Sunday, January 13, 2013

Weapons stolen during home invasion in NW Harris County

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A homeowner in northwest Harris County fell victim to armed burglars Friday morning.

According to the constable's office, the crime rate in the Ponderosa subdivision is not high. There were no recorded burglaries last month, according to the chief deputy constable there, and only two in November. But none of that matters to the man who was targeted on Friday morning. He talked to Eyewitness News, but he doesn't want to be identified.

"I look over just in time to see all of them get out with their guns in their hands, and they're pointing them right at me," he said. "They said, 'Get in the house.'"

Four men wearing masks, and one of the guns was pointed at the family dog.

The victim recalled, "I said, "Please don't shoot that dog. That dog is not aggressive. She's a great dog.' And he said, 'Well, then put her in the back yard.'"

That's when the victim says the ransacking operation began. Electronics and what little jewelry he had were all taken. And there were the guns. The robbers got away with about half a dozen. A locked gun case with shotguns still inside was discarded as the men jumped in a waiting car.

"It wasn't fun watching it," the victim told Eyewitness News. "One guy had a constant gun on me the whole time. I was pretty much focused on him, looking down the barrel of his gun. He kept screaming, 'I'm going to shoot you. I'm going to shoot you.'"

The house has been hit before. The last time, this contractor says his tools were stolen. But this is different. It's personal and he doesn't want it to happen again, and he says he wants to move, but he doesn't know where.

Four male suspects were described only as being somewhat young, last seen making their getaway in a white compact sedan. Anyone with information on who they may be is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
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local, deborah wrigley

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Water supply may run dry for Baytown-area residents

Residents packed into the Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1A meeting, demanding the agency pays the $249,897.64 it owes the city of Baytown before their water services get disconnected. Residents packed into the Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1A meeting, demanding the agency pays the $249,897.64 it owes the city of Baytown before their water services get disconnected. (The Baytown Sun)

  BAYTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- Faucets could soon run dry at dozens of Baytown-area homes if a Harris County water supply district doesn't keep its promise to pay off an outstanding bill worth nearly a quarter-million dollars.

Residents who live near McNair recently received notices that their water services will be disconnected Tuesday if their water district, the Harris County Fresh Water Supply District No. 1A, doesn't pay the $249,897.64 it owes the city of Baytown from a 2009 agreement.

As a result, more than 100 residents packed into the district's regularly scheduled meeting Thursday and demanded action.

The district said it has withdrawn money from its reserves fund and plans to pay the entire bill no later than Monday.

We worked on this story with our Houston Community Newspaper partner, The Baytown Sun.
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Chase suspect manages to elude police despite massive search

A chase suspect is still on the loose after escaping from West University police. A chase suspect is still on the loose after escaping from West University police.

  WEST UNIVERSITY, TX (KTRK) -- A massive overnight police search in Bellaire started with a traffic stop in West University Place.

Police dogs went door-to-door in neighborhoods around Newcastle and Larch, looking for a driver who bailed out and ran away.

West University police pursued the driver from the original traffic stop to where he bailed out of his car on Bissonnet and Avenue B. He then hopped a fence near Newcastle.

Despite that yard-to-yard search, the suspect was not found before a downpour of rain forced officers to cancel the search after only an hour.
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Four firefighters, two others injured in collision involving fire truck in east Harris Co.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Six people were injured in a collision that involved a fire truck in east Harris County Friday night.

It happened at the intersection of Hollywood and Brown Wood Street.

According to officials with the Cloverleaf Volunteer Fire Department, four firefighters were their way to run a few errands. They were less than a block from the fire station when officials say the driver of a black Dodge pickup slammed into the side of the fire truck, flipping the emergency vehicle over.

According to witnesses, the pickup truck driver ran a stop sign.

"The truck and come hit the fire department truck, and dumped over" witness Rene Vences said.

"It's horrible. I just --- my brother. They said he's OK," said Elizabeth Beaver, whose brother was among the firefighters involved in the wreck.

Officials had to extricate two people out of the pickup. They were both taken to Ben Taub with serious injuries.

Four firefighters also were transported to be treated for minor injuries.
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Former Clear Creek ISD teacher accused of having relationship with student

  LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A former Clear Creek ISD teacher is facing allegations she had a sexual relationship with one of her students.

Stephanie Raleen Forbes, 40, was arrested Thursday afternoon in the 300 block of Sorrelwood Dr. in League City on charges of sexual assault of a child and improper relationship between educator and student, according to the Galveston County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives say they launched an investgation last month after Clear Creek ISD officials were notified of allegations that Forbes had an ongoing sexual relationship with a student. She resigned from the district after detectives launched an investigation into the accusations.

Forbes was released from the Galveston County Jail after she posted a $20,000 bond.

The investigation is ongoing.
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Police find two-year-old Alizae Mata, cancel Amber Alert

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say a young girl who allegedly was kidnapped by a family friend was found unharmed late last night in southeast Houston.

Houston police say they located Alizae Mata around 11:30pm after they tracked her alleged abductor, 22-year-old Jessenia Saldana, to an apartment complex in the 8400 block of Broadway.

Alizae and Saldana had been missing since they left to run errands Wednesday afternoon. According to police, the little girl was allowed to go with Saldana, but then the two never returned.

Police say Saldana called the girl's mother, Crystal Mata, Thursday evening and told her she would drop Alizae off at Memorial Hermann Hospital. The mother rushed up to the hospital, but the pair was not there.

As a result, the Houston Police Department issued the Amber Alert, and Alizae's mother was left pleading for help.

"I think she was here. I just don't know where. I don't know where. And this part is scaring me, I don't know where my baby is. I don't know who she's with anymore. Please, I'm scared for my baby's life. She's only two," Crystal Mata told Eyewitness News shortly before the alert was canceled.

The mother and daughter were reunited last night. Police say the child appears to be OK, but investigators recommend she gets checked out fo a doctor.

Saldana was arrested at the scene and now faces a charge of kidnapping.
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Worker seriously injured while cutting down large tree in north Harris Co.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A tragic accident seriously injured a worker who was cutting down a large tree.

It happened Thursday afternoon at Bamwick and Ella in north Harris County.

Eyewitnesses say the man was working to remove the tree when it suddenly began falling the wrong direction. The man, who was tied to the tree, was thrown 20 feet into the air into another tree.

He was flown to a hospital with serious injuries.
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