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December 23, 2021 - State Highway 87 (SH 87) North in the Mt. Gillion Community was the scene of a two-vehicle crash December 18, 2021.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, at 4:43pm a red 2003 Ford F-150 driven by Colton Lee McSwain, 25, of Timpson was northbound on SH 87 near CR 1034 during rain conditions when three dogs were crossing the road.
McSwain applied breaks in an attempt to avoid striking the dogs when he lost control and the vehicle swung around and while traveling backwards the passenger side of the truck struck the driver's side of a 2020 GMC Terrain driven by Margaret Bush, 66, of Center.
The GMC came to rest on the southbound shoulder while the Ford was able to be pulled back to the northbound shoulder.
No injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
McSwain was issued a citation for wrong side of roadway not passing.
December 22, 2021 - State Highway 7 West was the scene of a two-vehicle hit-and-run crash which resulted in injury to two people involved.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, on December 18, 2021, at 3:08pm a black 2015 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck pulling a yellow 16-foot Bragg trailer driven by Rolando Diez-Diez, 36, was westbound on State Highway 7 near CR 1168.
At that time an unknown driver of a white Chevrolet pickup truck attempted to pass on the left.The truck failed to maintain a single lane and struck the Silverado pickup truck causing Diez to leave the roadway to the right, travel over a culvert, overturn and roll through a fence before coming to rest on its top.
The white Chevrolet veered left and traveled off the roadway to the left where it crossed over two culverts and re-entered the roadway before fleeing the scene of the crash.
Diez and a 13-year-old male child passenger were injured and transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries. A 15-year-old male child passenger was not reported to have been injured.
This crash remained under investigation.
December 21, 2021 - U.S. Highway 96 North near CR 3774 was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash involving a Shelby County Sheriff's patrol unit and an SUV.
(Update): According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Taylor Buster, at 3:43am a black 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe driven owned by the Shelby County Sheriff's Department and driven by Joshua Anders, 30, of San Augustine was southbound on U.S. 96 North near CR 3774 when Anders fell asleep.
The Tahoe crossed over into the northbound traffic lane and struck a grey 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Calvin Estes, 24, of Tenaha. The Jeep continued northbound and flipped several times as it left the roadway to the right and finally came to rest on the driver's side of the vehicle.
On the southbound side of the roadway the Tahoe came to rest in some brush.
Center Fire Department personnel worked with Jaws of Life to extricate the driver, a man, and eventually were succesful in assisting Emergency Medical Services personnel in moving the man to a waiting ambulance.
Family members looked on in desperation as the fire personnel worked to rescue their family member. They were both relieved and appreciative of the fire fighters for freeing him.
The deputy was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of possible injuries. The driver of the Jeep was transported by ambulance to LSU Hospital in Shreveport for treatment of his injuries.
Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Center Police Department officers were on scene assisting in traffic control.
This crash remains under investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
December 22, 2021 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a report on Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at approximately 8am, from a resident who lives on Highway 87 North in Center regarding a theft incident.
It was reported that a white male subject in a blue passenger car pulled up in the resident’s driveway and took a fold-up extension ladder from the resident’s property and drove off. The resident got in their vehicle and was able to get photos of the driver and the license plate. The vehicle is a 2016 Kia Forte, blue in color bearing Utah license plate W434EW. The male subject is a white male who appears to be in his mid-to-late 50s.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office asks that if you see this vehicle, please contact the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 598-5600.
December 22, 2021 - Shelby County Sheriff Kevin Windham reports the escape and recapture of an inmate Sunday, December 19, 2021.
According to Sheriff Windham the inmate, Ethan Myers, initially claimed a medical issue when he said he was having difficulty breathing.
"Two of my deputies took him down to the emergency room to be checked out," said Sheriff Windham.
After a medical examination at the emergency room, Myers was determined to be fine and was able to be returned to the jail. Rather than enter the sally port the deputies were going to return Myers through the front door of the Sheriff's Department, which is not unprecedented.
"They had him handcuffed, but he did not have leg irons on and when they opened up the door he took off running," said Sheriff Windham.
According to Sheriff Windham, Myers ran across Hurst Street and through the Brookshire Brothers parking lot. Once on the other side of the parking lot he reached Nacogdoches Street and was running behind houses there. Although he was gaining distance from the jail quickly, the pursuit ended in a short period of time.
"They had him back in custody in five minutes," said Sheriff Windham.
According to Shelby County Jail arrest information Ethan Myers, 25, of Joaquin was arrested on December 10, 2021, for failure to appear in relation to a previous possession of a controlled substance charge. Myers was arrested April 17, 2019, for possession of a controlled substance.
Sheriff Windham expresses gratitude to the Center Police Department for their assistance and local citizens who actively assisted in recapturing Myers.
According to Sheriff Windham, this event has resulted in a review of jail protocols to insure inmates being transported are in leg irons.
December 22, 2021 - The Shelby County Courthouse will be closing today at 12-noon.
The courthouse will reopen for business on December 27 at 8am.
December 21, 2021 - U.S. Highway 84 West just under two miles outside of Timpson was the scene of a two-vehicle crash involving a police motorcycle December 20, 2021, at 5:20pm.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Keith Jones, a black 2012 Honda police motorcycle unit ridden by Gregory Wayne Sammon, 62, of Roman Forest Police Department in New Caney, was eastbound on U.S. Highway 84 just outside of Timpson
A black 2017 Nissan Rogue driven by Connor Nolan Stansberry Lavoie, 21, of Timpson was westbound at that time and attempted to turn left into a private driveway and turned into the motorcycle. The Nissan came to a halt in the middle of the roadway and the motorcycle careened off the roadway to the right and came to rest on it's side in a ditch.
Sammon was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital in Nacogdoches for treatment of his injuries due to unavailability of life flight due to bad weather. Sammon is in stable condition.
A citation was issued to Lavoie for turn when unsafe.
Timpson Volunteer Fire Department handled traffic control at the scene. Several agencies responded to the scene to assist and come to the aid of Sammon including Constables from Precinct 5, Precinct 4, and Precinct 3, as well as Shelby County Sheriff's Department and Tenaha Police Department.
December 21, 2021 - The intersection of Hurst Street and Roughrider Drive in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Sunday, December 19, 2021, at around 1:50pm.
According to Center Police Officer Michael Davidson, a grey 2009 Chevrolet Impala driven by Coretta Booth, 25, of Shelbyville was northbound on Hurst Street and was attempting to make a left turn onto Roughrider Drive on an unprotected left turn light.
As a result, the Impala failed to yield right of way to a grey 2007 Ford F-150 driven by Jonathan Alford, 39, of Silsbee who was southbound on Hurst Street.
The Impala came to rest at the corner of Hurst Street and Roughrider Drive and the truck rolled to the northern side of Roughrider Drive.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) did respond to the scene; however, no injuries were reported as a result of the crash.
No citations have been issued at the time of this report.
December 20, 2021 - The Shelby County Sheriff's Department has reported the arrest of a Center man on several sexually related charges involving children.
Sheriff Kevin W. Windham reports that on Monday, December 13, 2021, investigators with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence on Highway 96 South in Center.
As a result of the search warrant, SCSO investigators arrested Bobby Halbert, 70, of Center. Halbert was booked into the Shelby County jail on two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child (F-1); two counts of possession of child pornography (F-3); and two counts of indecency with a child by exposure (F-3).
Halbert was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 Donna Hughes and is currently being housed on bonds totaling $4.5 million. This is an ongoing investigation. No further information will be released at this time.
December 20, 2021 - Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today announced the Department of Justice will award $1.6 billion in grant awards to support a wide range of programs designed to reduce violent crime and strengthen communities. The grants, which are being distributed to communities and organizations throughout the nation, are administered by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP).
“The Department of Justice is committed to supporting our state and local partners to combat crime across the country,” said Attorney General Garland. “This latest round of funding will deliver critical public safety resources, helping public safety professionals, victim service providers, local agencies and nonprofit organizations confront these serious challenges.”
As law enforcement agencies address a range of public safety challenges – from violent crime to human trafficking to retail thefts – these awards will provide additional tools to advance violence intervention activities and evidence-based police and prosecution strategies. Funds are also intended to reduce recidivism, help people coming out of prisons and jails make the transition back into their communities and support responses to crises like drug overdoses and episodes involving mental illness. These grants build on earlier OJP investments, including more than $1.2 billion to support victim assistance and compensation programs, $187 million under the state formula Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants Program, more than $175 million in funding for victim services and public safety in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, over $21 million in grants to address hate crimes and $17.5 million in Project Safe Neighborhoods grants. The COPS office also funded the hiring of over 1,000 officers in 183 police departments this year.
Some of the awards address the rise in gun violence and other violent crime in communities across America, in alignment with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment in April. These grants help support the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, announced in May, and will advance President Biden’s Comprehensive Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gun Crime and Ensure Public Safety, released in June.
“These investments reflect a commitment that extends across this administration to invest in our neighborhoods, building bonds of civic trust and ending the cycle of trauma and violence that destroys too many lives and keeps far too many Americans from realizing their potential,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon of OJP.
A full list of awards, as they are made, will be available on the OJP Grant Awards page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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