Houston News

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Amber Alert issed for missing Pasadena baby

Kaitlyn Lavois is believed to have been taken from a day care in Pasadena Friday by her grandmother, who didn't have permission to get her.

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Pasadena Police have issued an Amber Alert for a four-month-old who they say was taken from a day care by her grandmother without permission Friday.

The alert was issued for Kaitlyn Lavois, who is believed to have been taken by her grandmother, Robin Lavois, without the parents' approval or knowledge.

The two were last seen in Baytown at around 9:30pm.

Robin Lavois is believed to be driving a green, four-door 1996 Toyota Camry with license plate 783CGH.

Anyone with information regarding the suspect, vehicle or child is asked to immediately contact the Pasadena Police Department at 713-477-1221.
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Mayor Annise Parker declares Friday, Jan. 11 as 'Go Houston Texans Day'

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Mayor Annise Parker has declared Friday, January 11, 2013 as "Go Houston Texans Day."

Houstonians are encouraged to wear their Texans gear or something red to work that day in support for the team as it takes on the New England Patriots in Sunday's AFC Divisional playoff game.

"This season -- the best in the franchise's 11 year history -- has been mesmerizing," said Mayor Parker. "We have watched Gary Kubiak and Matt Schaub lead our team to victory more times than ever before, and our defensive powerhouse J.J. Watt has become a household name. Texans fans are steadfast and I know they will show their team spirit as our Bulls on Parade head toward a victory on Sunday!"

She also announced that City Hall will be lit Battle Red through the weekend as an additional show of the city's support for the team.

Don't forget to catch our 'Houston Texans: Road to the Ring' special Friday at 7pm on ABC13, as the Texans try to take another major step to their first Super Bowl.
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Charges possible in fatal motorcycle wreck

Three main lanes on the West Beltway at Eldridge were shut down for four hours Friday because of a four-vehicle accident that killed a motorcyclist.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The driver of an SUV could face charges in a four-vehicle accident that killed a motorcyclist in west Houston Friday afternoon.

The wreck happened around 5:20pm on the northbound lanes of the West Sam Houston Tollway at Briar Forest Drive.

According to Precinct 5 deputies, a motorcycle rider had slowed down for traffic in front of him and was rear-end by a Honda Goldwing. The motorcyclist was thrown from the bike, hit the concrete and possibly a vehicle in front of him.

His motorcycle kept going and crashed into another vehicle, while the driver of the SUV also hit another car.

Deputies say the victim appeared to be a middle-aged man. He died at the scene.

Other people involved in the wreck suffered minor injuries.

Deputies say charges against the driver of the SUV are possible, but they don't believe alcohol is a factor. The DA's office was at the scene investigating.

The accident forced crews to close several main lanes of the tollway for four hours Friday evening.
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Cleaning up neighborhood dumping ground

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A northeast Houston neighborhood has been turned into a complete dumping ground, with trash, needles, old couches and more tossed in their backyards. And these residents are sick of it.

They take pride in their neighborhood, but can only sit back and watch when others constantly treat it as a dump. Residents say it's been happening for years along Bretshire near Parker.

"On a scale of one to 10, we're 11," said Arnold Larkins, president of the Fontaine Scenic Woods Civic Club. "We're 11 with frustration."

The frustration is over piles and piles of trash illegally dumped along Bretshire Street in northeast Houston -- a problem plaguing the Fountaine Scenic Woods neighborhood for years.

"They've had boats out here before, old couches," one resident said.

Larkins said, "We've had as much as old cars dumped here."

And the fury from these eyesores, fueled by phone calls from fed up residents, has spilled over to Houston cicy council member Jerry Davis, who is now taking these messy matters into his own hands -- literally.

Davis swapped his loafers for work boots to help city crews and volunteers clean up illegal dumping sites in his district. Davis says enough is enough. Residents say it's time for permanent change.

Davis said, "We've got to come together from the government side, city side, as well as the constituents in this area to come together to begin to police this to be able to understand why this is problematic."

"We've battled this a long time but this time hopefully we'll find a remedy and we can come up with something that can make the community a little bit more livable," Larkins said.
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Baytown man accused of selling counterfeit Texans jerseys

BAYTOWN, TX (KTRK) -- A Baytown man is accused of trying to cash in on the Texans fever sweeping through our area.

When it comes to buying Texans gear right now, Baytown police are urging buyers to beware. Detectives say they caught one guy trying to pass off some decent looking knockoff jerseys as authentic.

From a white Arian Foster jersey, to Andre Johnson's No. 80 in blue, even to a bright pink J.J. Watt jersey for the ladies; they may all look like official NFL sanctioned Houston Texans jerseys, but Baytown police say look again.

Detectives say the jerseys are knockoffs that were being sold by Edward Lawrence Williams.

"Selling items like this on the black market is pretty big counterfeiting. It's a big business," said Lt. Eric Freed with the Baytown Police Department.

Investigators say on December 10, 2012, undercover officers caught Williams selling several dozen counterfeit jerseys for $65 apiece from his truck parked outside a tobacco store at 1600 N. Alexander Drive. They say the man was telling his customers those jerseys were the real deal -- like those you can find being sold in the Texans store.

"The detective inspected the garment and noticed some issues with the stitching," Lt. Freed said.

The jerseys Williams was allegedly selling do have the Texans mark, the NFL logo and the Nike swoosh. But police say the labels are all off-center, the threads are shredding and the stitching's all uneven.

"They're capitalizing on the forward momentum of our Houston Texans," said Lt. Freed.

We went to Williams' residence to get some answers about his jerseys. There, a woman who identified herself to Eyewitness News as Williams' wife says someone gave him the shirts to sell and claims he didn't know they weren't authentic.

Court documents state 41 counterfeit Texans jerseys with Nike emblems were seized. The items were valued at more than $2,600 total.

Experts examined the jerseys and police say they confirmed the jerseys are counterfeit.

Baytown police say Williams, 46, has a criminal history including arrests for assault and criminal mischief. Now he's facing felony charges of trademark counterfeiting.
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Texans pride especially strong at one local school

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Houston is covered in a sea of red and blue as Mayor Annise Parker declared today "Go Texans Day".

All over town, expect to see people sporting their Texans gear in anticipation of the team's big playoff match-up with New England this weekend. Team spirit is especially high at a school that has very close ties to the man who will be calling the plays on Sunday.

St. Pius is proud to claim Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak as one of its alums. He played football and graduated from there in 1979.

On campus today, students traded the usual school uniforms at St. Pius for Texans jerseys, Texans T-shirts and the like, just as fans across the city are.

The students are all dressed to show their Houston Texans pride, and pride in a person who once walked the same halls.

Students also created and hung signs declaring their support for the St. Pius alum.

"I think it's just big that we continue to support him," said St. Pius student Kohl Stewart. "It makes it fun that he's one of us and his name is everywhere and he's the face of the franchise."

"To feel like that man went here, it just makes the Texans pride that much more here," added student Jourdan Alvarez.

"It's amazing, especially since he's such a hard worker and everything he's done is incredible," said student Brianna Santiago.

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Bond reinstated for car dealer accused of raping teen girl at his Crosby dealership

Car dealer Riku 'The Finnisher' Melartin Thursday faced a judge, who reinstated Melartin's bond on rape charges.

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- We have an update in the rape case against local car dealer Riku Melartin.

A judge Thursday reinstated the $100,000 bond for Melartin. His attorney says the bond was revoked last week because of a paperwork issue.

Melartin is accused of raping a girl at his dealership in Crosby. The girl and her mother worked for Melartin, and say they want justice, while Melartin's attorney says his client is ready to go home.

"It's been hard. It was hard to see him come out, but I'm confident that we will get justice. I'm confident in that," said the mother of the alleged victim.

Melartin's attorney, Jim Butler, said, "Happy that he gets to go back home. All the other emotions from one end of the spectrum to the other are still there."

Melartin and his assistant, George Koutani, are both also accused of fondling the 16-year-old at Melartin's dealership.
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Saturday, January 12, 2013

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