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December 7, 2022 - The San Augustine County Sheriff's Department has issued a press release regarding a crossbow shooting incident in San Augustine County which resulted in the death of Bryan Blue.
The San Augustine Sheriff’s Office responded to 520 FM 711 in San Augustine on December 5, 2022, at approximately 2:17pm, to a call of a bloodied, unresponsive male in the front yard. Upon arrival, Deputies found 33-year-old Bryan Blue deceased from injuries sustained by being shot in the back with a cross bow. Bryan Blue’s truck was missing from the scene as well.
During the investigation, 34-year-old Lorenza White was quickly established as a person of interest. On this same day, at approximately 5:30pm, Lorenza White was located in Lufkin, where he was apprehended by the Lufkin Police Department for unrelated warrants. Lorenza White was in Brian Blue’s truck, and both were transported back to the San Augustine Sheriff’s Office. Lorenza White was interviewed and did admit to shooting Bryan Blue with the crossbow and taking his truck.
Lorenza White has been charged with Violation of Probation out of Shelby County; Murder, 1st Degree Felony; Aggravated Robbery, 1st Degree Felony; and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, State Jail Felony.
The San Augustine Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the San Augustine Police Department, DPS, the Lufkin Police Department, and 173rd District Attorney Paul Robbins for their assistance on this case.
December 6, 2022 - A Timpson man was the victim of a gunshot wound and was found in a vehicle in Nacogdoches and later died at a hospital.
Authorities have a suspect in custody and have charged David Lawrence Davis, II, 33, of Garrison with the murder of David Nathan Lewis, Jr., 43, of Timpson in Rusk County.
Additional details can be found by clicking the following link:
Affidavit Reveals Garrison Murder Suspect Fired Shot After Argument with Woman (KLTV)
December 6, 2022 - The month of November 2022 had 10 days of rain for a total rain fall of 6.05 inches.
The weather data for Center, Texas during the past month is as follows:
Hottest temperature - 84.2 on November 7
Lowest temperature - 29.7 on November 13
Total rain fall for the month - 6.05 inches
Number of days with rain - 10 days
11/01/2022 - Low of 54.1, High of 66.2
11/02/2022 - Low of 52.0, High of 77.5
11/03/2022 - Low of 58.5, High of 83.5
11/04/2022 - Low of 57.4, High of 83.7, Rain 0.82
11/05/2022 - Low of 49.8, High of 67.5, Rain 0.2
11/06/2022 - Low of 48.6, High of 82.2
11/07/2022 - Low of 66.2, High of 84.2, Rain 0.02
11/08/2022 - Low of 65.5, High of 82.4
11/09/2022 - Low of 64.0, High of 82.6
11/10/2022 - Low of 56.3, High of 78.6
11/11/2022 - Low of 43.2, High of 74.7, Rain 2.18
11/12/2022 - Low of 33.6, High of 54.1, Rain 0.02
11/13/2022 - Low of 29.7, High of 52.9
11/14/2022 - Low of 38.3, High of 49.1, Rain 0.65
11/15/2022 - Low of 37.2, High of 49.5
11/16/2022 - Low of 35.2, High of 53.1
11/17/2022 - Low of 32.9, High of 57.0
11/18/2022 - Low of 29.8, High of 59.9
11/19/2022 - Low of 36.5, High of 44.8
11/20/2022 - Low of 29.8, High of 55.6
11/21/2022 - Low of 40.6, High of 50.7, Rain 0.02
11/22/2022 - Low of 41.5, High of 61.0
11/23/2022 - Low of 42.1, High of 69.8
11/24/2022 - Low of 52.5, High of 64.9, Rain 1.79
11/25/2022 - Low of 55.9, High of 59.0, Rain 0.01
11/26/2022 - Low of 44.6, High of 62.8, Rain 0.34
11/27/2022 - Low of 42.3, High of 69.1
11/28/2022 - Low of 38.8, High of 70.0
11/29/2022 - Low of 52.0, High of 81.1
11/30/2022 - Low of 39.0, High of 70.7
December 4, 2022 - The week of November 27th through December 3rd was a jam-packed one for the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department with 7 separate call-outs and the annual JVFD Christmas Banquet. Here's a summary of the week's events.
Starting off with Monday morning, there was a call regarding a man suffering from a weak pacemaker on County Road 3620. A few minutes after receiving the page the JVFD was told to cancel their response.
Also coming in on Monday was a call to assist an elderly female who was unable to get out of her bathtub, and was starting to feel numbness in her legs on FM 3082. The EMR team and Allegiance EMS responded to remove the patient from the tub and she was transported by ambulance to a nearby ER to be checked out.
Tuesday afternoon the JVFD would be called to assist with a three-vehicle accident at the intersection on FM 699 and Highway 84 East. Tenaha VFD was already on scene as well as law enforcement officers, but they requested Joaquin's help with directing traffic. No life threatening injuries were reported from the accident.
Wednesday's first of three calls was in regards to a two-vehicle accident, but this was found to be out of the jurisdiction of the JVFD, therefore they were able to cancel their response.
The following call came in later that evening for an 18-wheeler that had rolled over in the vicinity of FM 3172 and County Road 2665. Joaquin responded with the extrication equipment needed to remove the driver from the cab of the truck. Several Shelby County fire departments were also present on the scene to assist with the extrication including Shelbyville, Huxley, and Center. The driver of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Wednesday night the JVFD would be called to assist with a structure fire on Jones Road in DeSoto Parish. The structure, a two-story barn which held horses and farm equipment, was fully involved and required water supply from several Fire Districts in DeSoto Parish as well as Joaquin to bring it under control. The horses were removed from the barn and were not harmed in the fire.
The final call for the week came in on Friday night as a DOA on County Road 3849. The JVFD assisted funeral home personnel with removing the deceased person from their residence.
In other news, the Joaquin VFD held their annual Christmas Banquet on Saturday night. Awards were given for several categories, the highlights of which are:
10 years of service to Jesse Parent
50 years of service to Steve Cockrell and his wife Joyce Cockrell
Fireman of the Year to Brock Pugh presented by last year’s recipient Michael Bates
and this years Wall of Honor recipient Perry Pugh
Congratulations to this years award winners.
With that, this report will come to a close. The Joaquin Volunteer Fire Department hopes everyone has a safe and great week ahead.
November 2, 2022 - The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality required the City of Joaquin public water system, 2100010, to issue a Boil Water Notice on December 1, 2022, to inform customers, individuals, or employees that due to conditions which occurred recently in the public water system, the water from this public water system was required to be boiled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
The public water system has taken the necessary corrective actions to restore the quality of the water distributed by this public water system used for drinking water or human consumption purposes and has provided TCEQ with laboratory test results that indicate that the water no longer requires boiling prior to use as of December 2, 2022.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at Joaquin City Hall located at 124 N. Preston Street Joaquin, Texas 75954 or by calling\936-269-3021.
Effective December 1 until further notice.
December 1, 2022 - Due to line break and loss of system pressure (South Chalk Street) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has required the City of Joaquin/2100010 public water system to notify all customers to boil their water prior to consumption (e.g., washing hands/face, brushing teeth, drinking, etc.). Children, seniors, and persons with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to harmful bacteria, and all customers should follow these directions).
To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking, and ice making should be boiled and cooled prior to use for drinking water or human consumption purposes. The water should be brought to a vigorous rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes.
In lieu of boiling, individuals may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, the public water system officials will notify customers that the water is safe for drinking water or human consumption purposes.
Once the boil water notice is no longer in effect, the public water system will issue a notice to customers that rescinds the boil water notice in a manner similar to this notice.
Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.
If you have questions concerning this matter, you may contact Stacy Cranford at Joaquin City Hall located at 124 N. Preston Street Joaquin, Texas 75954 at (936)269-3021.
December 2, 2022 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the community’s assistance in identifying the suspects involved in two separate criminal mischief incidents that occurred on Friday, November 25, 2022, in the area of County Road 4688 and FM 947. Both incidents involved a rock being thrown at the residences, causing damage to windows.
One residence had surveillance video footage that shows a vehicle stop at the end of the driveway. A white male is observed running up the driveway barefooted, and further observed to throw an object through the kitchen window. It is further observed that there were three subjects in total that exited the vehicle, with two that remained at the end of the driveway, while the aforementioned male ran up to the house to throw the object, which was identified to be a rock.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Captain DJ Dickerson at 936.572.0255.
December 1, 2022 - Josh Ritter, Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, is officially being removed immediately by suspension from his office December 1, 2022, per an order filed by Karren Price, 123rd Judicial District Attorney, and signed by Leann K. Rafferty, 123rd Judicial District Court Judge.
On this date (December 1, 2022) the Court reviewed the original petition for the removal of Joshua Ritter from the office of JP Pct. 4, Shelby County, Texas.
Having already granted the order for issuance of citation in this case, it is ordered, adjudged, and decreed that Joshua Ritter is immediately removed from the office of Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, immediately upon the signing of this order.
Several issues are addressed in the initial petition filed by Price with the most notable being an allegation of misconduct against Ritter for meeting with Ethan Myers who was recently arrested and charged with 1st degree murder in the death of Sarah Hopson on November 13, 2022.
Ritter was served with the petition on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price filed a petition on November 29, 2022 in the 123rd Judicial District Court of the Honorable Leanne K. Rafferty for the removal of Joshua Ritter from the office of Justice of the Peace Precinct 4, Shelby County. The petition alleges incompetence and/or official misconduct as defined in the Texas Local Government Code 87.011(3) and 87.011(2)(A)&(B).
Josh Ritter was appointed Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4 during the Commissioners Court meeting held Wednesday, March 30, 2022 to fulfill the remainder of Judge Jackie Kirkwood’s term following his passing on January 29, 2022. The appointment term would have ended the end of 2022. Josh Ritter ran unopposed becoming a declared elected candidate in the November General Election.
The allegation of incompetence in the petition is detailed to be failure of JP Ritter to file reports of the activity in his office, including any monies collected, twice monthly with the County Treasurer. An example given was JP Ritter filed a report at the end of July 2022 and did not file another report nor turn in collected funds to the County Treasurer until the end of September 2022. The next report filed wasn’t until the end of October and then another on November 28, 2022. The petition reports any attempts to rectify the reporting timeline as well as accuracy of the reports has failed. The petition also mentions complaints from officials regarding being able to contact JP Ritter when on call or the public regarding current and delinquent tickets.
Official misconduct alleges an incident on or about November 28, 2022 in which JP Ritter entered the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center and directed the jail personnel to bring an inmate to him for interview, knowing the incarcerated individual was represented by counsel who was not present during the interview. JP Ritter is a licensed Texas lawyer, charged with knowledge of every inmate’s Constitutional Rights, State and Federal, and yet he failed to follow the law he is sworn to uphold and admitted same when asked by D.A. Price. The inmate interviewed by JP Ritter was Ethan Myers who was incarcerated on 1st degree felony charge of murder, a case currently under investigation.
In the petition, D.A. Price is seeking the immediate suspension of Joshua Ritter from office because of his acts of misconduct and /or incompetence in performing his statutory and Constitutional duties as required of any office holder. Along with suspension, District Attorney Price seeks the appointment of a person as JP Pct. 4, Shelby County pending further order of the Honorable Court.
Price was available to comment on the circumstances leading up to this suspension.
"No one ever wants to have to file a removal action on another office holder," said Price. "In this instance I'm just fearful that I can't trust that he'll follow the law, and if he doesn't know what the law is, that he will call."
Price stated she has offered to all of the Justice of the Peace anytime they don't know something to call and ask someone, including herself anytime.
"[He] has not reached out, not made any effort, so it leaves me with no choice," said Price.
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December 1, 2022 - FM 3172 near CR 2665 was the scene of a fatal crash November 30, 2022, involving a truck-tractor hauling saltwater.
Emergency personnel with four fire departments including the Huxley Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Shelbyville VFD, Joaquin VFD and Center Fire Department immediately responded to the scene when they were alerted to the incident two miles from FM 2694.
Fire personnel from all departments worked together to extricate the driver from the truck involved in the crash. Additional fire department personnel, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Deputies directed traffic away from the scene while emergency efforts were performed and Texas Department of Public Safety investigated the crash.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) the preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 3:48pm, a white 2003 Mack truck tractor semi-trailer driven by Deantre Burns, 22, of Joaquin was traveling west. It is reported that Burns failed to drive in a single lane and traveled into the west ditch, at which point it overturned.
Burns was pronounced deceased on scene by Donna Hughes, Justice of the Peace Precinct 1. Watson & Sons Funeral Home transported Burns from the location.
Investigating the crash was DPS Trooper Sgt. Aaron Shelton.
Additional units providing emergency support were Jamie Hagler, Precinct 2 Constable; and Roy Cheatwood, Constable Precinct 3.
Officers with Department of Family and Protective Services were present during the meeting for the proclamation declaring November as Adoption Month.
November 29, 2022 - The Shelby County Commissioners approved the receipt of a donation of funds for road work from a company building a sub-division in Precinct 1 during their meeting held November 2, 2022.
The commissioners discussed the potential $35,000 dollar donation to Road and Bridge Pct. 1 from LSLP Forest Ridge LLC for the purpose of improving and maintaining County Road 1060 and Roscoe McSwain, Commissioner Precinct 1, elaborated on the donation. He explained a portion of a sub-division had been developed approximately a mile and 7/10 with mostly timber plantation beside the road and high banks along the roadway, with poor drainage.
Forest Ridge LLC. has allowed McSwain to go in and remove the slopes from the high banks and timber off the road leaving a 40-50 foot right of way for the county.
"They've agreed to come back and donate $35,000 to my precinct to rock this road after we do the roughing in and getting the drainage fixed like it should be in order for it to be maintained a lot easier over the years to come," said McSwain.
McSwain elaborated on the sub-division that there are around 40 lots of 10 to 20 acres, and within the by-laws of the community the land will only be able to be divided one time.
A motion carried to allow Precinct 1 to accept the $35,000 donation and for it to be added to the Precinct 1 gravel account.
District Attorney Karren Price presented a proposed budget for the Pretrial Intervention Program fund pursuant to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 102, Article 102.0121 which requires the Commissioner's to approve her proposed budget.
Although Price was not present for the meeting Ann Blackwell, County Treasurer, relayed what was being asked of the court.
Motion carried to approve the District Attorney's office to hire a temporary person for a maximum up to four months, starting at $13 an hour. If it needs to be extended, the District Attorney will need to make another request. She was asking to hire someone part-time to cover the absence of one employee, and she wanted that to be funded by the Pretrial Intervention Program fund.
Use of Pretrial Intervention Program funds are regulated under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Code, Article 102.0121, Sub-chapter (c): "Fees collected under this article shall bee deposited in the county treasury in a special fund to be used solely to administer the pretrial intervention program. An expenditure from the fund may be made only in accordance with a budget approved by the commissioners court."
The meeting was adjourned at 10:46am.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include: 1. Pay weekly expenses. 2. Proclamation declaring November as Adoption Month. 3. Rescind Declaration of Disaster and Order Prohibiting Outdoor Burning. 4. $35,000 dollar donation to Road and Bridge Pct. 1 from LSLP Forest Ridge LLC for the purpose of improving and maintaining County Road 1060. 5. Seek bids for Pct.2 on John Deere 310P-Teir Backhoe/Loader to be purchased with ARPA Funds. 6. Appointment of Alease Copelin to the Shelby County Historical Commission. 7. District Attorney's office to hire a temporary person for a maximum up to four months, starting at $13 an hour. If it needs to be extended, the District Attorney will need to make another request. She was asking to hire someone part-time to cover the absence of one employee, and she wanted that to be funded by the Pretrial Intervention Program fund. 8. FY2022 Budget Line-Item Transfers and Budget Amendments. 9. FY2022 Cash Carry forward and take action to amend PCT 1 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $110,776.14 into fixed assets. 10. FY2022 Cash Carry forward and take action to amend PCT 2 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $71,732.88 into fixed assets. 11. FY2022 Cash Carry forward and take action to amend PCT 3 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $85,405.04 into fixed assets. 12. FY2022 Cash Carry forward and take action to amend PCT 4 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $46,028.68 into fixed asset. 13. Recognize Federal Mineral receipt income and amend PCT 1 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $137,632 into fixed assets. 14. Recognize Federal Mineral receipt income and amend PCT 2 Road and Bridge Fy2023 budget in the amount of $137,632 into fixed assets. 15. Recognize Federal Mineral receipt income and amend PCT 3 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $137,632 into fixed assets. 16. Recognize Federal Mineral receipt income and amend PCT 4 Road and Bridge FY2023 budget in the amount of $137,632 into fixed assets. 17. Adjourn at 10:46am. Agenda items tabled during the meeting include: 1. Discuss and possibly approve a new camera system and fire alarm system for the Sheriff’s office to replace the current system which is inoperative. 2. Discuss and possibly approve the Shelby County Sheriff's Office to continue applying for the LESO program.
November 29, 2022 - The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers investigated a hit-and-run crash on County Road 2050, near County Road 2020, that occurred Friday, November 25, 2022.
The preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 9:10 p.m., a 2010 Dodge pickup was traveling east while a 2003 Ford SUV was traveling west. It is reported that the driver of the pickup failed to give one-half of the road and struck the front of the SUV. The pickup fled the scene but was later located, however, the driver remains at large.
The driver of the SUV, identified as Pamela Moody, 36, of Center was transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center for treatment.
If you have any information relating to the driver of the pickup, please contact Lufkin DPS Communications at 936 699 7340.
There is no further information available.
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