GALVESTON — A jury sentenced Cheretta Smith, 20, to 84 years in prison on Friday. Smith pleaded guilty to murder in the Feb. 12, 2010, slaying of her grandmother, Theretta Gayden Miller, 57, who was found dead in the Texas City home she shared with Smith.

Smith admitted to stabbing her grandmother twice, although prosecutors say she hit her grandmother on the head with a candleholder three times and stabbed her four times in the stomach.

Related story: Woman who killed grandmother gets 84 years

TEXAS CITY — A roof collapse at Mall of the Mainland from tornado and water damage forced the mall's closure Monday. No injuries were reported in the incident, which occurred at about 1 p.m. It was unclear how long the mall would remain closed. Nearly 2 inches of water accumulated on the mall floor near the theater, possibly from the weight of rainwater forcing the ceiling to collapse, a city official said.

Related story: Officials: None injured in mall roof collapse

SANTA FE — An investigation into allegations of cockfighting led to the Thursday arrest of a Santa Fe man on felony charges, authorities said. Officers arrested the man accused of raising roosters to sell for fighting. Officers found no signs of animal cruelty, so the man was able to keep his birds, Lt. Joel Caldwell, an animal cruelty investigator with the Galveston Police Department, said.

DICKINSON — Authorities on Monday asked for the public's help in identifying a hooded gunman detectives say was caught on film robbing a convenience store.



A man described as black, between 30 to 35 years old, about 5 feet tall and weighing 150 to 160 pounds, entered the Stop-N-Drive in the 4300 block of FM 517 about 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dickinson police detective Tim Cromie said.

The man, who wore a black, hooded jacket, robbed the store at gunpoint, Cromie said. Police reported no injuries. The man had markings, possibly tattoos, on or between his eyebrows.

The man ran from the business toward FM 1266, but the clerk and witnesses lost sight of him and didn't know whether he fled in a getaway car, Cromie said.

On Monday, police released video surveillance of the incident and asked anyone with information to call Dickinson police at 281-337-4700 or Mainland Community Crime Stoppers at 409-945-8477.

GALVESTON — Island police chased a coyote to freedom early Wednesday after the animal became trapped in a fenced field on 30th Street between Church and Ball streets. The state’s exceptional drought conditions are driving coyotes to town from the island’s outskirts as they search for food and water, Galveston police Lt. Joel Caldwell said.

Related story: Police free coyote trapped in fenced field

GALVESTON — One person was injured in a tar mixer fire that happened near 42nd Street and Avenue M 1/2 in Galveston on Tuesday.

GALVESTON — Police are investigating a deadly, two-vehicle wreck Thursday night. A Dodge pickup and a Honda Accord collided at 28th Street and Harborside Drive shortly after 6 p.m. Police confirmed late Thursday night that the driver of the Accord died from his injuries, police Capt. Jeff Heyse said.

Related story: Fatal collision closes Harborside Drive