Residents escape burning home in NE Houston

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A fire burned through a small home on the northeast side of town overnight. It happened just before 1am off Finch Road near Homestead.

Fire crews say people were living at the home, but all of them made it out safely. The house was heavily damaged by the flames and may be a total loss.

Firefighters wouldn't say what started the fire, but arson investigators were called to the scene to look into it.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Man tries to escape police by swimming in bayou

  GALVESTON, TX -- A Galveston man is in custody after trying to elude police by swimming through a bayou.

Officers tried to stop Shane Thomas Kerr at a Galveston apartment complex Thursday night. The 26-year-old Kerr allegedly got out of his car and jumped into nearby Greens Bayou. Police say he tried climbing a nearby hill and then re-entered the bayou before running in another direction.

Police eventually were able to talk Kerr into surrendering.

He's charged with evading arrest and was being held Saturday on a warrant related to a separate marijuana possession charge.

Jail officials Saturday did not have an attorney listed for Kerr.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Two people escape burning Porsche without injury

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters on Houston's south side are trying to find out what caused a Porsche to catch fire with two people inside.

Firefighters say two young men were traveling on Highway 288 when another driver pointed out the back of the Porsche Boxster was on fire. The car erupted into flames as soon as they got out. No one was hurt.

Firefighters say the fire started in the rear of the car. The exact cause is unknown.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Walker Co. inmate's escape caught on tape

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We're getting an inside look at just how a jail inmate managed to escape and the role another inmate may have played in the escape.

Three camera angles captured the June 28 escape. Investigators believe it was all planned and it started with Trent Archie and another inmate, Davis McLeskey, on the phone. For more than 20 minutes, they kept their heads down. McLeskey, they now say, wasn't even talking to anyone. "I'm coming to get you," a jailer is heard saying on the video. Then when a male jailer opens the door, the two inmates rush into the booking office. They punch, kick and push a total of three jailers, including two women. Archie manages to slip through to freedom. But after a struggle, McLeskey's shirt is gone and his hands back in cuffs. "I'm not getting a fair trial in this court," Archie told us when he was captured three days later. Archie was arrested at a Sharpstown-area home in the early morning hours of July 1. Since then, his mother has been arrested, as well as his girlfriend, Latoya Wright, and another woman. All are accused of helping him. Walker County Sheriff Clint McCrae believes the video shows no policy violations, but admits the age of his jail makes them vulnerable. "We are fortunate to pass inspection every year, but we're grandfathered. There needs to be some other security measures in place and all that right now is actually being analyzed," McCrae said. So is the video, to prevent future escapes. Archie was in jail on a drug charge but also awaiting word on an appeal in a murder case. The Walker County Sheriff's Office says he lost that appeal. He is now in prison serving a 40-year sentence. McLeskey was in jail for burglary and stealing a car. He now faces new charges related to the escape attempt. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Felon sentenced to 60 years for '09 prison escape

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update to the escape of a Texas prison inmate in November 2009.

A Montgomery County jury has sentenced Arcade Comeaux Junior to 60 years for aggravated kidnapping. The charge was related to Comeaux's escape during a prison transfer in November. Comeaux said he used a smuggled gun he obtained with the help of a prison guard to overpower two guards during a transfer. Comeaux is already serving three life sentences. You can read more about this story in the East Montgomery County Observer, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Woman, son and grandson escape house fire

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Firefighters believe someone may have poured flammable liquid on the front door of an east Houston home and set it on fire.

Arson investigators are now looking into the fire at the home on Lorraine. An 86-year-old woman, her son and her grandson were inside with their dog when the fire started around 4am. They were all leaving the home when firefighters arrived. Firefighters were able to knock the flames down quickly.

"When I woke up, the house was full of smoke," said homeowner Mary Nappa. "It was burning real bad. Just the front part was burning. It was burning back on the side too, they say."

No one was injured in the fire, but there was extensive damage to the exterior of the house.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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