Houston News: crime

Showing posts with label crime. Show all posts

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Which Houston-area shopping centers attract most crime?

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Shoplifting is just one example of the kinds of crime that tends to increase during the holiday shopping season. This made us wonder, which shopping centers in our area attract the most crime.

What we found is based on last year's numbers. Houston police officers are firm believers that you control this year's. They advise leaving purses at home and taking only one credit card, along with your driver's license or ID.

In the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, lugging bags to and from, shopper Tracey Parker is extra careful.

"Make sure I have my keys out, so that I'm prepared, and I make sure I'm definitely aware of what's going on around me, especially when I have my little ones with me," Parker said.

Paying attention is your best line of defense against those looking to commit a crime of opportunity.

Mary Hawkins has a second line of defense, her son.

"I always try to come with her wherever she goes," Deric Hawkins said.

So where are the safest places to shop?

Using our exclusive Crime Tracker, we added up last December's reported thefts, assaults and robberies in and around local malls.

Not surprisingly, we found the highest number of crimes at the biggest mall -- The Galleria. It had six vehicle break-ins and one pick-pocketing last December.

Greenspoint and Willowbrook are tied for second, with six crimes each.

Memorial City, Sharpstown and Baybrook all had five. Northline and Meyerland had four incidents; Town and Country had one, and Gulfgate had none.

Many malls like Memorial City have visible security, but Houston police officer Jim Woods says it's mostly about the individual.

"If you're not paying attention and you're not being aware of what's around you, you can be a potential victim," Woods said.

And you don't even have to be around. Shopping safety, he says, starts at your car.

"Before I came here, I emptied my car out," shopper Teresa O'Donnell said.

That's exactly what officers suggest. Also, they say you should make your most expensive purchases last and go immediately home from there.

local, jessica willey

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Fallout from DPS crime lab testing problems continues

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- In May we first told you about testing problems at the DPS Houston regional crime lab. Since then, analysts have been busy retesting evidence in hundreds of criminal cases.

This spring, an analyst at the DPS Crime Lab in Houston was found to have substituted evidence using a drug from another case to validate what he was testing. He was no-billed by a grand jury of any criminal misconduct. He resigned in July, but the fallout from that mishandling continues.

"They'll want to have a discussion about what happens to the rest of those samples," said Dr. Sarah Kerrigan.

On Thursday, some of the members of what's called the DPS Houston Crime Lab Disclosure Investigative Panel met to determine what's been affected so far by what they agree was "inexcusable conduct."

Nearly 5,000 cases have now been called into question -- those on which the analyst worked. They involve cases from 36 different counties. So far 473 cases are on the re-test list. Of those, 237 new tests have been completed and the new results are the same.

Harris County has some 450 cases that qualify for the re-tests. The Public Defenders Office is now trying to notify former defendants.

"To see if they can be retested or if not, to see if there's a remedy that's appropriate," said Bob Wicoff with the Public Defender's Office.

Letters will be going out to those defendants, some of whom may be in jail. The big question is whether the evidence that convicted them still exists. After conviction, it is typically held by the arresting agency for a time and then destroyed. Even so...

"It's very hard to show by virtue of the fact the evidence was destroyed that something deserves a new trial," said Wicoff.

The full state investigative panel will be meeting on these cases next month in Austin.

local, deborah wrigley

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Friday, September 14, 2012

Neighbors worried after crime spike in Sharpstown

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Some neighbors in the Sharpstown area are on edge because of what they say is a rash of burglaries in the last few weeks, and they say the criminals are becoming more brazen.

Neighbors in the area say they are afraid. They say these crooks are not just targeting property. They say the bold thieves are now attacking people.

"Strange people gawking around who don't belong to the neighborhood," neighbor "Domingo" said. "I've been seeing these types of things, and we are worried."

Neighbors in the Sharpstown area off Guilford and Roos streets tell me they are frightened and on edge. They say they've been worried and warning one another about a recent rash of crimes hitting this subdivision in the last couple of weeks.

Neighbors say unknown crooks have been busy breaking into cars and burglarizing several homes. They say some families have even been terrorized in their homes at gunpoint.

Residents add that this week an elderly woman was pushed into some bushes and nearly sexually assaulted, until a neighbor heard her screams for help.

Neighbors say asking Precinct 5 constables to increase patrols in their community doesn't seem to be enough. Some neighbors say they are taking security one step further.

Neighbor Rosalie Fielder said, "Just in the last two weeks, there's been a series of crimes. When they are pulling guns and raping women, you know, everybody here is going out and getting guns now. We're frightened."

I've reached out to the local constable's office about the neighbors' concerns and I'm still waiting for a call back.

Neighbors say they are being vigilant by doing their own street patrols watching for any suspicious activity.

crime tracker, demond fernandez

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Thursday, May 17, 2012

Agreement between HPD, Ministers Against Crime ends

by Crystal KobzaHOUSTON (KTRK) -- For years, ministers across Houston worked with police to help stop violence. But today that agreement ended because the ministers wanted to be able to speak their minds about ongoing cases.

Eyewitness News spoke with the coordinator of the group Houston Ministers Against Crimes and he says it's situations like the Chad Holley case why they are no longer working with the Houston Police Department.

"This is their rule book. They took our group, the Houston Ministers Against Crime, and changed it to PACA (Police and Clergy Alliance)," said the Rev. Robert Jefferson with the Cullen Missionary Baptist Church.

Reverend Jefferson is one of dozens of ministers who are no longer working with HPD. Houston Ministers Against Crime and the police department had a partnership for more than three decades. But just recently, HPD adopted new guidelines for the Police and Clergy Alliance, also called PACA.

"In PACA, you cannot speak out against the city, nor the police department, you cannot associate yourself with people who are speaking out, and you cannot cause any kind of problem in the city as long as you're carrying a PACA badge," said Rev. Jefferson.

Wednesday's verdict in the Chad Holley case, Rev. Jefferson says, is an example as a case he would not be able to discuss under the new guidelines. But since turning in his PACA badge, he spoke openly to us about it.

"Yes, I do feel like they whooped that boy unmercifully and somebody should be punished," Rev. Jefferson said.

Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland says he has done nothing to curb anyone's First Amendment rights to speak or say what they want.

"But as a member of PACA, if you are representing PACA, obviously we don't endorse any political views, and I think that's proper," said Chief McClelland.

"It's saying shut up, muzzle it, don't say nothing or we take your badge. That's what it says," Rev. Jefferson said.

Part of the new PACA guidelines are that members can't hold a press conference or press briefing to condemn city administration or the Houston Police Department. In addition, members aren't allowed to represent anyone in any matter adverse to the city or HPD.

Other ministers with whom we spoke say no matter what they will stand up for what they believe is right no matter what.

"I'm still with the Ministers Against Crime, I'm going to be with the police department, sheriff's department wherever righteousness needs to be brought out, I'm going to do it regardless," said Pastor Morel Baker Jr. with Pure Grace Missionary Baptist Church.

So far, more than 100 ministers have turned in their badges.

Chief McClelland says as the department reevaluated that partnership they realized that many of the Houston Ministers Against Crime were no longer actively involved and that's when the department decided to make the change.

houston police department, local

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Crime Stoppers ups reward for info on murdered med student

Gelareh Bagherzadeh, 30, was shot to death in January inside her car just feet from her parents townhome in the Galleria.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The largest reward ever offered for a Crime Stoppers tip was announced Tuesday afternoon in Houston. The record $200,000 is being offered to help solve the murder of Gelareh Bagherzadeh, who was killed back in January.

On January 16, the medical researcher was shot outside her home near Augusta and Woodway in the Tanglewood area. Police have no idea who may have killed Bagherzadeh or why.

"It's been four months since my sister was senselessly murdered behind our home. These past four months have been unimaginably hard on all of us," said the victim's brother, Ali Bagherzadeh.

Police hope the $200,000 will prompt someone to come forward with information about the murder.

Police ask anyone with information about the murder to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

If you have information in this case, call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477) or submit tips online at http://www.crime-stoppers.org/. All tipsters remain anonymous.

local

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Thursday, May 3, 2012

Crime Stoppers wraps up successful campaign targeting child predators

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Investigators call them the worst of the worst -- child predators on the run from the law. Crime Stoppers just wrapped up a month-long safety campaign targeting those fugitives, and Eyewitness News has a sneak peak at the results.

This is the sixth year that Crime Stoppers has done this. A new component was added to the campaign and organizers say it's one of the reasons why it was such a huge success.

Targeting the Houston area's most wanted child predators.

"It's a unique collaboration in the nation to try and protect kids in our community," said Katherine Cabaniss with Crime Stoppers.

With some 1,600 in Harris County alone, Crime Stoppers calls it the largest child safety campaign in the organization's history.

"The amount of predators out there is alarming. Very scary, very scary. Especially when you have little kids, little ones; it definitely heightens your awareness," said parent Damon Barone.

"Within 24 hours of our kick-off press conference, the first fugitive was in custody," said Cabaniss.

Last year, more than 150 child predator fugitives were arrested during the month of April. This April, authorities captured 153 -- roughly the same the number -- and cleared 195 warrants. Eleven of those arrests were based on actual tips from people who visited the organization's web page where photos of more than 850 felons wanted for crimes against kids were featured.

"It's a testament to the partnerships that we have here in Harris County that are strong and productive and they keep our community safe," said Cabaniss.

As part of its campaign, Crime Stoppers partnered with local, state and federal law enforcement to hunt down these fugitives. Crime Stoppers also rolled out more than a dozen giant billboards across the city.

"We need to be informed. I think that's part of the problem. People want to be ignorant concerning these issues. I have five kids of my own, so I want to know if anyone in my neighborhood or anyone around could be a possible danger to my kids," said parent Frederick Banks.

Crime Stoppers will hold a news conference this Friday to go over the results. As always, cash rewards were offered for information leading to arrests in these cases.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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local, andy cerota
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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Charges filed against couple accused in crime spree

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Charges were filed Saturday against a couple authorities believe was behind a county-wide violent crime spree.

Bobbie Grubbs and his wife, Deedra Grubbs, were arrested Friday after 10 days on the run.

They're accused of three home invasion robberies and a deadly shooting at an East Texas motel.

Deedra Grubbs is charged with aggravated robbery and burglary of a habitation.

Bobbie Grubbs is charged with capital murder in Shelby County. He also faces several charges in Harris County, including aggravated robbery.

local

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Saturday, April 28, 2012

Man, woman arrested after violent crime spree from The Woodlands to East Texas

THE WOODLANDS, TX (KTRK) -- Two fugitives who were on the run, accused of a deadly crime spree, are now behind bars. Investigators say their violent attacks on women began 10 days ago, and they carefully picked their targets.

Authorities have now linked the married couple to four violent crimes in three different counties. But it all came to an end after a short chase along Highway 59.

With the Montgomery County SWAT team bearing down, Bobbie Grubbs led his wife Deedra into custody Friday afternoon. Both walking backwards with their hands in the air, they surrendered peacefully.

Bobbie was quickly put into a patrol car; Deedra, who complained about medical issues, sat along Highway 59 near Cleveland until she went to the hospital.

It was the end of what's believed to be a three-county violent crime spree. Reagan Jones will sleep better tonight.

"I've got four daughters and a wife, so I've been a little bit paranoid," he told us.

It was Wednesday morning when his neighbor was beaten and choked.

"She was completely bloody from head to her chest," Jones said.

And he says he saw the Grubbs leaving her South Montgomery County home.

According to sheriff's investigators, Deedra had done housework for his neighbor. On Wednesday, detectives say she was back to ask about more work and that's when Bobbie barged in. They say the couple beat and choked her and tied her up as they stole guns and jewelry.

On April 17 and 18, similar crimes were reported. One was in Harris County, another in Montgomery County at homes we've learned where Deedra Grubbs once worked.

But the most violent was Friday morning in Joaquin near the Louisiana border in East Texas.

The Shelby County sheriff says Bobbie Grubbs shot three workers at the Country Inn Motel. One died. He and Deedra had checked in Thursday night. They fled in one of the victims' cars and headed south, perhaps towards their home, where they had left their two daughters, ages nine and 12.

Their neighbor, Robert Hatch, told us Bobbie had been having a hard time finding work.

"Never seemed out of line to me," he said. "I loaned a battery charger, battery cables, an air compressor, they always brought them back."

CPS has placed the Grubbs' daughters in foster homes. Meanwhile, their parents are in jail. Deedra is charged with burglary and Bobbie is charged with aggravated robbery. However, the duo could face many more charges, including capital murder for that fatal shooting in Shelby County.

the woodlands, local, jessica willey

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Sunday, January 22, 2012

Four indicted in alleged hate crime beating of black man at bus stop

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- What allegedly happened at a Houston bus stop is now being prosecuted as a hate crime. Four white men are accused of attacking a black man.

Late one night last August, Yondell Johnson was sitting at a bus stop waiting for the bus when he saw four men approach him, throw a few racial epithets around, and attacked.

"It was like I couldn't believe this was happening, and I thought I could be dying especially when they had me on the ground," said Johnson.

On Thursday, Johnson says justice is finally being served because the four suspects -- Charles Cannon, Michael McLaughlin, Brian Kerstetter and Joseph Staggs -- have been indicted on federal hate crime charges, meaning that the motive behind the attack was Johnson's race.

"I knew it still happened, but right here in my own back yard -- not really," said Johnson

The indictment by the federal government is a result of a multi-month investigation involving the FBI, the Houston Police Department and other local authorities. It is significant because it's only the third time the hate crime statute has been used since it passed Congress in 2009.

"The message is not only is this a new tool for law enforcement to use, but the community needs to know the law enforcement people here in Houston are willing to use it," said Stephen Morris with the FBI.

Investigators say three of the men have white supremacist gang tattoos.

The four suspects were arrested at the scene following a 911 call. If convicted, each could face up to 10 years in prison.

All four are already facing charges in Harris County, but for Johnson this day is significant.

"I'm just glad the justice is coming to an end, and justice is finally served," said Johnson.

All four men are charged with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. It was passed in October 2009 and it expanded a previous federal hate crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The act was the first federal law to extend legal protections to transgender persons.

James Byrd Jr. was the Jasper man who was dragged to his death from a pickup truck in 1998 by three white men. His murder led Texas to pass its own hate crime law in 2001.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

local, miya shay

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Thursday, January 12, 2012

Harris County to build new crime lab tower

HOUSTON -- Harris County leaders have endorsed a land deal to build a new crime lab tower amid a growing number of forensic cases.

County commissioners on Tuesday approved plans to finalize a nearly three-acre land agreement with the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

The Houston Chronicle reports the deal would require construction on a nine-story Institute of Forensic Sciences facility to begin within two years.

District Attorney Pat Lykos says the unit, for testing evidence and doing autopsies, is at a critical juncture regarding capacity and population growth of the county.

The Houston Police Department runs the city's crime lab, which faces a backlog of thousands of untested rape kits. Harris County officials have discussed testing city samples at the new facility.

local
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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Judge throws out life sentence for man jailed at time of crime

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A man sentenced to life in prison for robbery is having that conviction thrown out, after proving he was in jail at the time of the crime. But he's not getting out of jail any time soon.

It's the news every defendant whose ever been convicted longs to hear -- the case has been dismissed. In this case, it's due to a mix-up the judge blames on the defendant's own attorney and prosecutors.

On Thursday Ladondrell Montgomery, 36, returned to the same court where he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison just three weeks ago. This time the case was dismissed and a new trial granted.

"Give this man back his life! He is innocent," his wife Shanthina Montgomery said. "Let him go."

Ironically, it is his arrest for assaulting his wife which cleared his name. After trial, Montgomery's father and his attorney discovered Harris County jail documents proving he was in custody on December 13, 2009 when the robbery for which he was convicted occurred.

"I feel great about the case," said Montgomery's attorney Ronald Ray.

But the judge chastised Montgomery's attorney and prosecutors for not realizing the mistake sooner. Judge Mark Kent Ellis lashed out in open court, saying "...it boggles the mind, frankly, that it took this long" to discover the error. And "both sides are spectacularly incompetent."

Prosecutor Alison Baimbridge notes that Montgomery testified in his own defense at trial and never mentioned even the possibility that he could have been in custody at the time of the robbery.

"We were not aware at trial, before trial or until the motion was filed that that could potentially be an issue in this case," she told Eyewitness News.

Ray says Montgomery had been in and out of jail often.

"His memory just did not... He just couldn't remember," Ray explained.

Prosecutors won't pursue that robbery allegation from the day he was proven in jail but they have now re-filed five other robbery charges which they dismissed upon his conviction. His wife says that's unfair.

"Free my husband. He's an innocent man," Shanthina insisted. "He's an innocent man."

Montgomery has been denied bond on the re-filed charges. He remains in custody and because of his prior robbery could again be sentenced to life in prison if convicted on any of those charges.

local, kevin quinn
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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Armed robbery suspect sought by Crime Stoppers

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Crime Stoppers and investigators with the Harris County Sheriff's Office are seeking the public's aid identifying and apprehending the suspect in a November aggravated robbery.

At about 9:45pm on Thursday, November 17, a man robbed an area business located on the 3000 block of Gears Road. It was just before closing when a man entered the store wielding a revolver, according to Crime Stoppers. The suspect pointed the pistol at two store employees and demanded the cash from inside the registers.

The victims complied with the suspect's demands and released an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect. He then fled the scene on foot toward Walters Road.

Crime Stoppers say the suspect is described as a black male with dark complexion, 19-28 years old, approximately 5'10"-6'0", weighing 160 - 180 pounds. At the time of the offense he was wearing a dark colored hooded sweatshirt with distinctive designs on the shoulders, a dark shirt, dark pants and dark shoes.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Houston at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

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 suspect in this case. Tips can also be sent by text message. Text TIP610 plus your tip to CRIMES (274637). All tipsters remain anonymous.

crime tracker
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Monday, December 5, 2011

Toy drive held for victims of violent crime

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Children affected by violent crime are taking home stuffed animals thanks to the dream of a teenager.

Houston police officers collected 2,500 toys at the Lacrosse Classic in west Houston this weekend.

The toy drive was conceived two years ago by Julia Briggs, a 13-year-old who wanted to comfort children during a traumatic time.

Briggs died of cancer a short time later, but her friends and family took up the cause in her memory.

local

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Killer in Jasper hate crime gets Sept. 21 death date

JASPER, TX (KTRK) -- The execution date is now set for one of the men convicted of dragging James Byrd Jr. to death in a racially motivated hate crime 13 years ago.

Byrd's family calls the development it's been waiting for bittersweet. Louvon Harris, who now lives in northwest Harris County, says she expected June 7 -- the 13th anniversary of her brother's murder -- to be yet another with no news. That was until Tuesday when she got an unexpected phone call. Harris has waited 13 years for this day. "Thirteen is a long time," he said. And for this phone call. "She said well I got good news," Harris said. On Tuesday, a judge in Jasper signed an order making September 21 Lawrence Brewer's execution date. He will be the first of two men to die for the racially motivated dragging death of James Byrd Jr. in 1998. Harris is Byrd's sister, and she's been calling the attorney general's office every three months for years. On Tuesday, they called her. "When she called, I felt a little peace, but then sadness, too," Harris said. All the awful details came flooding back -- the torment, the trials, and the worst, that Harris' mother isn't alive to hear the news. Stella Byrd died last October. "It was one of those things that she was concerned, will justice ever be served?" Harris said. In his name, Byrd's family has hoped others learn. "There's only one race and that's the human race and that we got to have different ideas and diversity and we all have one common denominator and we're humans," Harris said. They have carried that message of peace around the country, all while waiting for a punishment to be carried out. Harris now knows where she'll be September 21. "I hope to be there, not because it's going to be a happy occasion, but just to see that justice is done," she said. That justice, she says, is neither swift nor fair. "He'll get a lot better than my brother did. In two to three minutes, a needle go in his arm and he just slips away, and my brother was tormented for three to four hours on the road and was decapitated," Harris said. John William King also got the death penalty. His case is still on appeal. Sean Berry was sentenced to life and he's his most recent appeal was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1997. Most of Byrd's family still lives in Jasper. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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local, jessica willey

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Sunday, December 9, 2012

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Friday, September 14, 2012

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Monday, December 5, 2011

Thursday, June 2, 2011

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