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February 26, 2019 - In the 123rd Judicial District Court, Honorable Judge LeAnn Rafferty presiding, on February 20, 2019, sixty-one (61) felony cases were set on the docket for arraignment, status hearings, and other pretrial purposes. Shelby County District Attorney Stephen Shires finalized eight (8) cases. The remaining matters are a mix of cases that are set for trial on the March-April trial docket and the July-August trial docket.
On February 21, 2019, in the 273rd Judicial District Court of Shelby County, Honorable James A. Payne, Jr. presiding, the sentencing trial began for Raymond Fleming, Jr., who has been convicted of two counts of forgery, one count of forgery against the elderly, and one count of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information against the elderly. Shelby County District Attorney Stephen Shires presented the State’s case on punishment. The matter was then adjourned. The trial will finish up on February 28, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., when the defense will present its case, followed by closing arguments.
On March 4, 2019, jury selection is set to begin in the trial of a juvenile accused of murder.
On March 18, 2019, jury selection is set to begin in the trial of Tracy Whitaker for Burglary and/or Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity.
On March 25, 2019, jury selection is to begin for one or more of the cases remaining on the March-April trial docket.
Given the trial schedule for the month of March, with the remaining open week being Spring Break, out of courtesy for the members of the 273rd Grand Jury, who may wish to enjoy that week with their children or grandchildren, the grand jury will not convene during the month of March. We will have a make-up and meet twice in April.
February 26, 2019 - The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office is seeking information regarding the theft of two ATVs. The incident occurred January 28, 2019, at approximately 10:30 p.m. at a location on County Road 1060 in Center.
Game camera footage captured two suspects, a white male and white female, enter the property and push a green Arctic Cat ATV and a red/blue Polaris Trailboss ATV off the lease.
If anyone has any information concerning this incident, you are asked to contact Investigator Adam Renfro at the SCSO at 936.598.5601.
February 23, 2019 - Flood Statement
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
Do not drive vehicles through flooded waterways. Use caution when walking near flooded riverbanks. Do not try to wade or swim in flooded rivers and bayous.
For more hydrologic information, copy and paste the following website address into your favorite web browser URL bar: water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=shv
Hazardous Weather Outlook
This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for portions of south central Arkansas, southwest Arkansas, north central Louisiana, northwest Louisiana, southeast Oklahoma, east Texas and northeast Texas.
Day One...Today and Tonight...
A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect for much of the region early this morning. Look for fog to reduce visibilities to below one quarter of a mile at times.
Later this morning, strong to severe thunderstorms will develop across the region and will have the capability of producing strong and damaging wind gusts, large hail and isolated tornadoes. The greatest threat area will be across Deep East Texas, Northern Louisiana and South Central Arkansas. Brief heavy downpours will accompany the stronger storms as well throughout the day which could pose a flash flood threat. These storms will move rapidly eastward and should be east of the region by early to mid afternoon.
Southwest to west winds will quickly increase across the region today in the wake of the convection. A Lake Wind Advisory will likely become necessary through the late afternoon hours for winds of 15 to 25 mph with higher gusts.
Days Two Through Seven...Sunday through Friday...
No hazardous weather is expected at this time.
Spotter Information Statement...
Activation of emergency management personnel...amateur radio operators...and storm spotters will likely be needed today.
February 22, 2019 - An arrest has been made in connection with stolen four-wheelers recovered in the Joaquin area.
The Shelby County Constable Precinct 3 office has been seeking four-wheelers, which were recently stolen from the DeSoto Parish area.
Roy Cheatwood, Precinct 3 Constable, and Newton Johnson Jr., Deputy Constable, located a red 2010 Honda four-wheeler at a residence located off Truitt Cemetery Road on Friday, February 15, 2019.
According to Constable Cheatwood, the homeowner at that location traded a vehicle for the four-wheeler. The constables confirmed the four-wheeler was one which had been stolen in Logansport.
Mike Armstrong, DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Department Investigator, was contacted by Constable Cheatwood and he was also able to confirm the same information when he arrived to view the four-wheeler.
Later in the evening of February 15, Cheatwood was able to locate a 2008 Honda four-wheeler south of Joaquin which also was stolen from Logansport during the same time as the first one.
Both four-wheelers had been altered since they went missing; however, they were able to be identified by their serial numbers.
According to Roy Cheatwood, Johnny Ray Taylor, 22, of Joaquin was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation in relation to the theft of the four-wheelers and possession of a controlled substance. Additional charges are pending at this time.
The Shelby County Precinct 3 Constables office expresses appreciation to the DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Department, Constable Precinct 1 Zach Warr, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Texas Game Wardens.
February 22, 2019 - Truitt Cemetery Road has flooding on two of its bridges, just off HWY 7, with about 6 – 10” of water over the road.
February 19, 2019 - U.S. Highway 59 South was the scene of a major two-vehicle crash just outside of Tenaha Tuesday, February 19, 2019.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jonathan Stinson, at around 1:30pm Leonard Ryan McGee, 26, of Joaquin was southbound in the outside lane in a grey GMC pickup truck.
At that time he failed to control speed and collided with the rear of a blue Freightliner truck-tractor belonging to J.S. Helwig & Son, LLC. and driven by Steven Humphries, 55, of Cleburne.
McGee was transported by ambulance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of minor injuries. He was issued a citation for failure to control speed.
The Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department, Tenaha Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff's Department assisted at the scene with traffic control.
February 19, 2019 - Texas Department of Public Safety is currently investigating a single-vehicle crash on IS 96 south of Tenaha. No injuries appear to have been received by the driver involved, and the vehicle visually has minor damage.
Drivers should use caution traveling in these current wet conditions.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner, at 10:05am a white 2009 GMC Acadia driven by Abigail Mendez, 19, of Nacogdoches was northbound on U.S. Highway 96 North when the GMC hydroplaned and traveled off the roadway to the left where it struck a fence.
No injuries were reported of Mendes at the scene. She was issued a citation for traveling at an unsafe speed.
February 12, 2019 - The intersection of Hurst and Foster Streets in Center was the scene of a two-vehicle crash Monday, February 11, 2019, which initially left the occupants of one vehicle trapped.
Firemen were dispatched to the site of the emergency where two people were trapped within a black Impala involved in the crash. Once the firemen arrived they extricated the driver and passenger of the vehicle, and helped ambulance personnel move them to waiting ambulances.
During that time, a white Hyundai Santa Fe SUV involved in the incident remained in the middle of Hurst Street until it could be removed. It didn't appear anyone from that vehicle was transported by ambulance.
(Update - Feb. 18): According to Center Police Officer Chris King, at 6:04pm a white 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Bryan Warner Livingston, 45, of Garrison, with a 14-year-old passenger, was southbound on Hurst Street.
At that time a black 2012 Chevrolet Impala driven by Alicia Danielle Taylor, 34, of Logansport exited from the Walmart parking lot entrance attempting to cross to Foster Street and failed to yield right of way to the Hyundai.
The Hyundai then struck the driver's side of the Impala, and came to a halt, while the Impala continued into Foster Street where it finally stopped.
Taylor and passengers Breonna Lashun Jenkins, 23, and Phaibian Rocquelle Daughtry, 25, were all transported by ambualance to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department for treatment of unknown injuries.
No citations were issued.
Officer King was assisted by officers at the scene Maegan Wright and Jake Gross.
February 15, 2019 - Roughrider Drive was the location of a three-vehicle crash Wednesday, February 13, 2019 which held up the eastbound traffic lanes during heavy traffic.
According to Center Police Officer Steve Thornburgh, at 5:40pm a black 2002 Nissan Xterra driven by Alicia Spraggins, 45, of Center was exiting Walmart onto Roughrider Drive.
As the Nissan entered Roughrider Drive, it failed to yield to a blue 2017 Subaru Outback traveling westbound driven by Jane Richards, 72, of Center.
As the Nissan struck the Subaru, it pushed the Subaru into an eastbound maroon 2013 Chrysler 300 driven by Tiffanie King, 42, of Center, who was waiting to turn in to the Walmart entrance.
No injuries were reported at the scene and no citations were issued at the time of the crash investigation.
February 15, 2019 - Emergency personnel from the Center Fire Department, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Shelby County Sheriff's Department responded to a major three-vehicle crash Friday, February 15, 2019, involving a City of Center utility truck.
DPS issued a press release indicating, their units responded to the crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 96 and Loop 500. DPS Trooper Taylor Buster investigated the crash, and reported that at 2:15pm, a white 2016 Ford pickup failed to yield right of way when turning left from Loop 500 onto U.S. 96 North and was struck by a red 1999 Ford Ranger XLT pickup.
Debris from the crash then struck a red 2017 GMC Denali Terrain which was traveling south on U.S. 96.
The driver of the 2016 Ford pickup is identified as Eric Gonzalez, 22, of Center. Gonzalez and a passenger went to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department by private vehicle for medical evaluation.
The driver of the 1999 Ford is identified as David Reed, 51, of Tenaha. Reed was also transported to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Shelby Emergency Department with unknown injuries. The driver of the GMC is identified as Ann Mayfield, 63, from Many, Louisiana. Mayfield was not reportedly injured during the crash.
This crash remains under investigation. No additional information is available a tthis time.
Center Fire Department firemen and Sheriff's Deputies assisted in diverting traffic from the scene until the vehicles were cleared from the area.
Trooper Buster was assisted at the scene with the investigation by Trooper Jonathan Stinson and Trooper Keith Jones.
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