Shelby County Today

September 7, 2016 - Center PD patrol Officer Andrew Williams was on routine patrol, and Officer Steve Thornburgh with his K9 partner Taz were on duty working S.T.E.P. (Selective traffic enforcement program) on Wednesday, August 31. The Officers observed a White Dodge Magnum speeding through the Union Acres apartment complex parking lot at that time and the officers initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle due to the unsafe speed. After the officers made contact with the occupants of the vehicle, it was discovered that the passenger who was identified as 31-year-old Cedric Gee had in his possession a small amount of methamphetamine.

At this point the officers continued to investigate where the narcotics came from. The officers learned that there possibly were more illegal narcotics in an apartment at the Union Acres apartments, and the resident of the apartment was not aware that the illegal narcotics were in the apartment. The officers made contact with the resident of the apartment, and got consent to search the apartment.

K9 handler officer Thornburgh utilized Taz, one of Center Police Department's narcotics dogs. Taz quickly identified illegal narcotics that were hidden in the apartment, and along with the illegal narcotics the officers found a stolen gun in the residence. Gee admitted to the officers that the narcotics and the gun were his. The officers also learned Gee was a convicted felon making it illegal for him to have a firearm.

Gee was arrested for the stolen firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, and failure to identify.

Taz would like for the local drug dealers to know if they want their competition eliminated, just contact his partner officer Steve Thornburgh at the center Police Department and let him know who their competition is and they will eliminate their competition for them.

September 6, 2016 - The Center Police Department and the Center Fire Department were paged to a single-vehicle crash at 2:30pm Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

According to Center Police Officer John Welch, a silver 2011 Toyota Camry driven by Reh Claw of Bowling Green, Kentucky was east bound on State Highway 7 just past the Loop 500 intersection. The driver of the vehicle failed to control speed on the wet roadway, hydroplaned, and left the roadway on the right traveling a long distance in the wet, boggy ditch before striking a culvert and coming to rest in the ditch facing the tree line. The Toyota received damage to its front and rear. No injuries were reported.

The Center Fire Department provided traffic control warning travelers as they crested the hills on both east and west bound lanes as the crash occurred in a valley. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Jason Burch with Hughes Wrecker who also assisted a volunteer fireman whose vehicle became stuck in the ditch.

Claw was cited for failed to control speed on unsafe roadway. Police Officer Jim Blackwell assisted at the scene.

September 6, 2016 - Two Center residents are taken into custody following a search warrant execution revealing marijuana, according to a Center Police Department press release.

While conducting a narcotics investigation, Detective Steven Stroud obtained a search warrant for apartment number 42 at the Union Acres Apartment Complex, Center. On September 1, 2016 Detective Stroud did execute the search warrant.

Upon entry of the apartment, Detective Stroud immediately observed a large amount of marijuana, some of it was wrapped supporting the fact that marijuana was being sold from the apartment. Two young children were found in close proximity of the marijuana.

Due to the findings, 28-year-old Maurice Dodd, and 25-year-old Whitney Cartwright were arrested for delivery of marijuana and two counts of child endangerment. The children were released to child protective services. Also, $700 was found and seized from the residence.

September 5, 2016 - The James Community at the intersection of State Highway 7 East and FM 2608 was the scene of a three-vehicle crash Monday, September 5.

Two drivers involved in the crash were transported from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of their injuries.

According Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers at the scene, a blue Grand Am GT driven by Jennifer Johnson, 26, of Center was traveling east on State Highway 7 near FM 2608. A black Toyota Tundra driven by Johnny Brittain, 48, of Center was also traveling east and was preparing to turn left onto CR 3143.

Johnson failed to control speed and locked up the brakes of the Grand Am causing the vehicle to skid and collide with the left rear side to the right rear quarter panel of the Tundra. The Grand Am deflected off the Tundra and spun around colliding with the right rear side of the vehicle against a Deep East Texas Electric Co-op utility truck driven by Daniel Graig, 32, of Bronson.

The Grand Am rolled back and came to rest in a ditch in front of James Grocery. ACE EMS transported Johnson from the scene to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of her injuries. Brittain was also taken to the emergency room by private vehicle.

Johnson was issued citations for no driver's license, fail to maintain financial responsibility and fail to control speed. The crash remains under investigation by Texas DPS Trooper Sean Smith assisted by Trooper Taylor Buster.