Man charged with murder in west Harris Co. arrested

Yusef Villanueva was arrested at his home Wednesday.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man has been arrested, accused of killing another man in west Harris County earlier this month.

Yusef Villanueva was arrested at his home Wednesday. He's charged in the murder of Juan Reyna, 16. According to investigators, Reyna went to Villanueva's home on December 11.

Once inside, the two reportedly got into an argument. During that argument, deputies say Villanueva fired a shotgun one time, hitting Reyna once in the pelvis.

Reyna was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he died during surgery.

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Four suspects arrested after smash-and-grab at Cleveland jewelry store

Four suspects are in custody after a smash-and-grab at this Cleveland jewelry store.

  CLEVELAND, TX (KTRK) -- Four suspects have been arrested after what police are saying was a $20,000 jewelry heist during a smash-and-grab.

It happened early this morning at the Cleveland Jewelers on East Houston Avenue. Police say four men broke into the store and smashed a watch display case. We're told the men stole about 100 watches worth around $20,000.

When officers arrived the suspects sped off, but all four men were arrested after a short chase.

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Seven arrested in online prostitution sting

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Vice Unit made several arrests yesterday during an undercover prostitution sting in north Harris County.

The operation focused on suspects soliciting sex online. Female undercover deputies advertised as escorts on the internet and arranged for solicitors to meet them at a prearranged location off of I-45 North and FM 1960, officials said.

Once suspects arrived and made an agreement with the undercover deputies to receive sexual services in exchange for money, they were arrested.

The operation resulted in the arrest of seven males. All of the following have been charged for prostitution: Eric Lucero, 43; Jose Dubon, 42; Richard Wayne Learn, 65; Richard Anthony Thompson, 51; Joseph Francis Andolino, 59; Dean Andrew Starke, 52; and Michael Allen Barth, 50.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office will continue to conduct similar reverse prostitution operations targeting not only those who solicit sex but those who sell sex as well.

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Pilot from The Woodlands arrested on child porn charge

  THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- A man stepped off a plane Saturday and into handcuffs for charges of possessing child pornography.

The Montgomery County Precinct 3 constable's office says it found the videos at the home of Andrew Robinson of The Woodlands. Robinson is a pilot for Saudi Aramco and was out of the country.

He returned Saturday and authorities were waiting for him at Bush Intercontinental Airport.

"He was somewhat surprised," said "We believe that he had information that we were going to be waiting for him."

Robinson is in the Montgomery County Jail on three counts of possession of child pornography. The constable's office says the arrest is part of a new program targeting child predators.

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Police: Man arrested for public intoxication has to have head held for mug shot

  HUMBLE (KTRK) -- We don't usually run minor arrests, but we just couldn't pass up the group effort to get one Humble man's mug shot.

The photo above is of 35-year-old Sean Payne. Humble police arrested him outside Shamrock's bar early Thursday morning, but he was allegedly so drunk he couldn't hold his head up for a mug shot.

So an officer grabbed his hair and held his head up for his booking photo.

Payne, by the way, was charged with public intoxication.

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Three arrested for car burglary, fraud in Richmond

Carter Wells, Justin Dugar and Kendall Ramsey area all charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and fraud.

  RICHMOND, TX (KTRK) -- Three men are now facing charges in Fort Bend County accused of breaking into cars including one outside a day care center in Richmond.

Carter Wells, Justin Dugar and Kendall Ramsey were arrested. Deputies say the men broke into a car at a Kids R Kids day care on Bellaire Boulevard on Tuesday. The car owner says her purse, wallet and iPad were stolen.

Deputies later caught the trio at a fast food place using a stolen credit card. They also found items from two additional burglaries.

All three have been charged with burglary of a motor vehicle and fraud. Wells, 44, received bonds of $2,000 for the burglary and $4,000 for the credit card abuse charge, and Dugar, 23, and Ramsey, 18, received bonds of $1,000 and $3,000.

Ramsey posted bond while Wells and Dugar remain in the Fort Bend County Jail.

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Man arrested in fatal hit-and-run in League City

LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A family's three-year journey for closure after a deadly accident is almost over. A man is now in jail accused of the crime. The clue that lead police to the suspected killer was an apology note he left on the victim's body.

Alejandro Garcia was identified in this case as a suspect in July 2011 but ever since, police believe he has been on the run. With the help of a Galveston County Precinct 8 deputy, League City police finally arrested him Tuesday and the victim's aunt got to see it for herself.

"It gives me peace," Helen Green said.

It was the moment Green has been waiting for three years -- Alejandro Garcia's arrest, and it was made sweeter by the fact she was an eyewitness.

"He left my nephew out there to die," she said.

Green lives just four houses down from Garcia, the man League City police believe hit and killed her nephew Maurice Jones in March 2009.

"I miss him, I miss him very, very much," he said.

Jones was last known to be walking home from work along Dickinson Avenue. The next day an officer found his body on the side of the road along with a remorseful handwritten note mentioning family.

"That was cowardness that he had a family to think about. Well Maurice got a family too," Green said.

It took two years for police to identify Garcia as a suspect and by then they believe he had fled to Mexico. But everyday Green had to drive by his house where Garcia's family remained.

"It's like someone stabbed me in the back constantly," Green said.

On Monday, authorities got a tip Garcia was back. On Tuesday, they arrested him, and Green got home in time to see him in handcuffs.

"I felt like I won a million dollars yesterday and I still feel like that," Green said.

Garcia is currently in the Galveston County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is charged with failure to stop and render aid.

Garcia's mother also was arrested Tuesday and charged for allegedly getting in the way of her son's arrest.

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Ten people arrested in raid on sexually oriented business in NW Harris Co.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Ten people have been arrested in a raid on a sexually oriented business.

On Thursday, the Harris County Sheriff's Office says deputies executed a search warrant on Babes at 10610 West FM 1960 in northwest Harris County.

The raid was in response to numerous complaints and information that the club was operating as a sexually oriented business without a permit as required by Harris Co. SOB regulations.

Ten suspects were arrested, including the club's manager and several employees.

Deputies say this is the second time this year they have targeted this club for similar violations.

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FBI's featured gang fugitive arrested

Harold Joseph Brown -- who also goes by "Scooby" -- is charged with capital murder.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The FBI's fugitive of the week -- a man wanted for three murders at a Houston night club -- has been arrested.

Harold Joseph Brown -- who also goes by "Scooby" -- is accused of shooting into a crowd during a fight outside the Club ICU at 9541 Mesa Road in northeast Houston on September 22. Six people were shot, three of them died.

Brown, 31, is charged with capital murder. He was arrested Thursday afternoon.

Our exclusive Crime Tracker and a partnership with the FBI brings you the StopHoustonGangs.org fugitive of the week every Thursday.

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Man arrested for breaking into home and touching woman as she slept

Marco Alvarez is charged with burglary of a habitation and criminal trespass.

  LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- Police have arrested a man accused of creeping into a woman's home and touching her as she slept.

The alleged break-in happened at a home along Autumn Cove in League City on July 24. Officers arrested Marco Alvarez with burglary of a habitation and criminal trespass.

Police think he is the man who was wearing a red mask when he broke into a home and touched a sleeping woman in July.

Officers say Alvarez resembles a man spotted behind another nearby house ten days ago.

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Suspect on most wanted list arrested

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- One of Houston's top ten most wanted bank robbers is now in custody, accused of ripping off a bank in northwest Harris County.

Investigators arrested Kyle Puglisi at a hotel on the North Freeway. We told you earlier this week, the FBI and local law enforcement are trying to catch the top 10 most wanted bank robbers in the area. You can get a closer look at them here.

If you recognize them, call crime stoppers at 713- 222-TIPS. You could earn a cash reward of $5,000.

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Man arrested for fatal shooting of Santa Fe woman

  SANTA FE, TX (KTRK) -- A Santa Fe woman died Saturday and a Hitchcock man was arrested and accused of shooting her.

Around 3:15pm Saturday, Santa Fe police received several 911 calls reporting a shooter in the 4200 block of Avenue Q?. Callers then told officials a woman had been shot.

Police arrived in less than a minute to find the 42-year-old victim with multiple gunshot wounds.

Authorities transported the woman by Life Flight to the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston where she later died.

William R. Parker, 44, was detained at the scene. He was treated for unknown injuries at Mainland Medical Center and then released into police custody.

A teenage female, believed to be the victim's daughter, was on scene at the time of the shooting and was not injured.

Police are interviewing several witnesses. According to investigators, it appears Parker was in a relationship with the victim and they recently separated.

The Galveston County Sheriff's Office is assisting with the crime scene investigation.

The victim's name has not been released pending notification of family members.

Please stay with Eyewitness News and abc13.com for more details as they become available.

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Man accused of aiming rifle at officer arrested

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man was tracked down in southwest Houston after aiming a rifle at a police officer last night.

Police say the armed man robbed a storage facility on Boone road about 9:30pm.

The responding officer found the man after he aimed the laser sight on his rifle at him. After a chase that involved police dogs and a helicopter, the man was arrested at his own home off Wilcrest.

Officers say by the time they got him he had removed his shirt. Nonetheless, they say they found all the clothes he wore during the robbery as well as the rifle and laser sight.

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MMA fighter arrested in Galveston on murder charge

  GALVESTON, TX (KTRK) -- An MMA fighter has been arrested and charged with murder following an 11-month investigation, say police.

Ralph "Plexin Texan" Garcia, Jr., was arrested without incident on a murder charge Wednesday. He was taken into custody while training at the Combat Sports Institute in Galveston.

The charges stem from an incident last October 13. The victim, 28-year-old Maxie Flowers, was fatally shot while riding his bicycle early in the morning in the 5400 block of Avenue L. Police believe he had some type of verbal altercation wtih Garcia, Jr., before the shooting.

The investigation is ongoing and police say there could be more charges. Garcia, Jr. is being held in the Galveston County Jail on a $500,000 bond.

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Man arrested following alleged Craigslist caper involving stolen ATV

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man has been arrested following an alleged Craigslist caper. Deputies say the man stole an all-terrain vehicle, then tried to sell it on the website for thousands of dollars.

A Cypress man has a cautionary tale about doing business on Craigslist. Not only did he buy stolen property, but he also lost the four wheeler he was trying to trade.

Jordan Griffith was looking to trade up for his 2006 Yamaha YZF four wheeler. So back in April, he logged on to Craigslist, and went to the ATV section, found this blue 2011 Kawasaki Teryx and made a deal with the seller.

"It was my four wheeler and cash for the side by side, and the deal didn't go through," Griffith told Eyewitness News.

It didn't go through because he was dealing with 26-year-old J'Gerrard Drik Thibedeaux. As of September 3, he was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation for stealing the Teryx out of a garage.

Thibedeaux then posted it for sale on Craigslist. Without knowing, Griffith met him for the transaction. When he received a phony title, he knew it was a scam.

"At that point, they switched ATVs. As the victim was leaving, he was given the title to the ATV, and when he opened the envelope and found out it was a blank piece of paper, he knew something was not right," said Deputy Thomas Gilliland with the Harris Co. Sheriff's Office.

Griffith took the Teryx home and called the Sheriff's Office to find the rightful owner. They ran the serial number and Griffith contacted the owner.

"I called the lady the next day, and it was actually stolen out of her garage," he said.

To make matters worse, Griffith still has not gotten back his 2006 Yamaha YZF he was trading. He said he saw it also posted on Craigslist for a cheap price almost instantly and has not seen it since.

"You got to know who you are dealing with. If it sounds sketchy and too good to be true, than most likely it's sketchy," Griffith said.

The other thing that will leave your head shaking here is that investigators say Thibedeaux, the suspect, stole that Kawasaki Teryx from his friend's garage. Since he has a criminal history, he's being held without bond.

You can read more on this story in The Atascocita Observer, one of our Houston Community Newspaper partners online.

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Hit-and-run suspect arrested after hiding in manhole

An officer said he saw Barlo Ochoa wreck his car then run from the scene.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston police officers arrested a man who allegedly hid in a manhole after a hit-and-run crash.

The crash happened on the Gulf Freeway between South Wayside and Griggs in southeast Houston.

An officer said he saw Barlo Ochoa wreck his car then run from the scene. That officer chased Ochoa until he jumped into a nearby manhole and refused to come out.

A dive team rescued Ochoa from the manhole.

He was taken to the hospital. There is no word on this condition.

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Alleged drug dealer, gang member arrested in Montgomery County

Jesus "King Snoopy" Hernandez, Jr., 33 and his 26-year-old wife, Patricia Santos, were arrested on charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and felony money laundering. Authorities say they found cocaine, weapons and a large amount of cash during a search of their New Caney home early Friday morning.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Detectives have arrested an alleged gang member and drug dealer after they say a search for is East Montgomery County home yielded drugs, gang paraphernalia and a large amount of cash.

Jesus "King Snoopy" Hernandez, Jr., 33 and his 26-year-old wife, Patricia Santos, were arrested early Friday morning at their home in the 19800 block of Ranch Estates Drive in New Caney, according to the Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constable's Office. Both face second-degree felony charges of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance and third-degree felony money laundering.

Authorities say information gathered by investigators in Liberty County led them to Hernandez's home in New Caney. When they arrived there, Hernandez allegedly admitted to have previous involvement with the Latin Kings street gang and had once been a dealer. He told investigators he's willing to give up a small amount of cocaine, which he claimed was for his personal use, on the condition that his wife and four kids don't get involved.

But when authorities asked Hernandez for permission to search his home, they say he declined. That's when authorities drafted a search warrant and discovered more than one gram of cocaine, a powder commonly used by dealers to dilute the drug and a large amount of cash. They also found several assault rifles, more narcotics and a large amount of Latin Kings clothing and other gang paraphernalia, as well as evidence indicating Santos' involvement in the illegal drug activity.

Hernandez and Santos were then arrested and their four children were released to their grandparents.

The investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.

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Two teens arrested, accused of vandalizing 'The Rig'

Anthony Pedro Lowe, 18, (right) and Jorge E. Flores, 18, (left) both from Pearland were taken into custody on criminal mischief warrants (Pearland Police Department)

  PEARLAND, TX (KTRK) -- Two teens accused of vandalizing a high school football field in Pearland turned themselves in Tuesday night, say police.

Anthony Pedro Lowe, 18 and Jorge E. Flores, 18, both from Pearland and attend Pearland High School, were taken into custody on criminal mischief warrants. Police say a tip led them to identify the pair, who police believe damaged the field at 'The Rig' back on May 21.

Police say Lowe and Flores cut large portions of artificial turf from the center of the field and put them in the stands. Repairing the field could cost as much as $50,000, say police.

Bond has been set at $20,000 apiece.

Investigators hope to recreate a timeline of the damage, and are asking anyone who has information about this case to call Pearland police at 281-997-4144.

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Murder suspect who forced lockdown of four Houston area schools earlier this month arrested in Virginia

On Wednesday, police in Virginia arrested Zumbotha Newsome.

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update on the search for a murder suspect who forced the lockdown of four schools earlier this month.

On Wednesday, police in Virginia arrested Zumbotha Newsome. Deputies have been searching for Newsome in connection to a deadly road rage incident in April. He disappeared in north Harris County earlier this month.

Four Klein ISD schools were locked down as deputies searched an area where he was possibly sighted.

It's not yet clear when he will be transferred from Virginia to Texas.

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Two people arrested in theft of pricy puppy

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Two people are in custody, accused of stealing a dog from a northwest Houston pet store worth thousands of dollars.

Police are withholding the names of the two people arrested until they've been charged. Police say the two were behind the theft of an English bulldog valued at $3,000. The dog was stolen from Pet City Houston on Bammel Westfield.

A tip led authorities to the suspects at an apartment complex in the 1300 block of Greens Crossing.

Pet City Houston Manager Samatha Stack says the theft was captured on store surveillance video, which showed a woman bringing two small children along for the theft.

"They are doing wrong to the dog and they are doing wrong to the kids," Stack said. "That's just, it's horrible parenting."

Store workers say the woman brought her two daughters along with two males. Surveillance footage clearly shows one of the suspects holding the expensive puppy while the little girls pet the dog.

"I turned to the guy. I asked him, 'well how can I help you? Is there a puppy you'd like to see today?'" Stack said. "He pointed to the dog and said I'm just waiting to see if they take that one."

The video then shows the mother leave the two male suspects behind, walk out of the store, load her kids into the getaway car and back it close to the door.

Within minutes, the suspects take off with the bulldog puppy as the manager runs after them.

"I ran back inside and was yelling, 'call the cops! Call the cops!'" Stack said.

Now this puppy is without his sister, who is still at the pet store, and the store is out thousands of dollars.

"Our main concern isn't the fact that we've lost money," Stack said. "It's the fact that these dogs, of all dogs to takes these are the ones that need the most care."

The dog appeared to be unharmed and was returned to store owners. Reporter Sonia Azad, who's covering this story today for Eyewitness News, says the two people arrested admitted their involvement in the thefts.

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