Authorities raid suspected marijuana grow house on Houston's East End

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Police say there was a massive marijuana raid at a warehouse on Houston's East End overnight.

After getting a search warrant for a warehouse off Lamar near Palmer, officers entered and arrested one person who was inside. They also found what they're calling a large amount of marijuana worth millions of dollars.

Authorities say the building was being used as a grow house. At least 100 plants were reportedly found inside, as well as marijuana packages ready for distribution.

"They used different methods of growing -- water, different types of lighting, fans and AC systems," said Lt. Julio Banda with the Harris County Precinct 6 Constable's Office

Authorities say they were alerted to the grow house when a Precinct 6 deputy was investigating an abandoned vehicle near the warehouse. That is when he detected a strange smell coming from the building.

Just last month, two dozen people were arrested in connection with what authorities called the biggest 'pot growing' operation ever in Houston. Police and DEA agents raided 60 homes in Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend Counties on August 21. Forty-one of those homes were found to be part of a sophisticated marijuana operation. Investigators say the suspects used rental homes in upscale neighborhoods and neighbors never suspected what was going on.

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Authorities searching for missing 88-year-old man

Alberto Martinez has been missing since 9am Wednesday. He was last seen at his home in the 7800 block of Battleoak Drive.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities are searching for a missing 88-year-old man who has not been seen since 9am Wednesday.

Alberto Martinez was last seen at his home in the 7800 block of Battleoak Drive, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap with gold-colored embroidery reading "World War II Veteran," a beige polo shirt, white T-shirt, blue jeans and brown "Bass" loafers.

Martinez wears glasses and has scars on his face and bruises on his arms.

He could be driving a white 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup truck with a Texas license plate number 29MXP5.

Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Harris County Sheriff's Office Missing Persons Unit at 713-755-7427.

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Authorities end search for man who jumped

  GALVESTON, TX -- Authorities have called off a search in and around the Port of Galveston after being unable to find a Lebanese crewman who disappeared after jumping from a ship.

According to officials, 36-year-old Ahmad Faras jumped from the Heidi Plus on Friday morning (http://bit.ly/M59uCh).

Workers aboard the Beirut-registered ship, docked at a pier in the harbor, were scheduled to load cattle Monday for transport to Turkey.

Port spokeswoman Cristina Galego told The Associated Press that it was not believed to be a suicide attempt, and it was highly probable that Faras made it to shore. She said local and federal officials are still investigating the case.

(Copyright ©2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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Search for missing Liberty Co. man called off; authorities are now calling it a criminal matter

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The search for a a missing Liberty County man has suddenly been called off and authorities are calling it a criminal matter.

Dennis Rogers was last heard from on last Thursday. He called 911 saying he had gotten lost in a wooded area near his home. Rogers is 54 but has the mental capacity of a 9-year-old child because of a brain injury.

Rex Evans with the Liberty Co. Sheriff's Office says an undisclosed person contacted them and indicted that something criminal may have happened to Rogers. He says search and rescue efforts were suspended Tuesday to allow detectives to pursue the criminal investigation and to interview possible persons of interest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at 936-336-4500.

We'll bring you any new developments as they happen.

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Authorities looking for missing Liberty County man

Edwin "Clarke" Rogers, 62, has been missing since December 30th.

  LIBERTY, TX (KTRK) -- The Liberty County Sherriff's Office is asking for your help to locate a man who hasn't been seen or heard from in about a week and a half.

Edward "Clark" Rogers, 62, was last seen on December 30. His Jeep Cherokee was later recovered on Highway 321 near County Road 2243 between Cleveland and Tarkington Prairie. Inside the truck, investigators found his cell phone and medication. Family members and friends are concerned because they say he wouldn't go anywhere without these two items.

The Liberty County Sheriff's Office, along with Equusearch and the Tarkington Prairie Fire Department spent Sunday searching for Rogers. If you have any information about Rogers' whereabouts, you're urged to call the Liberty County Sheriff's Office at (936) 336-4500.

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Authorities searching for alleged home burglar

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force is hunting for a burglar. He broke into the home of a family who, just last year, lost a father and husband to another violent crime.

It was last Friday in the middle of the day when neighbors told deputies they saw two guys broke into the family's home in the White Oak Springs subdivision, and once again the family became crime victims.

"They actually kicked it open," burglary victim Amber Kahn said. "It was just a huge mess."

For anyone else, this would be just a typical break-in -- door kicked in, locks broken, property gone.

But the burglary that happened at Amber Kahn's house last week hits a lot harder.

"It don't make any sense, why us?," said her brother, Saad Kahn.

Their father and Durdana Kahn's husband, Saib Kahn, was murdered a little more than a year ago at his business, which wasn't yet open. Robbery was the motive, said Houston police. The minute it clicked that they were victims once again, any sense of normalcy they had achieved was gone.

"Day by day we live in pain and it's just not easy for us, so after this we felt even more insecure," Amber Kahn said.

Observant neighbors caught a license plate on the thieves car and a fingerprint left behind has led investigators to identify 19-year-old Lamont Presley. The Harris County Sheriff's Office has made finding him a priority.

Amber Kahn says others in the county's South Asian community have also felt targeted.

"People assume that we have more gold, like jewelry and stuff, due to our nationality and so we feel like we're more of a target," she said.

And because of what happened to her father, more so. Finding Presley she says would help.

"We just want this guy caught before he can cause any damage -- any emotional or even physical damage -- to any other family," she said.

Since the murder last year, the family has lost their business, and the son has had to step in to support all of them. A man has been charged with capital murder.

As for this burglary, if you have any information on Presley, you're urged to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477. You could be eligible for a reward.

Presley has four previous burglary charges.

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Authorities seek info in teen's 2007 disappearance

Ryan Esparza, 17, was last seen with friends on June 14, 2007.

  PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Today is the 4-year anniversary of the disappearance of a Pasadena teen and police say they are still hoping for any information needed to close this case.

Ryan Esparza, 17, was last seen with friends on June 14, 2007. One day later, his family reported him missing, and investigators concluded that foul play was involved, but did not give any details. Esparza was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red, white and blue plaid long shorts, with white Jordan tennis shoes. He is 5 foot 7 weighing 160 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at www.Crime-Stoppers.org that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspects in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Authorities seek info in murder of man two years ago

May 23 marked the two year anniversary of the murder of Gabriel Pullam.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Authorities are asking for the public's help in solving the murder of a man two years ago.

On Saturday, May 23, 2009 at approximately 2:30am, Gabriel Pullam was working as an attendant in a parking lot at the El Tenampa Night Club located at 12534 Market Street. A fight broke out and Pullam was found lying face down in the parking lot. Pullam died at the scene. Two possible suspects were seen leaving the scene in a white Cadillac Escalade. They fled eastbound on Market. The suspects were only described as Hispanic males. The Escalade might have had some damage to the right front end. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $5,000 for any information called in to the 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submitted online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org/ that leads to the filing of felony charges or arrest of the suspects in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Authorities searching for missing man

Authorities are searching for 27-year-old Badru Gardner who was last spotted walking in Arcola late Monday night

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives are searching for a 27-year-old Fort Bend County man who suffers from a mental illness.

Badru Gardner was last spotted late Monday night walking in the area of Arcola. Badru suffers from a mental illness and may be delusional. He is described as a bald, black man who is 6 feet tall and about 230 pounds. He has a tattoo on his upper left arm and was last seen wearing a green camouflage T-shirt and blue jeans with red-blue stitching and black tennis shoes. Authorities say Badru doesn't have an identification on him and may become afraid if he's approached. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts should call Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office at 281-341-4665 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281)342-8477. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Authorities probe white substance in letter at school

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The Houston Police Department is testing a white substance found in a letter at a west Houston school on Monday.

A white powder was discovered around 10:45am Monday at John Paul II Catholic School in the 1400 block of Parkway Plaza Drive. Houston police, a Houston Fire Department HazMat team and a postal inspector were dispatched to the school to invesitgate the letter. Authorities are now testing the substance to determine what it is. Another envelope had been mailed to the school before. In the fall, someone sent powder filled letters to 17 Houston-area schools. Authorities put up a $100,000 for information leading to the person who sent the letters but never made any arrests. No other details were immediately available. Stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for the latest details. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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