SSPD: Man Arrested At Walmart On Trespassing, Felony Theft Charges
A 25-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested Sunday morning for theft of less than $100 worth or merchandise from Walmart.
Sulphur Springs Police Officers Tyler Francis and Sean Hoffman were dispatched at 7:59 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 to Walmart, where a male in all black clothing reportedly took items from the South Broadway Street store without paying for them. While en route to the location, dispatchers learned and advised police that the suspect had taken off on foot, last seen headed north, police reported.
A short time later a male was reportedly located in the area, but in different clothing. He was reportedly sweating profusely when placed into custody and was not cooperative with officers. They took the man to Walmart for identification to determine whether he was the man alleged to have shoplifted items from the store since he was wearing clothing that differed from those the suspect was reported to have been wearing, Francis and Hoffman alleged in arrest reports.
Walmart staff reportedly identified the man as the suspect who had allegedly taken items from the store. Store security video was also checked, according to police reports.
The man was identified in reports as 25-year-old Brandon Ray Timmons of Sulphur Springs, who records show had previously been issued a criminal trespass warning prohibiting him from being at Walmart. The warning was still active, resulting in him being charged with criminal trespassing. Timmons also was found to have two or more previous convictions for theft, resulting in the theft charge being enhanced to a felony offense, police alleged in arrest reports.
Timmons remained in the county jail Monday morning, Sept. 1. Bond was set at $5,000 on the theft charge and $1,000 on the criminal trespassing charge, according to jail reports.
Traffic Stop Nets Controlled Substances, Arrest Of 2 Sulphur Springs Residents
Suzanne Baca 
Luis Antonio Herrera
A League Street traffic stop Sunday evening resulted in location of more than 6 grams of suspected methamphetamine, pills and a Sulphur Springs pair’s arrest on controlled substance charges, according to police reports.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Sean Hoffman reported stopping a Chevrolet Prism at 4:58 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1 in the 100 block of League Street. Hoffman contacted the occupants from the passenger’s side window. The driver was identified in arrest reports as Suzanne Baca, 55, of Sulphur Springs and passenger as 49-year-old Luis Antonio Herrera of Sulphur Springs.
Hoffman alleged both Baca and Herrera to appear very nervous, Herrera to the point their hands were shaking excessively. An open container was also reportedly visible in the vehicle. Hoffman reportedly asked Herrera to step out of the car for a pat down. Herrera allegedly removed a baggy with pills later identified as acetaminophen and codeine phosphate, resulting in him being placed into handcuffs on a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance charge, Hoffman alleged in arrest reports.
Hoffman then had Baca step out of the car. She had a brown napkins protruding from her waistband. When asked about it, she allegedly removed it and told the officer it was just a napkin. However, she clenched her fist, where Hoffman alleged he could see a clear baggy. She was asked to drop it. When it fell, Hoffman alleged he could see two clear bags with a crystal-like substance he believed to be methamphetamine.
The pair was taken to jail, where the baggies and substance weighed 6.23 grams resulting in Baca being charged on a Penalty Group 1 possession charge.
Baca, who jail reports state is also known by the aliases Suzanne Marie Vaughun, Suzanne McClain and Suzanne Vaughun-Marintez, remained in the county jail Monday morning, Sept. 2. Her bond was set at $20,000 on the possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Herrera remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Sept. 2. Bond was set at $5,000 on the possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance in a drug-free zone charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Man Arrested After Allegedly Striking Pole, Consuming Beer At A Como Gas Station
A 35-year-old Sulphur Springs man was reportedly arrested for public intoxication after deputies found him drinking a beer at the fuel pumps at a Como gas station, where he had reportedly struck a protective pole with his truck.
Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched at 8:12 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1, to East Main Street in Como, where a drunk person was reportedly observed in the area of the station’s gas pumps. The man was accused of striking the protecting pole by the pumps with his truck, a Chevrolet Silverado. He reportedly seen trying to pump gas into the truck while drinking beer at the gas pumps, and was prevented from leaving by a citizen.
When the deputy arrived, he reported seeing the man attempting to get into the driver’s seat of the pickup. The man had what looked like a urine stain on his pants, and his clothing was untucked, the deputy noted in arrest reports. The Sulphur Springs man had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and could not think of someone to come get him and take him home, the deputy alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, the man was arrested at 8:40 p.m. Sept. 1 for public intoxication. Store management agreed to allow the truck to remain parked at the business, so the deputy moved and safely parked it, then took the man to jail, according to arrest reports. The 35-year-old was released from jail Monday morning, according to jail reports.
Commerce Man Arrested In Sulphur Springs On Felony Hunt County Warrant
A Main Street traffic stop Saturday night reportedly resulted in a Commerce man’s arrest on a Hunt County warrant.
Sulphur Springs Police Officer Brandon Murphy reported conducting a traffic stop on a Mazda 3 at 10:59 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31. Records checks using ID information provided by the occupants showed the passenger, 24-year-old Jakorien Oneal Johnson of Commerce, to be wanted by Hunt County authorities for bond forfeiture on an injury to a child, elderly or disabled person charge, Murphy alleged in arrest reports.
Consequently, Johnson was taken into custody on the felony warrant. Johnson remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning on the charge, according to jail reports.
Sulphur Springs Woman, Child Killed in Fannin County Crash Late Friday
Speed, Alcohol Cited As Factors in Fatal Collision
A 25-year-old Sulphur Springs woman and 2-year-old child were killed in a vehicle crash on State Highway 11 in Fannin County late Friday night.
The 39-year-old Sulphur Springs driver and a 3-year-old boy in the truck they were traveling in were sent to the hospital with critical incapacitating injuries, and the driver of the other vehicle was hospitalized with serious incapacitating injuries, according to Department of Public Safety reports.
Speed and suspected intoxication were cited by Texas Department of Pubic Safety Trooper Devon Cooper out of Bonham as factors in the crash.
Keagan Hunter Cannaday of Celina was reportedly driving a Dodge Ram pickup at a high rate of speed on State Highway 11 in Whitewright at 11:55 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30; he was believed to be intoxicated, according to Cooper’s reports. The eastbound truck reportedly drifted to the right and struck a guardrail on the right side of the road, then traveled into the westbound lane, where it collided with a Chevrolet 3500 pickup, which was hauling a trailer loaded with wood, according to Cooper’s crash report.
The truck being driven by Cannaday reportedly went over the north guardrail and into the ditch, where it caught on fire. Cannaday was transported to Medical City Plano hospital for treatment of serious incapacitating injuries, according to crash reports.
Juana Maria Torres of Sulphur Springs, who was 7 months pregnant, and 2-year-old Lucas Alvarez, were in the Chevrolet truck; died at the crash site. They were released to Cooper-Sorrells Funeral Home in Bonham, according to DPS reports.
Chevrolet driver Arnulfo Alvarez was transported to Baylor McKinney hospital and 3-year-old Adres Alvarez to Children’s Hospital, for what were reported as critical incapacitating injuries, Cooper noted in arrest reports.
Public Hearing Slated Tuesday For County Tax Rate
Commissioners Court Plans Executive Session, To Receive Annual Inspection from SSFD, Sulphur River Resolution
Hopkins County Commissioners Court will hold a special Tuesday meeting for public comment on the proposed tax rate. The first public hearing for the tax rate, held during the regular Aug. 26 court session, passed with no public comment.
County Tax Assessor/Collector Debbie Pogue Mitchell reported that even though the proposed rate will remain $0.624892, the county is required to hold a public hearing because that is above the effective rate. It’s also below the rollback rate. The second public hearing will be conducted during the Sept. 3 Commissioner’s Court meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. The tax rate is then scheduled to bee presented to commissioners on Sept. 9 for approval.
With a public hearing conducted, the commissioners court also on Aug. 26 approved allowing the district clerk’s office to continue collecting a $10 technology fee as part of regular court fees to apply toward preservation and restoration of the office’s records.
While the county tax rate won’t change, some county fees will change. The road and bridge fee will continue to be $10, but a $1 child safety fee will be charged to benefit Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center starting Jan. 1, 2020. Constables fees will increase, with the $60 that goes to the state increasing to $65.
The commissioners court during the Sept. 3 meeting will be asked to consider approving a resolution from Senator Bob Hall and Rep. Reggie Smith asking state agencies to take action to resolve an obstruction on the South Sulphur River to help alleviate flooding and environmental hazards to the FM 71 bridge, highway and surrounding farmlands.
An executive session is slated in which the court is to discuss a real property matter and contract negotiation. They will reconvene in open session and take action, provided the matter is ready for a vote, following the closed session.
The court is slated to review an annual inspection report compiled by Sulphur Springs Fire Department.
The meeting is being held on Tuesday instead of the usual Monday because Sept. 2 is Labor Day. The Sept. 3 court session is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in the Commissioners Courtroom, located on the first floor of Hopkins County Courthouse, 118 Church St. in Sulphur Springs
Following the regular court session, commissioners will move to the Meeting Room on the third floor of the courthouse for a work session.
Tom Glosup is slated to discuss maintenance and construction of county buildings. Hopkins County Fire Chief Andy Endsley is slated to discuss fire department operations, revenue and expenditures, and any proposals for improvements and repairs for HCFD.
Commissioners then will have the option of entering into a routine budget work session.
Mountain Mel’s Issues Voluntary Recall Of 3 Herbal Teas Due To Potential Salmonella Contamination
Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods, LLC of Welches, OR is recalling The Milk Lady’s Tea with LOT # ML6271950, Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea with LOT # PB781950, and Diges-Teas Herbal Tea with LOT # DT7619100, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The Milk Lady’s, Peaceful Baby, and Diges-Teas were distributed in Oregon and Washington through New Seasons Market, and nationwide through Azure Standard, Mountainmels.com and Amazon.com. The affected tea products were distributed by Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods June 27, 2019 and July 20, 2019.
The Milk Lady’s Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05658 4, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a purple label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is # ML6271950. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Milk Lady’s Tea is listed as 7/2021.
Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05656 0, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a blue label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is #PB781950. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Peaceful Baby Tea is listed as 7/2021.
Diges-Teas Herbal Tea Blend, UPC 7 99632 05665 2, is packaged in a tall thin tin container with 2 oz of tea per tin, with a brown label. The LOT# of the recalled batch is #DT7619100. The LOT# can be located on the bottom of the tin package. The Best By Date of the Diges-Teas Herbal Tea is listed as 7/2021.
No illnesses have been reported to date.
This recall was initiated because the herbal teas were made with the recalled fennel seed whole that was supplied and recalled by Mountain Rose Herbs in Oregon. Mountain Mel’s Essential Goods has ceased production and distribution of this product as of July 20, 2019.
This recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Consumers who have purchased Mountain Mel’s The Milk Lady’s Tea with LOT # ML6271950, Peaceful Baby Herbal Tea with LOT # PB781950, and/or Diges-Teas Herbal Tea with LOT # DT7619100 email a photo of the product and lot label to [email protected] for a full refund.
Further questions may be directed to Mountain Mel’s at [email protected].
Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, Salmonella can get into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis, according to the FDA and a release from the company.
Motorists Reminded: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Created by Loretta Kuo. Original photo by Steve Zumwalt/FEMA. Location: West Alton, Mo., June 6, 2013 — Missouri Route 94 flooded.
The storm which blew in overnight Friday and continued into Saturday morning brought much-needed rain and much-appreciated cooler temperatures. The 4-6 inch deluge also lefts a few area roadways closed due to flooding.
As of about 10 a.m. Saturday, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office had received reports of at least two roads that were rendered impassable due to storm. FM 69 in low areas and FM 275 between Miller Grove and Emory were reported to be under water Saturday morning.
Barricades have been put in place warning motorists not to attempt to travel on that stretch of roadway. Anyone caught by authorities entering the closed roadway could face fines or charges.
Motorists are reminded to adhere to the slogan “turn around, don’t drown” when approaching low areas and roads near waterways. These areas can be impacted for a few days until water levels in the creeks, lakes and other waterways recede.
When in doubt, motorists are urged to turn around instead of trying to make it through covered roadways, especially those with rising water or multiple inches deep as they could be swept away in their vehicles.
Another roadway that is frequently closed is FM 71 west at the Delta-Hopkins County line. The road is often closed at the bridge that crosses the Sulphur River Basin south of Cooper Lake. Several miles of logjams, caused from trees growing and falling during previous years’ droughts, contribute to additional flooding of the bridge, highway and surrounding farmlands.
Hopkins County Commissioner Court is slated during a Sept. 3 meeting, scheduled Tuesday instead of Monday due to Labor Day, to discuss a resolution from Senator Bob Hall and Rep. Reggie Smith’s offices urging officials from multiple state agencies to work together to take action to remove the obstruction from the river to alleviate flooding and environmental concerns.
Winnsboro Man Jailed On Warrant Following Crash
A 21-year-old Winnsboro man not only wrecked a vehicle Friday night, but ended up in jail on a local charge, according to arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to a crash around 9 p.m. in Hopkins County. On arrival, they contacted the Winnsboro man, who was identified as the driver of a Ford F150 pickup involved in the crash.
A records check of all of the people involved using their driver’s license and information, showed the Winnsboro man to be wanted by Hopkins County authorities on an assault causing bodily injury charge. Dispatchers confirmed the Class A misdemeanor warrant to be active and the man was taken to jail on the June 4 charge, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
He remained in the county jail Saturday morning on the charge, according to jail reports.
In an unrelated traffic stop, troopers arrested a Palestine man for possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana.
The 33-year-old was stopped for allegedly speeding in a Dodge Ram 1500 on State Highway 11 at Wildcat Way around 3:20 p.m. Aug. 30. On approach, the trooper reported smelled a strong marijuana odor emitting from the truck and conducted a probable cause search. A bag of marijuana and package of rolling papers were allegedly found, resulting in the Palestine man’s arrest and the truck being impounded, according to arrest reports.
The Palestine man remained in the county jail Saturday morning, Aug. 31, on the misdemeanor charge, according to jail reports.
