LOCAL/NEWS

03/08/2010

City Hall blog: Six finalists named for Dallas police chief job
The finalists include three internal candidates and the current police chief in Austin.
LInk: Dallas City Hall
Link: Dallas Police Department
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Man killed in Commerce shootout had prior arrests for drugs
Authorities Monday identified the shooter as 29-year-old Artenio Rodriguez of Commerce.

Dallas County expects another failing grade as jail inspectors return
Commissioner John Wiley Price says he expects a passing grade in August, after one tower has a smoke-removal system installed.
Jails fail inspection for 7th time
Link: Texas Commission on Jail Standards
Blog: Crime

City Hall blog: Dallas wants to hire fewer cops
City Manager Mary Suhm told the council's budget committee Monday morning that she recommends the city hire about 120 new police officers this year, or 71 fewer than the 191 City Hall budgeted for back in September.

Gunman shoots father-son financial advisers, himself at North Dallas office

JIM MAHONEY/DMN

Richard Smith, 66, was in stable condition at Parkland Memorial Hospital. His 39-year-old son Christopher was in serious condition.
Video: Police discuss shootings
Blog: Crime

No charges expected in drowning of Pleasant Grove boy
Police say the death of 5-year-old Sebastian Rodriguez appears to have been an accident.

Police kill gunman at Walmart in Commerce
COMMERCE – An off-duty sheriff's deputy was lauded as a hero Sunday for shooting a man who burst into a Walmart during a gunfight with police near the campus of Texas A&M-Commerce.

03/07/2010

Dallas seeks to control St. Patrick's Day party scene on Greenville Avenue

ANDY JACOBSOHN/Staff Photographer

The Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day parade and party are well-orchestrated, but organizers can't control the after-party on Lowest Greenville, where many of the all-day revelers migrate.
Photos: Lowest Greenville
Map: Parade route
GuideLive: Things to do around Greenville Avenue
Link: Greenville Avenue St. Patrick's Day Parade

Dallas-Fort Worth area police reports
The police blotter summarizes selected crimes. Information is provided by city police departments. Incidents are listed by street name and block.

03/06/2010

Pleasant Grove man shot, killed outside home
Carlos Galaviz was talking to a group of people on the street outside his home in the 3200 block of James Street near Lawnview Park when he was shot about 12:30 a.m., police said.

Mesquite man charged with attempted kidnapping
A Mesquite man has been arrested on charges of attempted kidnapping after allegedly slipping into Dorothy Smith Pullen Elementary in the Rockwall school district Thursday and mingling with students, authorities said.

Dallas County man says former law partner killed ex-wife to 'lash out' at him

Scott Matthew Marshall is in the Dallas County Jail on a murder charge in the Dec. 20 slaying of Staci Michelle Montgomery (above).
Audio: Hear Marshall’s 911 call reporting the shooting
Blog: Crime

Dozens arrested on outstanding warrants in Dallas
Area police officers rounded up scores of residents with outstanding warrants Saturday, part of a statewide focus on reducing the backlog of misdemeanor citations that will continue for a week.

Dallas police looking for man who lived in garage of elderly victim's Swiss Avenue home
Dallas police homicide Sgt. Eddie Douglas didn’t call the man a suspect in the slaying of James Crowell but said he’s somebody detectives need to interview.

Ex-Detroit mayor facing probation violation hearing
DETROIT – Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, desperate to stop a judge from forcing him to come up with $320,000 in special restitution payments, struck out Friday with a higher court and now faces a hearing on whether he violated his probation.

03/05/2010

Alleged gang members from West Dallas held on drug charges
Federal prosecutors on Friday unsealed drug trafficking charges against five suspected West Dallas gang members who were arrested as part of a joint investigation.

Police seeking clues, details in shooting death of widow in Far East Dallas
Dallas homicide detectives on Friday continued to hunt for clues in the death of a widow gunned down in front of her Far East Dallas home after dropping her daughter off at high school on Thursday.

Crime blog: Video shows officer cursing Dallas drunken driving suspect after chase
A video shot by KDFW-TV (Channel 4) shows the unidentified officer demanding to know whether the suspect is armed.

Dallas plans Saturday roundup of ticket scofflaws
The effort is part of a statewide initiative to nab people who are the subjects of outstanding warrants.

UT Southwestern warns patients that hospital worker stole records
Only a few patient records were involved, but 12,000 letters are sent out in "an abundance of caution," hospital spokeman says.

'Scarecrow Bandit' who cooperated gets 10 years
Darobie Stenline, 32, was also ordered to share in the repayment of more than $300,000 in restitution.

03/04/2010

Dallas officials agree to restore public access to online crime data
As a result of inquiries from The Dallas Morning News, police and city communications and information services officials met Thursday afternoon and decided to restore the missing categories to the drop-down menu.

Arrest warrant issued in slaying of man found at Grand Prairie park
Luis Manuel Gonzalez is wanted in connection with the slaying of Gerardo Castanon-Banuelos, whose body was found Jan. 23 at McFalls Park near Carrier Parkway.

Woman shot to death outside Far East Dallas home
The woman, who had just dropped off her children at school, was entering her house in the 8300 block of Londonderry Lane about 8:30 a.m. when two men drove up and opened fire.

Four runoffs ahead for Dallas County Democrats running for judgeships
Four Dallas County Democratic primary judicial races are headed for runoffs after no candidate captured a majority of the votes in Tuesday's election.

03/03/2010

Report: Dallas County constable may have broken law
Derick Evans may have abused his office by requiring his deputies to buy or sell raffle tickets and provide free security at events.
Foster vows to continue investigation
More on Dallas County constables
Blogs: Crime | Politics

No letup in heat on Dallas County constables as County Judge Foster vows to continue investigation
Dallas County Judge Jim Foster, fresh from his failed re-election bid, vowed Wednesday to continue ferreting out corruption and crime wherever he sees it in county government during his remaining months in office.

Man shoots two women in Mesquite, kills self in Duncanville after police chase
A man killed himself Wednesday afternoon after fatally shooting one woman and seriously injuring another.

Pregnant woman found critically injured beside road in South Dallas
Police are unsure whether the 31-year-old woman was beaten or struck by a vehicle, said Senior Cpl. Kevin Janse, a police spokesman.

Plano man executed in 2000 murder of Brazilian couple
During his final statement, Michael Sigala asked for forgiveness from the slain couple’s relatives who attended the execution.

Jury: Dallas County not to blame for inmate's '90 death
A jury has ruled that Dallas County was not negligent in the death 20 years ago of an inmate who was attacked by another inmate when he was placed in a crowded jail cell.

La Familia cartel figure to plead guilty to coordinating meth distribution in North Texas
A Dallas-area cell leader of the La Familia drug cartel filed plea papers Tuesday admitting his role in trafficking methamphetamine from Mexico.

03/02/2010

Custody hearing for starving longhorns is today in Canton
The SPCA of Texas is seeking custody of the cattle, but a bank has a lien on the herd, said Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. “Pat" Burnett Jr.

Man jailed in death was barred from contact with victim
A Dallas man arrested in the fatal stabbing of his 22-year-old ex-wife Sunday morning had been barred from contacting her under the terms of his probation in an assault case, court records show.

03/01/2010

Texas death row inmate set to die for murder of Brazilian couple in Plano
Michael Sigala killed Kleber and Lilian Santos in August 2000 while he was on probation and was allowed to leave a Dallas-area substance abuse treatment center for the day to look for a job.

McKinney woman sentenced to 10 years for heroin-injection death of best friend
A woman convicted of killing her best friend by injecting her with heroin was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.

Dallas police investigating shootout in Lower Greenville
Four people were hit by gunfire after a fight broke out in a parking lot, police said. None of the injuries was believed to be life-threatening.

Frisco police hope new fines will curb false alarms 8:53 AM CT
The city says it's wasting more than $1 million a year sending police out in response to burlgary alarms, almost all of which are false.

Last 2 figures in Dallas City Hall bribe case sentenced to 14 and 3 years, respectively
The infamous public corruption case, the biggest in the city's history, is essentially over.

02/28/2010

Dallas-Fort Worth area police reports
The police blotter summarizes selected crimes. Information is provided by city police departments. Incidents are listed by street name and block.

Local news briefs

02/27/2010

Paperwork mistake led to Dallas County felons' accidental pardons
A former constable now running for Dallas County clerk is the beneficiary of a paperwork snafu in which the county's criminal-court judges granted unsolicited pardons to perhaps hundreds of convicted felons over the years.

Woman who injected friend with fatal dose of heroin convicted of murder
McKINNEY – A Collin County jury deliberated five hours Friday before finding Kristin Metz guilty of murder for the 2008 heroin injection slaying of her best friend, Stevie May.

Three in Dallas City Hall case sentenced in a 'betrayal of our city'
Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill was sentenced Friday to 18 years in prison for leading a massive shakedown scheme that a federal judge called a "betrayal of our city."

SENTENCING SCHEDULE

Democrats dominate Dallas County judge primaries
The judicial primary elections Tuesday in Dallas County are yet another indicator that the balance of political power has shifted to the Democrats. The Democrats have 10 primary battles for state district judge. The Republicans have none.

Head of charity confesses to lying about how he lost his leg
Amputee Craig Gavras has traveled America, drumming up support for an organization that raises money to buy artificial limbs for the needy. At times, he's shared his personal story: He lost his leg during a mob attack while working as a Dallas police officer.

02/26/2010

Next round of sentencing in Dallas City Hall corruption case begins Monday
U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn will sentence two others convicted during last year's trial: car dealer Rickey Robertson and southern Dallas activist Darren Reagan.

3 in Dallas City Hall case sentenced in a 'betrayal of our city'
Former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill was sentenced to 18 years in prison; his wife, Sheila Farrington Hill, to nine years, and D'Angelo Lee, received 14 years.
Video: Hill, attorneys speak
More sentencings on Monday
Graphic: Connecting the defendants

Paperwork mistake led to Dallas County felons' accidental pardons
A former constable now running for Dallas County clerk is the beneficiary of a paperwork snafu in which the county's criminal-court judges granted unsolicited pardons to perhaps hundreds of convicted felons over the years.
Link: Compare the candidates

Woman who injected friend with fatal dose of heroin convicted of murder
A Collin County jury deliberated five hours Friday before finding Kristin Metz guilty of murder for the 2008 heroin injection slaying of her best friend, Stevie May.

U.S. announces Texas roundup of 300 immigrants with criminal records
The largest share of the arrests were in North Texas. About half the convictions were for violent crimes or drug offenses, officials said.

Dozens of longhorns found starving, dead in Van Zandt County
The SPCA of Texas was called to seize the malnourished animals, which are being moved to the Perry Animal Care Center in McKinney, pending a custody hearing Tuesday.

84-year-old woman beaten, robbed at Far East Dallas home
The victim told officers that she had fallen, but her nephew said it appeared as though there was a struggle in the home.

Jury begins deliberating in McKinney murder trial stemming from heroin overdose
Kristin Metz has admitted she injected her friend with the fatal dose, and prosecutors argue that the heroin was a deadly weapon that Metz wielded in a "clearly dangerous" manner.

Dallas businessman arrested, barred from SMU over student complaints
Lee William "Bill" McNutt III, a former White House official who heads a Texas arts commission, was arrested by campus police Feb. 15.

Wet, cold day will yield to sunny weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth
North Texans may have already seen today's high temperature, as a storm system moves in slowly from the east.

Ex-McKinney teacher arrested on charge of improper relationship with student
A McKinney high school teacher was arrested Wednesday on a charge of an improper relationship with a student, a second-degree felony, police said.

02/25/2010

Three deputies seek removal of embattled Dallas County constable
They allege in a petition that the constable is guilty of misconduct, criminal conduct, retaliation, incompetence, official oppression and misuse of county property.
Blog: Investigates
Download: See the petition for removal

Arrest warrant issued for Dallas police officer accused in off-duty confrontation
An arrest warrant was issued Thursday for a Dallas police officer who is accused of illegally pointing his gun at a man and ordering him to his knees while during an off-duty confrontation in July.

Stabbing is Arlington's first homicide of 2010
At first, the victim's girlfriend denied involvement, but eventually she confessed, police say.

Crime blog: Prosecution rests in McKinney woman's murder trial for friend's heroin overdose
The state has rested its case against Kristin Metz, the McKinney woman charged with murder for injecting her best friend with heroin two years ago. The defense will begin presenting its case after the lunch recess, with closing arguments expected later this afternoon.

Drug suspect arrested after chase in northeast Dallas
The chase began about 10 p.m. when Billy Bob McGowan left a suspected drug home at an apartment complex in the 6400 block of Melody Lane.

Shoeless bandit gets 35 years in prison in Fort Worth heists
Detectives say 21-year-old Johnny Lee Britt thought he could elude police by not leaving shoe prints.

Report says Fort Worth officer drank on duty before fatal crash
The review found that Officer Jesus Cisneros drove to three bars and drank up to three beers in an unauthorized undercover detail before going off duty, drinking more and colliding with a vehicle driven by Sonia Baker.

Dallas-Fort Worth area news briefs for Feb. 25
A judge last week dismissed a felony charge of injury to a child against a Dallas police senior corporal after prosecutors asked that he do so.

Cheerleaders' belongings stolen at Dallas Convention Center during competition
Someone stole cellphones, credit cards, cash, jewelry, electronics and other items from out-of-state teenage cheerleaders in town for a national competition at the Dallas Convention Center over the weekend.

02/24/2010

Dallas constable at center of corruption probe seeks removal of county judge
Constable Jaime Cortes' removal petition accuses Judge Jim Foster of incomeptence and "gross misconduct."
Download: See Cortes' petition
Report: Constable Cortes abused power
Blog: Crime

Woman on trial for murder for friend's heroin overdose in Collin County
Kristin Metz admits aministering the injection that killed 21-year-old Stevie May in 2008, but the defense says the state is overreaching in charging Metz with murder.

New punishment hearing ordered for Texas death row inmate Charles Dean Hood
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, in its ruling, declined to address the issue of a romance between the trial judge and the prosecutor.

Appeals court rejects Arlington killer's claims of mental impairment
The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans moves Michael Wayne Hall, 30, a step closer to execution for the 1998 torture and fatal shooting of 19-year-old Amy Robinson.

Report: Dallas County deputy constables given comp time for volunteer security at Price's charity event
A Dallas County investigation has concluded that deputies from two constable precincts improperly received the equivalent of more than $15,000 from the county for security work at a charity event run by Commissioner John Wiley Price.

Tarrant woman's case shows challenge authorities face in distinguishing between erratic behavior, real threats
Kimberly "Asma" Al-Homsi, 45, did all of these things. But figuring out whether such a person is really dangerous, merely suspicious or part of a terrorist network can be tricky – and law enforcement authorities walk a fine line between infringing on the rights of people who exhibit erratic behavior and monitoring people who are real threats.

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