated El Paso County,
Texas at about 1 PM on February 17, 2005.
According to Johnny Sutton, United States
Attorney for the Western District of Texas,
Ramos and his partner fired fifteen shots at
an unarmed man in broad daylight and failed
to report it to their supervisors, instead giving
a false report and leaving their victim for
dead. Fellow agent Jose Compean was sentenced to 12 years. Aldrete-Davila had been
found with nearly 800 pounds of marijuana
in the back of his van. Following the incident,
Aldrete-Davila was granted a temporary conditional visitors visa in exchange for giving his
testimony against Ramos and Compean.
They were incarcerated January 17, 2007.
Sutton also got a conviction on Border
Patrol Agent David Sipe for use of excessive
force against a criminal alien in a 2001 case
in McAllen, Texas. That conviction was overturned, but only after Sipe’s life was ruined
by divorce and bankruptcy.
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Edwards County Sheriff Don Letsinger
Another Border Patrol Agent, Gary
Brugman, spent three years in prison after
Sutton got him convicted of violating the civil
rights of a criminal alien that he captured
near Eagle Pass on the Mexican border with
Piedras Negras.
To make matters even worse for
Hernandez, the government demanded that
he be kept in jail after he was finally convicted until the time of his sentencing. That didn’t set well with Sheriff Letsinger either.
“Ramos and Compean, after they were sentenced, were released to get their business in
order before they reported to jail. In this
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and Bauman said, ‘Yes, we would protest
that,’ so the judge said, ‘We’ll just keep him
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in jail so he can continue to serve his time,
he’ll get out quicker that way.”
So what does the Edwards County Sheriff,
Don Letsinger, think about the arrest and
prosecution of his deputy? Letsinger speaks
freely and openly and makes little or no effort
to be politically correct or to mince his words.
“The government got over zealous in this
case. They just jumped in there and got an
indictment in Gilmer’s case without weighing
the case on its own merits. They just proceeded on the basis that this was their policy, to get all these guys that step out of line.
“I notice that looking at your paper (The
Police News) and going back and looking
through your stories, there’s dozens of shootings all the time that involve law enforcement
officers shooting at cars, and the federal government doesn’t get involved in them.
“Now if it was an egregious case where
everybody could plainly see that this officer
had plenty of time to make a decision not to
shoot, it would be different. Most of these
shootings happen within a couple of seconds.
You can rip off four rounds in a couple of seconds. And they, (prosecutors) say, well okay,
the first two are OK, but the last two aren’t.
“Why did they decide to go with this?
Maybe because it would look good if they got
a local lawman for a change, they had been
hammering the Border Patrol,” he said.
“The government prosecuted this boy and
they got their conviction and they did some
really weak things with regards to presenting
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evidence. As far as I’m concerned they may
just as well have got up there and committed
perjury.”
“That judge, Judge Roy T. Dawson, at the
sentencing reduced it. The pre-sentence
investigation said that he was supposed to
get between 84 and 108 months, that’s the
guidelines. At the sentencing, Judge Dawson
held up the guideline book, and it’s a big
book, and he told the people in court that,
‘This is the guideline book. Two years ago it
was declared unconstitutional. We used to
have to go by this but now we can just use it
as a guideline and the judge can do what he
wants to do with it,’
Letsinger continued, “Then he went to the
report from the probation department and
said, ‘First off, ya’ll started off with the wrong
crime because you are claiming Intentional
Bodily Injury, but you didn’t indict him for
Intentional Bodily Injury, so you can’t use
that guideline.’
After arguments back and forth between
the prosecution and the defense and a session in the judge’s chamber, Judge Dawson
finally handed down a sentence of one year
and one day. By adding the one day extra to
the sentence it allowed Hernandez to get
credit for all the time that he had already
served while waiting for his trial sentencing.
As it stands, he should be released sometime
in October of this year. In addition to the
time he is serving, Hernandez must also pay
restitution of $5,347.90 and pay a $5,000
fine. Even when he was a $20,000 a year
deputy sheriff, that would have been an
almost impossible amount to pay. When he
gets out of jail, he will never be able to be a
law enforcement officer again.
The criminal alien that lost a tooth and got
her lip busted came out really good in the
deal. Her San Antonio lawyers threatened to
sue the county and the sheriff and everybody
else in Edwards County, and finally settled
out of court for $100,000.
The citizens of Edwards County paid the
$20,000 lawyer bill for Hernandez, but a
county of less than 3,000 people could not
bare a hit for a $100,000. For these kinds of
situations, Edwards and some surrounding
counties have formed an association to
which they all contribute and with these
funds they buy an insurance policy that protects them from being bankrupted by lawsuits. This is how the criminal alien got her
money.
As she waits for her husband to get out of
prison, Ashley Hernandez works everyday at
a day care center in Rocksprings that is operated by a Baptist Church. She is able to take
their baby to work with her, but it is still a day
to day struggle to make ends meet.
Fortunately, friends in and out of law
enforcement have been able to help. A special account is established at a bank in
Rocksprings and from time to time, small
amounts of money, in the form of donations,
show up and are deposited to the account to
help her and the baby get by.
And what effect has this whole ordeal had
on the Edwards County Sheriff’s Office?
Sheriff Letsinger told us:
“I’m going to
have to sit
down with my
officers and
we’re going to
have to have a
long discussion
about how we
act with regard
to use of force
and how we’re
going
to
approach different situations. There
are two things.
The main thing
Gilmer Hernandez in that worries me
is not the prosthe federal lockup
ecutions, it’s
the officer’s failure to act to protect his own
life and the life of the public which is our job.
That’s what really concerns me and I fear
that because of this we’re going to be too
slow to act and we’re going to have officer’s
injured or killed. That’s my biggest worry.
“I would like to see all of the police organizations, all of the Sheriff’s Associations, all
the Chief’s organizations, the police officers
organizations, everybody, let their congressmen and their people know that we’ve got to
do something different. I don’t care, even if
it’s a 14-year old gang banger hi-jacking cars
they still kill people and we need a little more
leeway to use force to get them off the street.
Otherwise they need to give us immunity
from failure to act, give us total immunity
from failure to act.
“If they’re not going to give us the authority to use force to stop people who are using
force, they need to understand that a vehicle
running at high speeds up and down the
streets and the highways, fleeing from cops,
is a lethal weapon and the driver is using an
illegal and lethal weapon against the public.
If they’re not going to give us authority to take
them out and get them off the road, and I’m
not sure spikes are the way to do it, because
they dodge spikes and run over people on the
sidewalks, then they need to give us complete immunity from failure to act, criminally
and civilly.”
If you would like to help Gilmer Hernandez
and his family, you may mail a donation to:
Gilmer’s Fund, in care of Peoples State
Bank, PO Box 437, Rocksprings, Texas
78880 in care of Cheryl Cottle.
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an illegal turn, or having illegal license plates
on a car. When a person plans and carries
out a felony crime, such as paying a human
smuggler to bring them into the U.S. unlawfully, they are committing a crime and thus
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w w w. b e a ch b r e a k t x . c o m
Gulf
Gulf Coast
Coast Police
Police News
News -- Page
Page 19
19
I Have Got to Get to the Children
Ed Gooding – Texas Ranger
hough Rangers have a reputation
of working alone, this is seldom
the case. A Ranger’s duty is to
assist other law enforcement officers.
Newspaper articles commonly go like this:
“Local officers, assisted by the Texas
Rangers...”
Most, if not all, Texas Rangers will tell
you that the cases that really get to them
are the ones that involve children. In the
following case, Ranger Ed Gooding was
called to investigate a tragic bombing at a
local elementary school.
T
The following is Ranger Gooding’s
account of the Edgar Allen Poe
Elementary School tragedy.
Tuesday, September 15, 1959, is a
black-letter date in Houston. The sound of
the explosion that rocked Edgar Allen Poe
Elementary School at about ten o’clock
that morning had not been heard in Texas
since the terrible New London School
explosion in which more than 300 had
died eighteen years before. Poe
Elementary School, located near the campus of Rice University, had become the
target of a madman.
Journalists today would lead us to
believe that school terrorism is a modernday experience. I’ve heard people say that
Charles Whitman started it all when he
climbed into the Tower at the University of
Texas in Austin and started killing people
on August 1, 1966. Well, Whitman wasn’t
the first. At Poe Elementary, Paul Harold
Orgeron murdered an innocent teacher, a
custodian, and three seven-year-old boysincluding his own son-in 1959. I suspect
that there were other acts of cowardly
mayhem even before this.
Poe Elementary School principal Ruth
Doty was walking down the hall when she
met a shabby, middle-aged man and a
young boy. (Other witnesses said Orgeron
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was neatly dressed. I suspect that the
shabbily dressed description may have
been slanted after the fact.) Paul Orgeron
told Mrs. Doty that he wanted to enroll his
seven-year-old son, Dusty Paul, in school.
She said that was fine. If they would follow
her, she would take them to the school
office to fill out the necessary paperwork.
At the office, Mrs. Doty asked Juanita
Weidner, a secretary, to give Orgeron the
necessary enrollment forms.
Ms. Weidner asked Orgeron where he
and his son had moved from, what school
his son had been attending, where they
were currently living, and what he did for
a living. She wasn’t asking officially; most
of that information would be covered on
the enrollment papers. She was just making conversation. Not surprisingly, she
became suspicious when he couldn’t
remember the name of the school his son
had been attending or the name of the
town. All he could remember was that it
was in New Mexico. As for their current
address, he couldn’t remember that
either. They had been in Houston only a
few days and, until the previous Monday,
they had been living in a boarding house
at 2720 LaBranch Street. The best he
could recall, the street they had moved to
was Bissonnett Street. However, he definitely remembered that he was a tile contractor by trade.
Parts of Orgeron’s story later turned out
to be true, sort of. When the address was
checked with the owners of the boarding
house on LaBranch Street, the E. C.
Adamses, they identified the pictures of
Orgeron and his son as former boarders
who had lived at their house from
September 10 until September 12. They
said the man and boy were very quiet and
never made any trouble. But they didn’t
know the man as Paul Orgeron: he had
given his name as Bob Silver (we never did
find out where that name came from). As
for being a tile contractor, this was also
true. But he was also a convicted safecracker.
Ms. Weidner told Orgeron that she was
sorry, but since he didn’t have Dusty’s
birth or health certificates with him, she
could not enroll Dusty. Taking the enrollment form, he said they would return the
next day with the needed certificates.
Later, Ms. Weidner reported that Orgeron
had talked rather loudly and fast, but that
he appeared neither angry nor upset.
It was now almost ten o’clock and near
the end of the period. Students from five
first and second grade classes were getting ready to return to their rooms from
their recess on the schoolyard. Just as
Patricia Johnston, a ten-year teacher
(three of them at Poe), was preparing to
By Ed Gooding, Texas Ranger, Retired
With Robert Nieman
take her second-grade class into the building, she was approached by Orgeron and
Dusty. Orgeron was carrying a brown, fabric-covered suitcase. The small, frecklefaced boy also carried a similar small bag.
Orgeron stopped in front of Ms.
Johnston, handed her two pieces of paper,
and said, “Teacher, read these.” Ms.
Johnston said that the penmanship was so
bad that the notes were almost unreadable. While she studied them, Orgeron
kept mumbling something about the will of
God and “… having power in a suitcase.”
All the while, he was moving the suitcase
up and down. She noticed what appeared
to be a doorbell-type button on the bottom
of the bag.
Orgeron kept urging Ms. Johnston to
gather all the children around them in a
circle. She wasn’t having any part of that
until he could explain to her why he wanted the children and what he had in the
suitcase. Still unable to make out what the
notes said, Ms. Johnston was by now thoroughly alarmed. She was worried that the
children that had joined her might be in
terrible danger, and she wanted to getthem as far away from this strange man as
possible. She told two of the children to go
find Mrs. Doty and James Montgomery,
the school custodian. The rest she told to
immediately go back inside the building.
Two other teachers, Julia Whatley and
Jennie Kolter, were walking out the door
when they saw their colleague talking to
the strange man and small boy. It was the
school policy not to let a teacher stand by
herself with suspicious-looking people.
They were already heading toward her
when they saw Ms. Johnston signaling
them to join her. Ms. Johnston handed the
note to Ms. Kolter. Meanwhile, Orgeron
continued rambling about “power in the
suitcase” and that he had to “get to the
children.”
A few moments later, Ruth Doty and
James Montgomery joined the group. No
longer being needed, Ms. Whatley
returned to her students and started moving them into the school building, with the
girls leading the way. Pat Johnston also
left the group and started toward her students to also get them into the building.
Mrs. Doty told Orgeron he would have to
leave the school grounds immediately.
Paying no attention to the principal,
Orgeron kept rambling and repeating, “I
have to follow the children to the second
grade.” He also kept waving the suitcase
around.
That was the last thing any of them
remembered. Suddenly, there was a
tremendous explosion and six people were
dead: Jennie Kolter, teacher; James
Montgomery, school custodian; sevencontinued on next page (Children)
continued from previous page (Children)
year-old students Billy Hawes, Jr. and John
Fitch, Jr.; and Paul Orgeron and his sevenyear-old son Dusty.
The only word to describe Edgar Allen
Poe Elementary School when I arrived is
bedlam – absolute bedlam. Parents were
swarming the school grounds, frantically
searching for their children. Law nforcement officers were fighting a losing battle
trying to keep order and, of course, the
curiosity seekers were out in full force.
I joined officers from the Houston Police
Department, the Harris County Sheriff’s
Department, and the FBI. The devastation
was unbelievable. The blast had occurred
directly under a maple tree. If you had
gone by the looks of the tree, you would
have thought it was the dead of winter:
there was not a leaf to be found anywhere
on it. All that hung from the stripped
branches were bits of human flesh and a
few shreds of clothing. There was a hole
six inches deep at the spot of the asphalted playground where Orgeron had detonated the bomb.
Several bodies were lying on the playground, but one I remember in particular.
One of the boys was totally nude. The
force of the explosion had ripped every
piece of clothing off the poor child. Soon,
we tentatively identified the bomber.
Juanita Weidner said he had given his
name as John Orgeron when he and his
son had been in her office earlier. There
was still one big problem: we weren’t sure
that he was dead. There wasn’t a body, at
least not one that was identifiable, and we
were afraid that the bomber was still on
the school grounds with another explosive.
There is only one way to cope with violent death when you have seen as much of
it as I have: harden yourself to it and do
not under any circumstances let yourself
become emotionally involved. Sometimes
you even laugh about it. It’s not funny and
you’re not belittling the horror and pain,
but that’s one of the ways you learn to
cope. However, no matter how much you
steel yourself, you never get to a point
where innocent children thrown into the
path of violence doesn’t unsettle you.
Orgeron’s son and the other slaughtered
children bothered me more than anything
I had seen since the time we had lobbed
the hand grenades into the cellar back in
Europe and killed not only two SS soldiers,
but a whole family. Like that incident, this
would bother me for a long time. At that
moment, however, I had to put that aside
and do what all the other officers on the
campus were doing: our jobs. That was
easier said than done. I really felt sorry for
those officers who had not seen as much
death as I had during the war in Europe.
They were having a really difficult time
with it.
We evacuated the school to determine
that there was not another bomb in the
building. Then we asked all the children
and teachers to return to their classrooms
so the teachers could conduct a roll call.
Except for the dead and wounded, everyone else was soon accounted for.
I have to say right here that I have seen
hardened combat soldiers not act as
bravely as these teachers and children
did. It was really incredible. There was one
little nine-year-old boy, Costa Kaldis, that I
specially remember. He would have been
awarded a medal for extraordinary bravery if he had been in the service. The
school had supposedly been cleared of all
the children when young Kaldis heard a
child crying. A small polio victim had been
unable to leave the building with the others and had inadvertently been left
behind. Without a second’s hesitation, little nine-year-old Kaldis ran back into the
room and carried his schoolmate to safety. Remember, no one knew at that time
whether or not there was another bomb
still in the school. I have often wondered
whatever happened to Costa Kaldis. He
was as brave as anyone I’ve ever known.
Once everyone was accounted for, we
started a search of the area around the
blast, looking for anything and everything:
bodies, wounded, or any clues as to what
had happened and why. I was walking
down a row of hedges along North
Boulevard when I saw a man’s left hand
hanging on one the hedge’s branches
about sixty feet from the spot of the explosion.
Lloyd Frazier, assistant chief deputy of
the Harris County Sheriff’s Department,
was an explosive and fingerprint expert
and a better-than-average crime-scene
chemist. Lloyd was a real student of his
profession and could do just about anything concerning law enforcement. He
took the hand for fingerprint identification,
and we soon had a positive identification.
We didn’t have to worry about Orgeron setting off any more bombs.
Orgeron, 47, had a long police record,
dating back to 1930. He had served two
terms in Texas prisons and one in
Louisiana. He was an old-time safe burglar, which accounted for his knowledge of
dynamite.
Orgeron’s left hand wasn’t his only body
part we found before completing our
search of the area. His severed foot was
found near the bomb site. The following
day, the owner of a two-story building
acrossthe street from the school noticed a
terrible smell coming from his roof. He
found Orgeron’s missing right shoulder
and arm. Another man who also lived
across the street from the school found a
piece of flesh in his backyard.
We also found the notes Orgeron had
given to Pat Johnson:
sive. I mean high high. Please believe
me when I say I have 2 more (illegible)
that are set to go off at two times. I do
not believe I can kill and not kill what is
around me, an I mean my son will go. Do
as I say an no one will get hurt.
Please.
P. H. Orgeron
Do not get the Police department yet,
I’ll tell you when.—Please do not get excite over this order
I’m giving you. In this suitcase you see in
my hand it fill to the top with high explosive. Please do not make me push this
button that all I have to do. And also
have two 2 more cases (illegible) high
explosive that are set to go off at a certain time at three different places so it
will more harm to kill me, so do as I say
and no one will get hurt. An I would like
to talk about god while waiting for my
wife.
Sheriff’s deputies and I continued to
search the school grounds while several
Houston police officers started looking for
Orgeron’s vehicle. They found his 1958
green and ivory Chevrolet station wagon
parked along North Street across from the
school. Several sticks of dynamite were
under the hood, lying on the upper side of
the wheel well and a box of dynamite fuses
was located in the car’s glove box. Coils of
wire, batteries, and BB-gun pellets were
found in the backseat. In the trunk, they
found a child’s cowboy book, another
book titled Children At Play, a toy airplane,
a toy submachine gun, and a toy six-shooter.
Also found at the blast scene was a sales
ticket in the amount of $41.94 for blasting
caps, fuses, and one hundred and fifty
sticks (approximately fifty pounds) of
dynamite from the Bond Gunderson
Company in Grants, New Mexico. This
gave us a whole new problem. As big as
the explosion was, it wasn’t nearly as big
as it would have been if Orgeron had used
one hundred and fifty sticks of dynamite.
Where was the rest of the dynamite? We
never did find it. I suspect Orgeron passed
the dynamite on to some safecrackers.
Just like today, there are a lot of nuts in
this old world. The dust hadn’t even settled before sickos started calling, claiming
they had planted bombs in other schools
all around Houston. Finally, the National
Guard was called out and placed at
schools throughout the area. One school
in San Antonio even received a threat from
what turned out to be three teenagers.
Thankfully, they all proved to be pranks.
Some people have a real sick sense of
humor.
After completing our crime scene investigation, we bagged as many body parts as
we could find and sent them to a local
Houston funeral home. We notified all of
Orgeron’s next-of-kin possible, many of
whom lived in the Houston area, that they
could claim the bodies. Dusty was terribly
mutilated, and the only way a relative
could make a positive identification of the
boy was from a small scar under his chin.
As far as I know, none of the relatives ever
claimed Orgeron. We discovered that
Orgeron’s former wife Hazel lived in
Houston. It turned out that they had been
married and divorced twice. She said she
had tried to make a go of it both times, but
since he liked to use her for a punching
bag, it had been impossible. The last time
she had talked to him was at Dusty’s seventh birthday party the previous Saturday,
at the home of his maternal grandmother
Maude Tatum. He claimed that he had
found God, had no malice for anyone, and
was a changed man.
Continuing, Hazel said that Paul and
Dusty had been devoted to one another
and that they had been inseparable ever
since the divorce in July of 1958. She said
they wandered from place to place, never
staying in any one place for long. All she
knew about their travels was that they had
been in Altus, Oklahoma, shortly before
returning to Houston.
Upon investigating, we discovered that in
July and August, Orgeron had worked as a
tile contractor for James Scarborough in
Altus. During the whole period, it appears
that Orgeron and Dusty had slept either in
the back of their station wagon or in a
tent. When questioned, Scarborough said
that for some reason that he never gave,
continued on page 23 (Children)
Please do not get excite over this order
I’m giving you. In this suitcase you see in
my hand is fill to the top with high exploGulf Coast Police News - Page 21
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T EXAS E XECUTIONS
Scheduled Execution - May 16, 2007
Charles Edward Smith
Born: February 24, 1966
San Bernardino, California
Occupation: Mechanic
Education Level: 10th Grade (GED)
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Convicted in the August 1988 murder of
Pecos County Deputy Sheriff Tim Hudson.
Hudson, 61, was attempting to stop Smith
and his co-defendant, Carroll Bernard
Smith (no relation) on I-10 west of Fort
Stockton after the pair had stolen $20
worth of gasoline from a service station in
nearby Bakersfield.
As Hudson attempted to pass the stolen
van the suspects were driving, Smith fired
three shots into the patrol car. One of the
shots from the .357 Magnum struck
Hudson in the side, killing him.
The suspects abandoned the van in
Coyanosa and stole a truck tractor from a
residence.
With the aid of a U.S. Customs helicopter, the pair was spotted in the vicinity of
FM-1450 and FM-1776 in Pecos County
and captured after a running gun battle.
Carroll Smith was wounded in the left
arm during the shoot out. He received a
life sentence for murder with a deadly
weapon.
Scheduled Execution - May 10, 2007
Jose Angel Moreno
Born: December 13, 1967
Bexar County, Texas
Occupation: Clerk
Education Level: 8th Grade
FINANCIAL SUCCESS
Moreno was convicted of capital murder
in the shooting death of Juan Manuel Cruz
of San Antonio on January 22, 1986.
Cruz was kidnapped and then shot to
death in a scheme by Moreno to demand
ransom from the victim’s family.
Moreno told police in a statement that
he abducted Cruz because he heard his
family had a lot of money. He said he
demanded $30,000 from Cruz’s family
after he had driven the victim to an open
grave and shot him in the head with a .44
caliber pistol.
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Join us today. Be a part of it.
The
Brazoria
County Sheriff’s
Office is seeking
information
regarding
an
Aggravated
Robbery that took
occurred in the
10,000 block of
Broadway
in
Pearland on Friday, April 6th at 1:45 am.
Investigator James Rogers said the
suspect approached the victim and
asked if they knew a particular person
that they believed was living in the complex. The victim said that they did not
know the person and then the suspect
asked for money from the victim. The
victim advised the suspect that they had
none so the suspect struck the victim
with a Chrome/Stainless 9 mm Semi
Automatic Handgun and then fired two
shots, one striking the victim, and then
left.
Rogers said the suspect is described
as a Black Male with Medium
Complexion, mid 20s, 150-160 lbs, 5’6”5’8” tall, with Dark Hair about 1” long.
Rogers also believes that there were
two people involved in the Aggravated
Robbery and that one of the suspects
was waiting outside the complex in a Mid
Sized car with Tinted Windows.
Anyone with information on this
Aggravated Robbery, or any Felony
Crime, is asked to call Brazoria County
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-460-2222.
Remember that YOU DO NOT HAVE TO
GIVE YOUR NAME to be eligible for a
reward.
continued from page 21 (Children)
Orgeron had insisted that he had to leave
Altus no later than August 25. He also didn’t say where he had to go or why. He had,
in fact, left a few days before August 25.
We know he was in Grants, New Mexico,
on August 25, when he bought the dynamite from the Bond Gunderson Company.
We were never able to say for certain
where the Orgerons were between August
25 and September 10, when they moved
briefly into the Adams’ boarding house at
2720 LaBranch Street in Houston.
Today, if you drive to 9710 Runnymeade
in Houston, you will find the Jeannie K.
Kolter Elementary School; at 4000
Simsbrook, you will see the James Arlie
Mongtomery Elementary School. Both are
fitting tributes to a schoolteacher and custodian who loved their children.
On Monday, March 6, 1961, at the dedication of James Arlie Montgomery
Elementary School, there was a custodian
from every school in Houston in attendance. Ruth Doty, still the principal at Poe,
related that James Montgomery “… above
all, was a man who loved children.”
Another teacher said, “He was never too
busy to climb a tree to retrieve a child’s
ball.” Perhaps one student summed it up
best when he wrote to Montgomery’s
widow the day after he was killed: “We all
miss him very much-but someday we’ll
meet him again.”
Ed Gooding: Soldier, Texas Ranger
by Ed Gooding with Robert Nieman.
Ranger Publishing, 35 Circle Drive,
Longview, Texas 75602-4840. xii + 269
pages, profusely illustrated. Index. ISBN
0-9673319-1-9. Hardcover only.
$24.95.
Texas Ranger Dispatch editor Robert
Nieman has two books on modern Texas
Rangers to his credit. First, Glenn Elliott: A
Ranger’s Ranger (1999), now in its fourth
printing and now Ed Gooding, Soldier
Texas Ranger.
His latest effort is the life story of Edgar
Dalton Gooding. In this book, Gooding first
details his early life (1924-1942) and his
adventures in the European theater during
World War II (1943-1945). Gooding
relates his experiences as a soldier and
makes the fighting in Europe come alive.
He lands on Normandy a few days after DDay and fights his way across Europe until
the German surrender in May of 1945.
Like many unsung heroes, he does what is
asked and more. He sees death daily;
experiences the hardships of every soldier: cold, fatigue, loneliness; and loses
countless companions. It is to be a crucible and good training for what lies in his
future: life in law enforcement. Danger is
a daily fact of life for Highway Patrolmen
and Texas Rangers, and death is not
uncommon.
After the war, Gooding “settles down”
for a while, but he then joins the Texas
Highway Patrol (1949-1957). Outstanding
performance as a Trooper leads to his
nomination for the Texas Ranger service.
He works as a Ranger in Houston,
Kerrville, Amarillo, and Belton-Temple
until his retirement in 1983. Gooding
serves in a transitional period of law
enforcement. In the beginning, officers
are expected to be self-reliant and self-sufficient — to live the creed, “One Riot, One
Ranger.” When landmark legal cases
begin to restrict their latitude, lawmen
adjust, even when it appears that the
rights of criminals outweigh the rights of
victims. Ranger Gooding sums it up:
I had been given the privilege of joining
the Texas Department of Public Safety on
December 1, 1948, and I will always be
grateful that the people of Texas allowed
me to serve them for thirty-four years. It
was a memorable time with many high
spots and very few low spots. During those
thirty-four years, I had more recognition
than any one man deserves. The greatest
honor was to have served with people of
the highest quality in both the Highway
Patrol and the Texas Rangers. page [255]
Ed Gooding opens a window on how the
best 19th century Ranger traditions of
service, honesty, and integrity survived in
the turbulent 20th century. — Chuck
Parsons
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At The Traffic Light in Jamaica Beach
Community Events
Pooches & People Walk
Trot for Spot II for Spay/Neuter Clinic
GALVESTON COUNTY, TX-Dogs and their
humans will trot, walk, or stroll park pathways to benefit Animal Alliance, a charitable
corporation dedicated to reducing the number of unwanted puppies and kittens through
affordable pet sterilization.
Trot for Spot II will take place on Sunday,
May 20, at Walter Hall Park. It begins with
registration and sign-in at 1 PM and ends
with Yappy Hour from 3 to 4 PM. Walter Hall
Park is in League City on Highway 3 between
NASA Road 1 and FM 518, only 30 minutes
from downtown Houston or Galveston.
Doggy Awards and People Prizes will be
presented during Yappy Hour, while doggies
drink free and people purchase soft drinks
and bottled water for a nominal charge.
Pooches will be recognized for having the
shortest tail, the most spots, and other
admirable physical traits. People must earn
their prizes by soliciting sponsor donations.
The top three donation raisers will each
receive a prize, and Trotters who raise more
than $100 in sponsor donations will be
entered into a drawing for a two-night stay at
the Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort on
Galveston Island overlooking the Gulf of
Mexico.
The registration fee is $10 per person with
a minimum of $15 in sponsor donations or
$25 per person without sponsors.
Commemorative T-shirts will be available for
$15 each while they last. You may register at
sign-in on May 20, but if you want to be eligible for prizes, call (409) 945-4698 or email
[email protected] for registration and
sponsor forms.
The registration fee is the same, whether
you walk with or without your dog. If you
take your dog to Trot for Spot II, it must be
kept on a standard leash at all times, it must
wear its rabies tag, and you must present its
rabies certificate at sign-in. There is a limit
of two dogs per registrant. Bags will be provided so that you can pick up after your dog
in the park. No aggressive dogs or dogs in
heat will be allowed. Animal Alliance
reserves the right to turn away any dog it
deems unsuitable.
Children are welcome to participate in Trot
for Spot II. However, minors must be accompanied throughout the entire event by a parent or guardian.
Proceeds from Trot for Spot II benefit
Animal Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Alliance founded and supports
Animal Alliance Spay & Neuter Clinic, which
serves the Bay Area and upper Texas coast,
including Harris, Galveston, and Brazoria
Counties. The clinic’s spay and neuter fees
range from $25 to $60. Licensed veterinarians perform all surgeries. The clinic also
provides wellness services at similarly discounted prices. The clinic, located at 608
Bayou Road, La Marque, is open to everyone. There are no income or residency limitations. Since the clinic’s fees do not cover
the cost of its services, donations and
fundraisers like Trot for Spot subsidize its
cost of doing business. Call the clinic at
(409) 933-1600 to schedule spay or neuter
surgery, or visit www.animalalliancetx.org for
detailed information.
The San Leon Volunteer fire
Dept. is proud to announce
their annual Open House, BarB-Q, auction and raffle to be
held Sat. May 12 from 11AM5PM at the San leon Fire
Station located on 12th St. @
Ave D in San Leon, TX.
Bar-B-Q plates with all the
trimmings will be served for
$7.50 and Bar-B-Q sandwiches
are $3.50. There will be an
ongoing silent auction.
Free give-aways and fire prevention kits will be available
along with a bounce house
and games for the kids.
A new station tops the wish
list for the San Leon VFD with
ground breaking hopefully to
start this fall. For more information concerning this event
please call 281-559-1312 or
409-684-1759.
Police News from across the county, across
the state and across the country
Delivered to you via e-mail each weekday
FREE
Subscribe now at
www.ThePoliceNews.info
POLICE NEWS UPDATES
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One night, a policeman spotted a man
driving very erratically through the streets of
Texas City. They pulled him over and asked
him if he hadbeen drinking that evening.
”Sure I have,” he told the officer. ‘It’s
Friday, you know, so me and the boys went
by the ice house where I had six or seven
beers . And then there was something called
‘Happy Hour’ and they served these mar-garitos which are quite good. I had four or five
o’ those.” he continued, “Then I had to drive
my friend’s home and of course I had to go
in for a couple of snorts, couldn’t be rude,
you know. Then I stopped on the way home
to get another bottle for later.” The man fumbled around in his coat until he located his
bottle of whiskey, which he held up for
inspection.
The officer sighed, and said, “Sir, I’m
afraid I’ll need you to step out of the car and
take a breathalyzer test.” Indignantly, the
man said to the officer, “Why? Don’t ye
believe me?!
Grass and Cash
By Jamie Nash
Police News Correspondent
Seized in Woodlands Bust
ly one pound of hydroponic marijuana was
found inside, along with $850.00 cash,”
Womack said. “Also inside the safe was
the name of a person who will now have
charges
pending
against
him.”
Hydroponic marijuana is selling for
between $5,000 and $6,000 per pound in
southeast Texas which is considerably
more than when the plants are grown in
dirt because of an extreme increase in the
potency, according to Womack.
Investigating officers searched the apartment and confiscated a marijuana pipe
from a purse
allegedly belonging Corrin. The
handgun confiscated was elsewhere in the
apartment and
Womack
said
they were still trying to determine
its rightful owner.
Garrett Dolloff
The safe contained documentation Womack said that
indicates sales to school age kids, and
definitive evidence of sales to Montgomery
College students. Womack said it was
unclear whether the sales occurred at
Montgomery college. Campus police were
unable to comment and the school’s
spokesperson was not available on
Thursday.
According to latest report published by
the college district (in compliance with the
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus
Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act),
only four drug offenses occurred on the
campus during the years 2002 through
2005, with two occurring in 2002 and
none in 2005. However, Corrin is not the
first Montgomery College student arrested
in connection with an alleged drug trafficking operation.
Former MOCO student Oscar Benitez,
22, was sentenced recently to four years
in prison for possession of a controlled
substance in a drug free zone, as well as
four years for possession of child pornography. Benitez was arrested Sept. 1, 2006,
while he was a student at the college.
Corrin posted $1,000 bond and was
released from jail, while a judge released
Dolloff listing “no probable cause.”
Womack said the connection between
drugs and schools in South Montgomery
County is one the SIU’s major focuses and
that this case is far from concluded.
“More arrests are pending on several different people, and the investigation is continuing in the trafficking of narcotics to our
young kids in the South County area,”
Womack said.
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THE WOODLANDS — Montgomery County
law enforcement continued to disprove
society’s criminal stereotypes with two
arrests in April.
The Montgomery County Special
Investigation Unit and Texas Department
of Public Safety narcotics officers arrested
Laura Jean Corrin, 20, and Garrett
Matthew Dolloff, 19, at an apartment
where officers confiscated marijuana valued between $5,000 and $6,000, along
with $850 in currency and a loaded .45
semi-automatic pistol.
Corrin is a
Montgomery
College student
who lives with
her parents in
their home in the
Indian Springs
subdivision of
The Woodlands.
Dolloff, who told
police he is
Laura Corrin
unemployed and
does not attend college, listed a Conroe
address when he was arrested. However,
Public Data shows his Texas Driver’s
License listed at his parents’ home in
Magnolia. The Montgomery County
Appraisal District lists the value of both
homes at over $250,000.
SIU Sgt. David Womack said the pair was
arrested in connection with the flow of
hydroponic marijuana into South
Montgomery County. Corrin and Dolloff,
identified as boyfriend and girlfriend by
police, were charged with state jail felony
possession of marijuana (more than 4
ounces, less than 5 pounds).
SIU and DPS officers arrested the couple
when they executed a search warrant at
an a apartment located in the 500 block of
FM 1488.
Womack said the warrant was the result
of an ongoing investigation. “Our investigation began several weeks ago after we
received tips in regard to Dolloff delivering
marijuana to young people in The
Woodlands area,” Womack said.
Corrin and Dolloff were in the apartment, but the legal resident was not
home, he said. “The apartment belonged
to a third party we believe to be the supplier (of marijuana),” he said.
There was no evidence indicating that
the hydroponic marijuana was grown at
the location, but there was a locked safe
hidden inside a closet in the apartment
which Womack says contained more than
money. The pair claimed they did not
know how to access the safe, but investigators still managed to get it opened.
“After the safe was opened approximate-
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continued from page 13 (Cop on Jury)
In minutes we were all on the same
track. No one needed my analysis. Some
had trepidations about setting Reggie
free... another menace back on the
streets. But that wasn’t the issue here.
Evidence was the issue. We not only had
reasonable doubt, we were certain it never
happened the way it was portrayed.
We were out in fifteen minutes. When
the verdict was read, Reggie’s face cringed
uncontrollably, weeping into his own
hands. He clutched his lawyer’s shoulder.
I choked a bit myself. For some reason, I
felt a pang of sympathy for this dirtbag.
Two days after the trial concluded, I
spoke to that young attorney who defend-
ed Reggie and asked why he selected me,
a hard-line cop, on the jury. “I figured
you’d know a weak case when you saw
one,” he said. “This was a weak case. If it
had been a strong case, I would never
have selected you.”
That young defense attorney wasn’t so
stupid after all.
continued from page 6 (Footlocker)
ment from a former TDC prisoner, who
told them that someone he knew in
prison bragged about shooting a woman
and putting her body in a trunk.
But DuBois doesnt know if the mans
story is true, and if it is, whether it
involves this case.
First of all, though, we need to identify
the victim. For 30 years, this womans
remains have been held by court order in
a box, and have not been buried, DuBois
says.
Thats a situation he hopes to remedy
soon. He got information from her relatives that allowed him to track down
Debras sons and obtain DNA samples.
The contacts with relatives were eyeopeners for both the investigator and the
relatives.
When he explained what he wanted,
They thought at first I was joking. They
thought she had been buried years ago.
When they realized I was serious, they
told me how to get in touch with her sons.
One of the little boys had been adopted
by an uncle, and the other by his grandfather, but they remained close as they
grew up.
And when DuBois talked to Debras
sons, they were even more upset than
other relatives at the idea that their
mothers remains might have been held
in a box someplace as evidence through
all these years.
They had not only believed she had
been buried, but thought the person
responsible was in custody.
They were not happy about what has
happened, and have lost a lot of respect
for the judicial system, DuBois says. Both
of them now 32 and 34 years old,
respectively have provided samples for
DNA testing, from which DuBois hopes to
obtain results shortly.
But capture and punishment of the person responsible for the murder is far
from a certainty, whether the victim was
Debra or someone else, DuBois cautions.
You have to understand that were looking at a homicide that occurred when I
was five years old, he says.
We dont even have a photo of Debra,
but the family is trying to find one for us.
She was a hard-working person who
didnt deserve to be shot and stuffed into
a foot locker.
Were doing our best, but this is definitely a learning experience because of all
the research necessary.
Anyone who knows anything about this
case is urged to call Chris DuBois at 281756-2226.
Marshall Frank is a retired Captain and
homicide detective from the Miami-Dade
Police Department. He is now the author
of eight books. His most recent non-fiction, “From Violins To Violence” chronicles his memoirs on the job. www.marshallfrank.com
Marie Beth Jones, a published author
and freelance writer based in Angleton, is
chairwoman of the Brazoria County
Historical Commission.
Training Seminar for Critical Incident Response to
School Violence, Active Shooter,
and Bomb Threat Management in Schools
Sponsored By: Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
Course Objectives:
1. Introduction to Critical Incident Operations
Planning
2. Incident Management System
3. Past Incidents and Lessons Learned
4. Post Incident Stress Syndrome
5. Identifying Character Traits and Motivations
6. Liability Issues - Policies and Procedures
7. Introduction to Explosives and Their Hazards
8. Bomb Threats and Bomb Search Techniques
9. Rapid Deployment During Critical Incidents
10. Explosive Weapons
11. Crime Scene Management
Location:
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
Training Academy
601 54st Street, Galveston, Texas 77551
Date and Times:
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007, from 8a - 5p
Thursday, June 21st, 2007, from 8a - 5p
Registration:
Contact Person - Lt. Betty Frey
Office: (409) 766-2305
Fax: (409) 621-7933
Email: [email protected]
Registration Fee: $ 250.00
Includes all handouts, Critical Incident Response to School Violence
Manuel, Coffee Breaks, and a Certificate of Completion of the Course.
Please Make Checks Payable to “TECLOSE.”
Note: TCLEOSE Credit Will Be Awarded to Each Attendee, 16 Hours
9-1-1 Humor
BELIEVE it or not, these are REAL 911
Calls!
Dispatcher : 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller: I heard what sounded like gunshots coming from the brown house on
the corner.
Dispatcher: Do you have an address?
Caller: No, I have on a blouse and slacks,
why? K
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is your emergency?
Caller : Someone broke into my house
and took a bite out of my ham and cheese
sandwich .
Dispatcher : Exc! use me?
Caller : I made a ham and cheese sandwich and left it on the kitchen table and
when I came back from the bathroom,
someone had taken a bite out of it.
Dispatcher : Was anything else taken?
Caller : No, but this has happened to me
before and I’m sick and tired of it! K
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What is the nature of
your emergency?
Caller: I’m trying to reach nine eleven but
my phone doesn’t have an eleven on it.
Dispatcher: This is nine eleven.
Caller: I thought you just said it was nineone-one
Dispatcher: Yes, ma’am nine-one-one and
nine-eleven are the same thing.
Caller: Honey, I may be old, but I’m not
stupid. K
My Personal Favorite!
Dispatcher: 9-1-1 What’s the nature of
your emergency?
Caller: My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart
Dispatcher: Is this her first child?
Caller: No, you idiot! This is her husband!
And the winner is…
Dispatcher: 9-1-1
Caller: Yeah, I’m having trouble breathing.
I’m all out of breath. Darn....I think I’m
going to pass out.
Dispatcher: Sir, where are you calling
from?
Caller: I’m at a pay phone. North and
Foster.
Dispatcher: ! Sir, an ambulance is on the
way. Are you an asthmatic?
Caller: No
Dispatcher: What were you doing before
you started having trouble breathing?
Caller: Running from the Police. K
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Tues. – Fri.············Lunch
Tues. – Thurs.······Dinner
Fri. – Sat.·············Dinner
Sunday··················Dinner
TE
CA
RIN
G
Voted Best Italian
Reataurant & Friendliest
Service in Galveston County
11 – 2 p.m.
5 – 10 p.m.
5 – 11 p.m.
5 – 10 p.m.
31st & Avenue P
Galveston
(409) 763-9036
See our Review at www.galvnews.com
Seawall at 89th street – Galveston
Movie Hotline: 409-741-1700
Featuring the latest in stadium-seating, comfortable
high-back rocking seats and DTS digital sound Systems.
— Lobby ATM — All major credit cards accepted
All “R” rated Movies Require an ID – Visit us @ www.pccmovies.com
FREE LARGE DRINK WITH PURCHASE
OF A SMALL POPCORN
TOMMY HARRISON’S
Dudley Moeller
Owner
License # TECL 21990
®
EXPERT ELECTRICAL SERVICE
• Licensed • Bonded • Insured
Office — 281-534-8881
P.O. Box 396
Fax — 281-534-4441
League City, Texas
Cell — 281-303-9482
77574-0396
GROCERY
DVD & Video Movies - 6,000 square feet of groceries
150 feet frozen or refrigerated food - Fresh fruit & Vegetables
Full-service Meat Counter - Custom Cut Meats
BBQ Brisket, Chicken, Sausage and Ribs
CHEVRON GAS / DIESEL FUEL / KEG BEER
ATM -- CREDIT CARDS -- COUPONS ACCEPTED
LOTTO • LOTTERY • SOUVENIERS • GIFTS
Serving West Galveston since 1963 1 mile west of Jamaica Beach
409-737-1152
Independently Owned and Operated Franchise
R.C. PAINTING & REMODELING, INC.
INTERNATIONAL CAR CARE
• Residential and Commercial
• Carpentry & Repairs
• Roofing & Repairs
• Pressure Washing
• Drywall Repairs
• Texturing • Additions • Painting
General Auto Repair
American & Import
A/C Repair
Engines
Mufflers
Brakes
TONY
JR Tune-Ups
Transmissions
10631 Ambursen – Houston, TX 77034
Cell: 832-256-2535 — Nextel: 142-103-13213
Fax: 713-378-4260
E-Mail: [email protected] — or: [email protected]
State Inspections UTM
Oil Changes
Disc B
Dealer Required Maintenance
UTMB t
ount
n
u
Monday thru Friday: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Disco
Tuesday specials–Oil Change for $19.95–Emission Stickers on models ‘96 and newer’ for $35.00
409-763-1515
1328 Postoffice
4 Blocks from UTMB
SEX OFFENDERS — BRAZORIA COUNTY
Galveston Health & Racquet Club
Galveston’s Finest & Only
Family Fitness Center
These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…
they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
Offering
POLICE FAMILY
MEMBERSHIP DISCOUNT
www.galvestonfitness.com
BELL, RODERICK CHARLES
1004 E. Second St., Sweeny, Texas
Indecency with a Child by Sexual
Contact
Victim: Female Age 14
Risk Level: Moderate
Sweeny Police Department
(409) 744-3651
2318 83rd Street
LOAN
COMPANY
2327 Broadway
Galveston, Tx 77550
(409) 765-8410
815 W. Main St.
League City, Tx 77573
(281) 338-4060
3307 Palmer Highway
Texas City, Tx
409-941-9403
MONTHLY AUTO AUCTION
IN HOUSTON AREA
100 + CARS
FOR FULL LISTINGS CALL
OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE:
361-939-7749
www.drugseizure.com
www.auto-title.com
Texas Auto Title &
Registration Consultants, Inc.
Donald Mcclure TXE 12482
Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to
register with law enforcement in the city in which they reside.
Dean, Jason A.
8702 Crestview, Manvel, Texas
Indecency with a child - sexual contact
(2 count) Females ages 14 & 15
Poss Child Porn
Risk Level: High
Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office
CORNIER, HARRY
219 South Shanks Clute, Texas
Sexual Assault of a Child
Risk Level: Not Available
Clute Police Department
DERAS, JUAN
2112 SH-288-B Richwood, Texas
Richwood Police Department
EOFF, MICHAEL
19298 County Road 927 B, Alvin,
Texas
(2 counts) Aggravated Sexual Assault Girls 4 & 14
GONZALES, REYNALDO
8415 County Road 195L iverpool,
Texas
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Hardwick, Daryl
4978 County Road 506, Brazoria,Tx.
Aggravated Sexual Assault Child
Female 13
Brazoria County Sheriff
Longoria, Benjamin A.
5812 FM 521, Brazoria, Texas
Female - 12
Brazoria County Sheriff
MCELVEEN, JERRY BOB
810 County Road 705
West Columbia, Texas
Sexual Assault
Victim: Six year old female
WATSON, WILMER FLOYD JR.
AKA Stephen Quinney
2519 Dutch Lake Rd.
Oyster Creek, Texas
Contact
Victim: Male Age 8
Oyster Creek Police Dept.
SEX OFFENDERS — GALVESTON COUNTY
Convicted Sex Offenders are required by Texas law to
register with law enforcement in the city in which they reside.
POLICE NEWS UPDATES
These Sex Offenders are not wanted by the law…
they are published for Community Awareness in cooperation with local law enforcement agencies.
If you have information that any of these offenders are residing at an address other than the one shown, please contact the listed police agency.
AMILLA, AUBRELIO
203 8th Ave. N., Texas City, Texas
Contact
Texas City Police Department
BALLARD, TERRICK GERWAYNE
727 5th Ave. N., Texas City, Texas
Aggravated Sexual Assault
Victim Female 12
Sexual Assault - Victim Female 15
Risk Level: HIGH
BASS, SHAWN CHRISTOPH
1824 Cardinal, League City, Texas
Sexual Assault
League City Police Department
BEAVERSON, JAMES LEE JR
4008 Ave. O., Galveston, Texas
Possession and Promotion of Child
Pornography
Galveston Police Department
BURNETT, KIOKA LATRACE
7817 Diamond Oak Dr., Texas City,
Texas
Contact
CURL, GARY WAYNE
414 24th St., San Leon, Texas
Contact
Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
CAMPBELL, SCOTT WADE
3601 Ohio, Dickinson, Texas
Contact
Dickinson Police Department
ERNST, JOHNNY FRED
800 Hwy 3 So. Apt 1-A, League City, Texas
Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact Victim Female Age 4
Indecency with a Child by Sexual Contact Victim Male Age 2
League City Police Department
Carnes Brothers
FUNERAL HOME
Where the family name
on the outside is the
same family on the inside.
(409) 765-8080
1201 Tremont
Galveston
SOUTHERN KEYS
LOCKSMITH
Quality Professional
Service
• Commercial
• Residential
• A u to
Dennis Fitzgerald
409-741-5397
License # C12249
Fine Steaks
and Seafood
Telephone:
(409) 744-0881
Fax: (409) 744-9623
11126 F.M. 3005
Lube & Tune
Featuring
HARRIS, RIASHAD LECORE
2117 Ave. I, Dickinson, Texas
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child
Risk Level: HIGH
Dickinson Police Department
JERNIGAN, JAMES SIDNEY JR
1030 Maple St., La Marque, Texas
Aggravated Sexual Assault of a
Child
Risk Level: HIGH
La Marque Police Department
Jim Enloe
281-554-8044
281-554-8878 Fax
2102 W. Main League City, Tx 77574
A re a N e w s
Vanegas Murder Still on Hold
DICKINSON – The murder of a 16year old runaway whose body was discovered in a Dickinson school yard sixmonths ago, remains unsolved as
Dickinson police say they are still waiting on lab work from the state crime
lab.
Terressa
Vanegas,
repor ted
to police
as a runa w a y
three days
before her
body was
Terressa Vanegas
discovered, is still listed among several
unsolved murder cases on the
Galveston County mainland during the
same period. Investigators say however, that none of the murders are related.
Captain Arnold Moreno, head of the
Criminal Investigation Division, told The
Police News, “We’ve got some things
working and are still waiting on tests.”
One Convicted, One to
Go in Damon Murder
ANGLETON – 27-year old Michael
Almarez will serve at least half of his 45year sentence for the November 2004
shooting death of an Arp, Texas man.
Almarez pleaded guilty in April of gunning down 26-year old Delancey Jay
Ambern during a drug deal. According
to police, a dispute arose over the trade
of drugs for Rolex watches.
The killing, which took place in
Damon, a small community in
Northwestern Brazoria County, also
resulted in the arrest of 20-year old
Dexter Chapa who investigators say was
in on a plot to kill Ambern. Chapa will
also stand trial in the murder.
Dexter Chapa
Full Service Car & Truck Repair
Specializing in Diesel & Foreign Cars
• Brake Service & Repair
• Engine Repair & Rebuilds
• Emissions
Fleet Accounts Welcome
Hours:
Daily 8 - 6
200 Byrd Street, LaMarque
Cap’n Bob’s PROPERTY WATCH
C a p ’ n B o b : A retired Sheriff’s Captain looking after
your property – whatever you need, whenever you ask.
The Difference is Flexibility
No monthly fee … You only pay for work requested!
• Documented property inspections
• Inspect for Vandalism and Trespassing
• Arrange Cleaning/Maintenance/Repair
• Check HVAC Operation/Service Scedules
• Verify Security Lighting/Alarm Systems
• Storm Preparations
• and WHATEVER ELSE YOU NEED!
(409) 737-9504
www.GalvestonPropertyWatch.com
Worker Busted
in Sex Sting
MONTGOMERY COUNTY – A former
church maintenance worker sentenced to four years in prison for storing child pornography and sexually
soliciting a child online.
William Noel Shrum
Michael Almarez
• Complete Diagnostics
• Electrical System Repair
• Air Conditioning Repair
• Transmission Repair
Jeff’s Cab Murder Woodlands Church
LA MARQUE - Police say they are still investigating the January 15th murder of
Galveston taxi driver Raneshia Lyshaum
Kelly. The 28-year old woman was apparently shot in the back of her head by a passenger riding in the rear seat.
A passerby pulled over to check on the
cab after he observed it weaving on the
northbound I-45 frontage road, go off the
roadway and crash into a guardrail.
Police say the killer apparently fled the
blood spattered van on foot after the crash.
A gunshot through the outside of the drivers
door, suggests the shooter attempted to fire
another shot at Kelly as he fled.
La Marque Crime Stoppers will pay a cash
reward for information leading to the arrest
and grand jury indictment in this case.
Anonymous tips are received at 409-938TIPS (8477)
Montgomery County
Crime Stoppers
Lusty, Mark Wayne
White/Male
DOB: 11/22/1969
Height: 6’00”
Weight: 220 lbs.
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Warrant: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
by a Felon
936-760-5800
1-800-392-STOP (7876)
www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org
William Noel Shrum, 26, of The
Woodlands, was sentenced recently
in 410th District Court after pleading
guilty to five counts of child pornography possession, a third-degree felony.
He also pleaded guilty to one count
each of online solicitation of a minor,
attempted aggravated sexual assault,
and attempted sexual performance
by a child, all second-degree felonies.
Cyber Crimes Unit investigators
from the Texas Attorney Generals
Office and Shenandoah Police officers arrested Shrum in July 2006
after he arranged to meet and sexually assault someone he believed to be
a 13-year-old child he had propositioned over the Internet. When he
arrived, Shrum discovered the
“child” was an undercover Cyber
Crimes Unit investigator who had
posed as an underage girl online.
Forensic analysis conducted by the
Cyber Crimes Unit revealed child
pornography on Shrum’s computer.
At the time of his arrest, Shrum was
employed as a maintenance worker
at a church in The Woodlands.
The church also runs an elementary
school.
Jeff’s Cab Co.
Service to all
Houston
Airports
We accept most
major
credit cards
409-621- JEFF (5333)
Killer Trades Teen Gets Probation in Death of Santa Fe Girl Fugitive Sought in
Death For Life
Five Area Counties
23-year old John
Joe Bodley decided
that when it got right
down to it, he would
rather live in prison
than die by lethal
injection so he made
a deal with the
County
John Joe Bodley Brazoria
District Attorney to
accept a life sentence rather than allow the
jury which convicted him also decide his sentence.
Bodley was convicted by a jury in Angleton
of shooting four people in Freeport, Texas,
two of whom died. Investigators said he
walked into a Freeport apartment and fired
five shots into the back and torso of 31-year
old James Beverly, one shot into the forehead of 28-year old Chasity Smith, one into
the back of the head of 29-year old Desmond
Nelson, and one into the face of 19-year old
Ashley Ellis. Nelson and Ellis survived.
The life sentence was imposed after the
victim’s families requested it with the provision that Bodley would waive any rights to an
appeal. He must serve 40 years before
becoming eligible for parole and was given
credit for 632 days that he served in the
county jail.
GALVESTON - A Juvenile Court Judge ruled
in April that the teen driver of a car that
crashed in Santa Fe last November killing a
16-year old Santa Fe girl, will serve a 10year probated sentence rather than being
committed to juvenile detention.
Last November 19, Santa Fe police were
enroute to a call at a convenience store
where a person had reportedly done a
“grab and run” of a six-pack of beer. Within
minutes after the store clerk called police,
a report of a major car crash came into the
police dispatchers office.
Police reports indicate that the car ran off
the roadway and skidded down a ditch over
300 feet before striking a culvert. The
impact of the crash tore the passenger side
of the car off and all four occupants were
ejected. None were wearing seat belts.
Investigators were unable to determine
the speed of the car at the time of the crash
as there were no skid marks. They did
determine, however, that speed and alcohol
were determining factors in the fatal crash.
16-year old Catherine Biela, a sophomore
at Santa Fe High School died instantly when
she was ejected from the car. Another girl,
15, suffered severe injuries.
There were no arrests at the time of the
wreck, however, in April police arrested the
young man who was driving the car when
the crash occurred. He was charged in
juvenile
court
with
Intoxicated
Manslaughter in the death of Biela, and two
counts of Intoxicated Assault resulting in
the injuries suffered by two other passengers in the car..
After hearing evidence in the case,
Galveston County Juvenile Court Judge
Susan Baker ordered that the youth remain
in custody rather than being released to his
parents or guardian.
Assistant District Attorney Ella Anderson
told The Police News that the young man
was eligible to be certified as an adult and
tried in State District Court on the charges
but the decision was made to proceed in
the juvenile court.
Supervision of the youth will be transferred to adult probation authorities when
he becomes 18 on his next birthday.
Catherine Biela died in crash
David
Dwayne
Leathers,
35, served
five years
in prison
after being
convicted
of molesting a 14David Dwayne Leathers year old
girl. Upon his release he reported to the
Houston Police Department and registered as a sex offender and was to report
again in December but did not appear.
Police say he was believed to be living in
the Humble, Texas area. A warrant has
been issued for his arrest.
Leathers is also wanted by authorities in
Waller, Brazoria, Montgomery and Fort
Bend Counties.
He is 5 feet 8 inches tall, 160 pounds
and has hazel eyes, a light complexion
and brown (sometimes red) hair. He has
a tattoo of a heart with a ribbon.
A $5,000 reward is offered for information leading to his arrest. To furnish an
anonymous tip, call Crime Stoppers,
(713) 222-TIPS (8477).
DITV SATELLITES
2308 Hollywood Avenue
Galveston, Texas
409-741-DITV (3488) — 800-816-DITV (3488)
National Police
Week Memorial
May 13 — May 19, 2007
Officers killed in the line of duty in Texas in 2006
BILLY JACK ZACHARY
Trooper
1/1/2006
Texas Dept. of Public Safety
DONALD ELLIS WASS
Patrol Deputy
4/23/2006
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
DALE DAVID GEDDIE
Constable
6/7/2006
Smith County Constable
RODNEY JOSEPH JOHNSON
Police Officer
9/21/2006
Houston Police Department
MATTHEW DeWAYNE MYRICK
Trooper
1/20/2006
EDUARDO CHAVEZ
Trooper
5/2/2006
JAMES LEE SUNDERLAND
Senior Lieutenant
6/30/2006
Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office
DWAYNE N FREETO
Police Officer
12/17/2006
Fort Worth Police Department
GREGORY DEAN STEWART
Patrolman
Beeville Police Department.

May - The Police News

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