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November 7, 2016 - Information has been released relating to the three-vehicle crash on State Highway 7 West which resulted in a fatality on Monday, November 7, 2016.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers responded to and investigated a three vehicle crash on SH 7 about one mile East of Nacogdoches County, at approximately 4:30 p.m.
The preliminary crash investigation indicates a 2002 Ford F-150 XL pickup truck was traveling West on SH 7 when it crossed the center divider and struck a 2016 Chevrolet delivery van in the side. In an attempt to avoid the collision the driver of the Chevrolet swerved to the right and subsequently struck a 2012 Ford Escape SUV.
After the initial crash the Chevrolet and Ford Escape drove off the roadway and into the eastbound ditch where the Chevrolet overturned. The Ford pickup drove off the highway into westbound ditch where it caught fire and burned.
The driver of the Ford pickup was identified as Steven Dennis, 51, from Center. Dennis was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash by Justice of the Peace Marla Denby.
Elzie Raymond, 40, from Lufkin was identified as the driver of the Chevrolet utility van. Raymond was transported to Nacogdoches Memorial hospital with unknown injuries.
The driver of the Ford Escape was not reported as being injured and was identified as Colleen Doggett, 73, from Center.
This crash remains under investigation by Texas DPS Trooper Taylor Buster who was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper John Hallenbeck.
West Shelby Volunteer Firemen worked traffic control at the scene for several hours. Shelby County Sheriff's Department Deputies also were on scene to assist.
Dennis was transported from the scene by Watson & Sons Funeral Home.
November 7, 2016 - State Highway 7 in Shelby County near the Nacogdoches County line is currently blocked due to a three-vehicle crash in between CR 1245 and CR 1246. Anyone traveling in this direction should take an alternate route to avoid getting in the middle of traffic which is backed up for a long distance.
Further details on the crash will be updated as they are made available by official sources.
November 3, 2016 - Early voting held at Shelby County Clerk’s Office, 124 Austin Street, Center, TX 75935.
- Monday, October 24, 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
- Tuesday, October 25 – Friday, October 28th 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
- Saturday, October 29, 10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
- Sunday, October 30, 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
- Monday, October 31, 7:00 A.M. – 7:00 P.M.
- Tuesday, November 1 – Friday, November 4th, 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
You may also apply to vote by mail through October 28th by calling the County Clerk’s office at 936-598-6361.
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November 4, 2016 -The Texas Department of Public Safety, West Shelby Volunteer Fire Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department and Center Police Department all responded to a single-vehicle crash about five miles west of FM 711.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 6:35pm November 3, 2016 a grey 2004 Honda Civic driven by Oscar Solis, 17, of Lufkin was eastbound on State Highway 7 when then vehicle left the roadway to the right.
The car continued for about 100 yards in the south ditch before it traveled across all four lanes of traffic and into the north ditch where the Civic flipped.
Solis was transported by private vehicle to a hospital in Lufkin. He was issued citations for no driver's license and wrong side of roadway not passing.
West Shelby Volunteer firemen worked traffic control until the scene was clear.
November 3, 2016 - The driver of a pickup truck involved in a a major single-vehicle crash on FM 947 Thursday, November 3, 2016 was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Shreveport.
Tenaha Volunteer Firemen, Texas Department of Public Safety and Tenaha City Marshal's office all responded to the scene of the crash, and once it was determined necessary a helicopter was requested and landed in a yard near the incident.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 9:02am a red 2000 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Roger Dale Shoemaker, 58, of Tenaha was westbound on FM 947 when the truck traveled to the left side of the roadway on the wrong side when not passing and continued off the eastbound side. The truck traveled into the treeline, striking several trees causing major damage to the truck as well as injuries to Shoemaker due to no seat belt.
Shoemaker was issued citations for wrong side of roadway not passing, no seat belt, and possession of marijuana. The crash remains under investigation. At the time of the crash, Shoemaker was flown from the scene by Life Air Rescue and was expected to be taken to a hospital in Shreveport.
Trooper Jones was assisted at the scene by Trooper Dustin Ramos.
November 3, 2016 - According to a Facebook post on Tenaha Tiger Spirit, the school notified all Tenaha ISD stakeholders of a potential threat made earlier today which turned out to be a hoax.
Facebook Post made at 3:23pm, Thursday, November 3rd: Earlier today, officials received an anonymous threat of a potential device in the restroom. Tenaha ISD administration immediately sheltered in place, then quickly moved all students to their designated safe location inside the Tenaha Football Stadium. We are also appreciative and happy to report that both the Tenaha City Marshal and the Shelby County Sheriff's office responded quickly and assisted TISD Police Chief in clearing every room, cabinet, and area. We are pleased to report that the threat was, in fact, a hoax and TISD will be working with all relevant law enforcement agencies to try and identify the source of the alert. All TISD children are safe and have been told what occurred and are completing the school day on schedule.
November 3, 2016 - U.S. Highway 96 two miles north of Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday evening.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, on November 2, 2016 at approximately 6:50pm Omar Acopa-Fuentes, 22, of Center was northbound in a white 2004 Chevrolet on U.S. Highway 96 North when he failed to control speed and struck the back of a silver 2001 Buick driven by Caroline Ann Evans, 76, of Center.
The vehicles came to rest in the inside northbound traffic lane blocking traffic in front of Center Christian Fellowship. The Center Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene for traffic control. Units with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and the Center Police Department also arrived at the scene.
Evans and her two passengers, a 13-year-old female and 4-year-old female, were transported by private vehicle to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for possible injuries.
Acopa-Fuentes was issued a citation for failure to control speed.
November 3, 2016 - Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Deputies Carmen Fears and Misty Ray initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for failure to display a license plate on the rear of the vehicle and no license plate lamps on Highway 84 inside the Joaquin city limits on November 3, .
Deputy Fears approached the vehicle and found Michael Harper, 34, of Shreveport, LA in the driver’s seat. Deputy Fears made contact with Harper and obtained a temporary license tag for the vehicle and his driver’s license. Fears ran the tag for the vehicle and no record of the tag was found and Harper’s driver’s license came back suspended.
At that time, Deputy Fears placed Harper under arrest for driving with an invalid driver’s license and advised a wrecker would be in route to tow his vehicle. When placed in the patrol unit, Deputy Fears informed Harper she would be conducting a standard vehicle inventory on his vehicle, at which time Harper became very distraught and demanded a supervisor and an attorney. Deputy Fears advised Harper she would contact her supervisor for him to speak with.
While inventorying the vehicle, Deputy Ray advised Deputy Fears that Harper was kicking the windows of the patrol unit. Leg irons were requested to prevent Harper from hurting himself or damaging the unit.
During the inventory, Deputy Fears found a clear glass pipe in the console. A small black carrying case was found in the driver’s side floorboard. Inside the bag were numerous baggies containing a crystal-like substance. Field-testing determined the substance was methamphetamine. The weight of the narcotics totaled 10.08 grams.
In the trunk of the vehicle, numerous bags containing clothing and personal care items were found along with scales, cell phones, tablets, butane lighters and a laptop computer. Harper’s wallet also contained numerous credit cards with names of various individuals.
Harper was booked into the SCSO for: Possession of a Controlled Substance (F4); Delivery of a Controlled Substance (F1); and Driving While License Invalid (MC).
November 2, 2016 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) uncovered a large amount of stolen property at a residence on U.S. Highway 84 East in the Tenaha area on October 24.
SCSO Chief Deputy DJ Dickerson and Lieutenant Kevin Windham began investigating the incident after the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office (DPSO) reported a burglary in Logansport, LA involving a U-Haul truck.
Information was received that the U-Haul truck was seen at the residence in the Tenaha area and the residents were selling items from the yard of the property.Chief Dickerson, Lieutenant Windham and DPSO Sergeant Armstrong were met by the homeowner, Michael Foxworth, who cooperated in allowing the officers to look in the U-Haul. Michael advised that his son, Jaron Foxworth and Jaron’s girlfriend, Alexis Dickson, had been in the U-Haul, but were not there at that time. Michael stated Jaron and Dickson were driving a yellow GMC pickup truck.
While the officers were speaking with Michael, the yellow GMC turned in to the residence and immediately backed out. Officers were able to catch up with the vehicle and found Jaron and Dickson inside. While officers were questioning the suspects, Dickson was observed attempting to conceal a substance suspected to be methamphetamine in the dashboard of the GMC truck. Dickson was removed from the vehicle and produced a glass pipe to Lt. Windham. Dickson admitted the pipe was used for smoking methamphetamine. The total weight of the substance was 22.77 grams.
Officers placed Jaron and Dickson under arrest and began questioning them about property located in the vehicle being a pirogue boat and a framed painting. Both suspects told officers the items were purchased from an individual. Inconsistencies in the stories led Chief Dickerson to further question Dickson who admitted they stole the items from an abandoned residence on Highway 84 towards Joaquin. Dickson further admitted that the property in the U-Haul at the residence was stolen. Two guns were also recovered from behind the seat area of the GMC.
During the course of the investigation, items have been recovered from burglaries in Liberty County, Nacogdoches County, Shelby County and DeSoto Parish Louisiana.
As this investigation continues, more charges will be filed.
The SCSO would like to thank the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in this investigation.
November 2, 2016 - The jury that has been summoned for Monday, November 7, 2016 for the 123rd District Court Honorable Charles C. "Brick" Dickerson presiding has been cancelled due to the scheduled cases being resolved or passed.
Anyone receiving a summons for that day is released from jury service until they receive a future summons.
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