CRIME Blog | The Dallas Morning News

June 2009

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Previous entries

June 27, 2009

Suicidal man brings traffic in south Arlington to absolute standstill
	2:05 PM Sat, Jun 27, 2009 \| Permalink \| Selwyn Crawford/Editor Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Arlington police have arrested a man who kept traffic at a standstill for more than seven hours on Interstate 20 and Highway 360 today as he threatened to kill himself by jumping off the Highway 360 overpass onto Interstate 20.

Police say the man is a suspect in a domestic disturbance early Saturday morning in which he is believe to have assaulted his girlfriend. About 6:30 this morning, police reported the man was on the overpass where he threatened to jump. Police negotiators talked with the man throughout and authorities took him into custody just before 2 p.m.

The ordeal brought traffic to a halt in both directions of Interstate 20 and Highway 360, and many of the side streets through Grand Prairie and Arlington were filled with frustrated drivers looking to avoid the roadblock.

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The entry "Suicidal man brings traffic in south Arlington to absolute standstill" is tagged: Highway 360 , Interstate 20 , suicide

Categories: Arlington, Breaking news, Family violence, Grand Prairie, Selwyn Crawford

Gunman sought in two Arlington robberies
	12:33 PM Sat, Jun 27, 2009 \| Permalink \| Matt Peterson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Arlington police are looking for a masked gunman who robbed two businesses last Saturday, staff writer Matthew Waller reports:

Police are seeking the public's help in finding a man who held up a Dollar General store and a Shell gas station around 9 p.m. June 20 near Southeast Green Oaks Boulevard and New York Avenue.

The thin, 6-foot-tall black man wore a white, long-sleeve T-shirt, blue jeans, black shoes and a dark-colored cap with white writing. He used a long, thin-barreled gun and had a cloth covering the lower part of his face during the robberies, which occurred about 10 minutes apart.

Anyone with information can call Arlington robbery Detective Jason Rash at 817-459-5304 or Crimestoppers at 817-469-8477. Tipsters may remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 and an additional $250 available through the Guns and Gang Busters Program.

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The entry "Gunman sought in two Arlington robberies" is tagged: Arlington police department , Dollar General , robbers , Shell gas stations

Categories: Arlington, Robberies

June 26, 2009

Dallas County sheriff's captain and author of detective novel to retire
	5:55 PM Fri, Jun 26, 2009 \| Permalink \| Kevin Krause/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Captain Jim Howell has been chasing criminals for 33 years at the Dallas County Sheriff's Department.

But Howell is also a writer with two novels to his name, one of them a crime novel set at the Sheriff's Department.

Howell, who supervises the agency's criminal investigations unit, has decided to retire to spend more time with his family. It'll also give him a chance to write more crime fiction if he chooses.

Howell's second novel is called "Copper Eyes," about a Dallas County sheriff's detective who suspects her sergeant is a serial killer.

» Continue reading: Dallas County sheriff's captain and author of detective novel to retire

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The entry "Dallas County sheriff's captain and author of detective novel to retire" is tagged: Capt. Jim Howell , Copper Eyes , detective fiction

Categories: Dallas County, Dallas County Sheriff's Department, Kevin Krause

Dallas police release photo of casket in marijuana case
	4:43 PM Fri, Jun 26, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Here's an old blog post made new again by a photo released by Dallas police this afternoon. It's of a casket they seized with 12 bundles of marijuana in it.

"Although it is uncommon for people to deliver contraband in coffins, it certainly is not unheard of," police Lt. Andy Harvey said in a news release.

If you're looking for the old post, I took it down when I realized some information in it could compromise the investigation.

Read on for the release from police...

» Continue reading: Dallas police release photo of casket in marijuana case

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The entry "Dallas police release photo of casket in marijuana case" is tagged: casket , marijuana , pot

Categories: Dallas, Dallas police, Steve Thompson

Q&A; with CPS on Arlington baby's death
	1:59 PM Fri, Jun 26, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

In today's paper, I have a story about the arrest of a father after the death of his 4-month-old son - three months after the baby suffered a previous injury in which investigators considered the father a suspect.

CPS workers had investigated the circumstances surrounding the infant's earlier injuries, and they decided to leave him in the care of his mother.

During my reporting yesterday, I spoke with CPS spokesman Patrick Crimmins. For those of you following the story closely, I'm including some of our conversation after the jump...

» Continue reading: Q&A; with CPS on Arlington baby's death

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The entry "Q&A; with CPS on Arlington baby's death" is tagged: 4-month-old , Child Protective Services , CPS , Patrick Crimmins

Categories: Arlington, Steve Thompson, Young victims

Dallas County Sheriff to launch campaign to help prevent car theft
	12:25 PM Fri, Jun 26, 2009 \| Permalink \| Selwyn Crawford/Editor Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

The Dallas County Sheriff's Department Auto Theft Task Force will kick off its, "Watch Your Car" campaign next month, aimed at helping citizens take extra precautions to protect against car theft.

As part of the campaign, beginning Wednesday the department will offer free Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching. According to a release from the department, vehicles that have VIN etchings are less likely to be targeted by car thieves.

The times and locations of the free etchings are listed below.

» Continue reading: Dallas County Sheriff to launch campaign to help prevent car theft

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The entry "Dallas County Sheriff to launch campaign to help prevent car theft" is tagged: Car thefts

Categories: Crime prevention/tips, Dallas County Sheriff's Department, Garland, Oak Cliff, Plano, Press releases, Selwyn Crawford

June 25, 2009

Police identify four men arrested for Uptown Dallas vehicle burglaries
	8:21 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Scott Goldstein/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Dallas police investigators believe four men they arrested this week on burglary and theft charges are responsible for most of the more than 70 reported vehicle burglaries in the Uptown area this month.

The Dallas men are (left to right): Mikel Bell, 22, Dejuan Wigfall, 19, Adrian Wigfall, 22, and Laveric McCullough, 18.

The map below shows where the offenses occurred over the first 23 days of this month. It does not include 16 vehicle burglaries reported overnight Tuesday, mostly at the Riviera at West Village in the 3500 block of Travis Street, near Lemmon Avenue.

Map Uptown Number BMVs Per Address

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The entry "Police identify four men arrested for Uptown Dallas vehicle burglaries" is tagged: Adrian Wigfall , Dejuan Wigfall , Laveric McCullough , Mikel Bell

Categories: Burglaries, Dallas, Dallas police, Scott Goldstein, Theft, Uptown

Don Hill and his wife try to block the piecemeal public release of trial evidence
	4:30 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Jason Trahan / Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Victor Vital, attorney for Don Hill's wife, Sheila Farrington, filed a motion today on behalf of both Hills beseeching U.S. District Barbara Lynn not to follow through on her plan to have her staff do daily uploads of the government's exhibits as they are entered into evidence in the public corruption trial.

Read the whole document here: Doc 866.pdf

The Hills want to wait until a verdict is rendered, or, they suggest, have the judge lift the gag order so that they can explain the evidence publicly as it is released each day.

Presumably they would do this at their daily press briefings, which they've already scheduled, starting Monday after opening statements.

» Continue reading: Don Hill and his wife try to block the piecemeal public release of trial evidence

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The entry "Don Hill and his wife try to block the piecemeal public release of trial evidence" is tagged: Dallas City Hall corruption case , Don Hill , Sheila Farrington , Victor Vital

Categories: Breaking news, Dallas, Don Hill, FBI, Federal courts, Federal investigations, Financial crimes, Jason Trahan, Richard Abshire, White-collar crime

Another of the Uptown burglary gang gets sentenced
	4:16 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Selwyn Crawford/Editor Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Dustin Kienzlen, one of the members of the Uptown burglary gang headed by Damon West, pleaded guilty on a variety of charges today. Kienzlen, 33, pleaded guilty to engaging in organized crime, three counts of burglary to a habitation, one count of burglary of a business and to a count of theft of more than $1,500.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison on the organized crime charge; 20 years for the burglaries and two years of state jail time for the theft. The sentences will run concurrently and Kienzlen would have to serve at least a quarter of the 25 year sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Kienzlen, whose 2008 arrest in a stolen vehicle eventually led to the solving of the case, was one of four people charged in connection with more than 50 burglaries in the Uptown area from 2006 through 2008. In May, a Dallas County jury sentenced West, a former University of North Texas quarterback, to 65 years in prison for his ringleader role.

With the plea by Kienzlen, the case of only one other defendant -- West's roommate, Virginia Oates -- remains pending.

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The entry "Another of the Uptown burglary gang gets sentenced" is tagged: Damon West , Dustin Kienzlen , organized crime , Prison , Virginia Oates

Categories: Burglaries, Crime Victims, Dallas, Selwyn Crawford, Theft, Uptown

Could SMU have done a better job handling emergency alerts for gas leak today?
	1:34 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Scott Goldstein/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

If you were a student, instructor or staff member on a college campus and you received the below email message, what would you think and what would you do? That's the question Southern Methodist University officials who activated their emergency alert system because of a parking garage gas leak ought to be asking themselves this afternoon. It's not so much that they chose to use the alert system because of a potentially dangerous gas leak, but that they offered no details about the "emergency on campus" for 30 minutes.

Those who did further investigating on their own to try to figure out what was going on may not have had much luck. When a Dallas Morning News reporter initially tried three different SMU phone numbers, he got an "all circuits are busy" message. About 30 minutes after this first message, a second alert went out explaining that there was a gas leak at the Airline & Binkley Garage on the southeast portion of campus. The second and third emails are after the jump.

From: SMU Emergency Alert Date: June 25, 2009 9:47:20 AM CDT Subject: SMU Emergency Alert
Main Campus Only: There is an emergency on campus. Please shelter in the nearest building now. Do not go outside. Will update.

The sender provided the following contact information.
Sender's Name: SMU Emergency Alert

» Continue reading: Could SMU have done a better job handling emergency alerts for gas leak today?

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The entry "Could SMU have done a better job handling emergency alerts for gas leak today?" is tagged: emergency alert , gas leak , Southern Methodist University

Categories: Dallas, SMU, Scott Goldstein

Suspect arrested in two Oak Cliff shootings, one fatal
	12:47 PM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Dallas police say Santiago Barrera Rubio (right) knew investigators were looking for him after the Oct. 5 slaying in East Oak Cliff.

Officers found Alfredo Hernandez Goana, 30, shot multiple times inside what police believed was a pool hall and bootleg house on Seevers Avenue. It was one of three fatal shootings during a 12-hour span that weekend.

But Rubio eluded surrender until yesterday, authorities say, when police, sheriff's deputies and U.S. Marshalls arrested him on a separate charge, accusing him of shooting a 26-year-old man multiple times on April 26 during a central Oak Cliff drive-by.

After his arrest, Rubio, 28, admitted to a homicide detective that he killed Goana, police say. He is being held in the county jail on $175,000. There is also a federal "illegal-alien" hold on him.

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The entry "Suspect arrested in two Oak Cliff shootings, one fatal" is tagged: Alfredo Hernandez Goana , murder , Santiago Barrera Rubio , Seevers Avenue , shooting

Categories: Dallas, Dallas police, Oak Cliff, Steve Thompson

4-month old Arlington boy dies; father arrested
	11:18 AM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Arlington police arrested a 25-year-old father yesterday, accusing him of having a hand in injuries that caused his 4-month-old boy to stop breathing.

Jason Antoine Farrington faces a charge of injury to a child. Police say he was already being investigated in light of skull fractures the baby received in March.

Read on for a police news release on the case...

» Continue reading: 4-month old Arlington boy dies; father arrested

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The entry "4-month old Arlington boy dies; father arrested" is tagged: 4-month-old , injury to a child , Jason Antoine Farrington , skull fractures

Categories: Arlington, Steve Thompson, Young victims

Dallas police: 19-year-old did drive-by on gang officers in Old East Dallas
	11:07 AM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

About 9:45 last night, someone did a drive-by on some Dallas police gang officers who were performing a traffic stop in Old East Dallas.

Senior corporals Teena Schultz and Darian Loera were near a fully marked police car stopped at 400 Grandview Drive, when a gold Oldsmobile Alero drove by heading west on Santa Fe Avenue, police say.

Someone pointed a handgun out a window and fired multiple shots at Schultz as she stood outside her patrol car. She was in full police gang uniform, police say. The shots missed her.

After a short pursuit, officers arrested 19-year-old Rene Salazar (upper right) at his home in the 300 block of Henderson Avenue. Police recovered a pistol they say he used in the shooting. It's not clear what investigators believe his motive was. He faces a charge of aggravated assault on a public servant and is being held in the county jail on $25,000 bail.

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The entry "Dallas police: 19-year-old did drive-by on gang officers in Old East Dallas" is tagged: drive-by , Old East Dallas , shooting

Categories: Dallas, Dallas police, Steve Thompson

Dallas Crime Watch: Thursday, June 25, 2009
	7:51 AM Thu, Jun 25, 2009 \| Permalink \| Emily Tsao/Editor Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

A sampling of crime and public safety news in and around Dallas:

• After a recent spate of wrong-way driving accidents that have killed four people on the Dallas North Tollway, officials are exploring various measures to keep motorists safe. DMN staff writers Scott Goldstein and Selwyn Crawford examine what safety precautions other jurisdictions have implemented and whether officials think those measures would save lives on the tollway.

• The recent shooting of a young father at a Dairy Queen and the reported disappearance of a baby from a Far North Dallas apartment complex are creating unease for residents in this area that borders Carrollton. DMN staff writers Dianne Solis and Matt Peterson explore this community in transition. "We need help, and we need the citizens to pay attention," said Carrollton Mayor Ron Branson.

• Yesterday, DMN staff writer Steve Thompson posted this photo (courtesy of WFAA-TV) of a serious Interstate 635 traffic accident in which a car slid under a tractor trailer. The driver amazingly survived and Steve talked to her and her family.

• It's going to be hot again today. So here's another reminder -- do not leave pets or children in the car. KTVT-TV reports that a Fort Worth woman is accused of leaving her 2-month-old daughter in a locked car as she shopped at Walmart.

» Continue reading: Dallas Crime Watch: Thursday, June 25, 2009

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The entry "Dallas Crime Watch: Thursday, June 25, 2009" is tagged: Dairy Queen shooting , Dallas Crime Watch , Dallas North Tollway , wrong way drivers

Categories: Dallas, Dallas Crime Watch, Matthew Peterson, North Dallas, Scott Goldstein, Selwyn Crawford, Steve Thompson, Traffic accidents

June 24, 2009

Collin County Jail passes inspection
	3:34 PM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Selwyn Crawford/Editor Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Not all county jails are created equal, apparently. While the Dallas County Jail has failed its annual state inspection six consecutive years, its counterpart in Collin County has passed for the 22nd consecutive time, Collin County Sheriff's office announced today.

Both the county's main jail and minimum security detention facilities were inspected this month by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, and the buildings passed all of the more than 600 areas inspected.

Collin County Sheriff Terry Box was proud of the achievement.

"I attribute the success of the facility to the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the detention staff," the sheriff said. "I am very pleased with the results of the inspection."

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The entry "Collin County Jail passes inspection " is tagged: Collin County sheriff's department , county jails , Sheriff Terry Box , Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Categories: Collin, Dallas County Jail, Selwyn Crawford

More clues emerge in strange case of the missing Potashniks
	3:25 PM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Jason Trahan / Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Ever since Brian and Cheryl Potashnik didn't show up for jury selection Monday, speculation has swirled that they've taken a plea deal in the sweeping public corruption case.

Prosecutor Marcus Busch addressed their absense, sort of, in an oblique reference when he told U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn Monday that the case may not take as long to try.

Yesterday, Victor Vital, attorney for Don Hill's wife, Sheila, all but said in open court that the defense needed to reorder the time alotted for opening statements because there are now fewer defendants.

Today, one of Brian Potashnik's lawyers filed a motion all but announcing they've pulled out of the case.

» Continue reading: More clues emerge in strange case of the missing Potashniks

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The entry "More clues emerge in strange case of the missing Potashniks" is tagged: Abbe Lowell , Brian Potashnik , Cheryl Poshnik , Obiamaka Madubuko

Categories: Breaking news, Dallas, Don Hill, Federal courts, Federal investigations, Financial crimes, Jason Trahan, Public corruption

Gag this: Hill's PR firm announces daily press briefings for City Hall corruption trial
	2:50 PM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Jason Trahan / Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Former Dallas City Council member Don Hill, through his PR rep, has just announced that his camp will be holding daily press briefings after each day of his corruption trial. Opening statements begin Monday.

Hill has also launched a new site. It links to news stories about the trial, and includes background information on, among other things, Hill's community plaudits.

Buried in a link is a statement by a group called "The Dallas Citizens for Fairness," described as "a group comprised of community, civic, faith based leaders and the general citizenry.

"We are publicly announcing our outrage in regards to the unfair justice that we believe Mr. and Mrs. Donald W. Hill are faced with in Dallas, Texas," their statement reads. "With the gathering storm of 'injustice' having swept over the Bush Justice Department, we believe citizens should pause before making any further judgments of those city officials still facing trial on public corruption charges."

So, you say, what of this fabled gag order we keep hearing about? Well, it's still in place, if you were wondering. Is this a violation?

» Continue reading: Gag this: Hill's PR firm announces daily press briefings for City Hall corruption trial

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The entry "Gag this: Hill's PR firm announces daily press briefings for City Hall corruption trial" is tagged: Dallas City Hall corruption trial , Don Hill , gag order

Categories: Breaking news, Dallas, Don Hill, Federal courts, Federal investigations, Financial crimes, Jason Trahan, Public corruption

Trial underway for man accused of killing girlfriend's 19-month-old son
11:26 AM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Jennifer Emily/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Dallas County prosecutors Justin McCants and Eren Price say Adrian Lopez purposely injured 19-month-old Irvin Hernandez.

The little boy had a skull fracture, bleeding in his brain, retinal hemorrhaging and a bruise the shape of a handprint across his face when he died in November 2007.

Lopez is charged with capital murder. If convicted, he faces an automatic life sentence.

But Lisa Fox, one of the attorneys defending Lopez, said there was nothing intentional about it.

» Continue reading: Trial underway for man accused of killing girlfriend's 19-month-old son

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The entry "Trial underway for man accused of killing girlfriend's 19-month-old son" is tagged: Adrian Lopez , child abuse , Eren Price , Irvin Hernandez , Justin McCants , Lisa Fox , Northwest Dallas

Categories: Child abuse, Crime Victims, Criminal courts, Dallas, Dallas County, Dallas County District Attorney's Office, Defense attorneys, Homicides, Jennifer Emily, Young victims, juries, violent crime

Falling forklift caused nasty wreck?
	11:11 AM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Steve Thompson/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

Here's a photo taken early this morning by Robert Flagg of WFAA (Channel 8). Pretty awful looking. Apparently, the driver may have dodged a forklift that fell off a truck, only to get wedged under the 18-wheeler on westbound Interstate 635 at Montfort Drive in Dallas.

I'm told she survived. Anybody out there have more details?

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The entry "Falling forklift caused nasty wreck?" is tagged: crash , forklift , I-635 , Monifort

Categories: Dallas, Steve Thompson

Dallas Crime Watch: Wednesday, June 24, 2009
	4:31 AM Wed, Jun 24, 2009 \| Permalink \| Scott Goldstein/Reporter Bio \| E-mail \| News tips

A sampling of crime and public safety news in and around Dallas:

• The Dallas City Hall corruption trial has a jury. Of the 12 jurors and four alternates, four are black, four are Hispanic and eight are white. They'll hear evidence throughout the summer that former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, his wife, Sheila Farrington, his Plan Commission appointee, D'Angelo Lee, and two other associates took bribes from developers seeking approval to build low-income housing in southern Dallas. Opening statements are set to start Monday.

• The man accused of shooting a woman in a Corinth park while she held her child told the Denton Record-Chronicle on Tuesday that he got his inspiration from Frankenstein. William Alexander "Bill" Gilmore, 50, made the declaration among other nonsensical statements in an interview at the Denton County Jail. He is being held on an attempted murder charge in the Monday shooting of 36-year-old Kimberly Boggs, who was in fair condition Tuesday.

• Even pricey, gated apartment complexes aren't immune to crime. Uptown residents have fallen victim to a rash of vehicle break-ins, CBS 11 News reports.

» Continue reading: Dallas Crime Watch: Wednesday, June 24, 2009

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The entry "Dallas Crime Watch: Wednesday, June 24, 2009" is tagged: CBS 11 News , D'Angelo Lee , Denton County Jail , Denton Record-Chronicle , DFW Airport , Don Hill , Haltom City , Kimberly Boggs , public corruption , Sheila Farrington , Star-Telegram , Uptown , vehicle break-ins , William Alexander "Bill" Gilmore

Categories: Dallas Crime Watch, Scott Goldstein

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