Small Child Allegedly In Car During FM 1870 Drunk Driving Crash
A 21-year-old Cumby man arrested following a FM 1870 drunk driving crash reportedly lied to the trooper investigating the crash. The driver allegedly claimed there was no child in the car seat in the car during the crash, but was later reported to have called someone who removed the child from the crash site before officials arrived, a trooper alleged in arrest reports.
Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Warren Williamson reported responding in the early morning hours Sunday, March 14, on FM 1870 to a vehicle crash. Upon arrival, the trooper observed a Ford Mustang in the middle of the road with numerous open alcohol containers visible inside the car.
“At the scene, it was apparent there was a car seat in the rear seat. Based on the blood in the car it was readily apparent that someone had retrieved a child from the car seat but there was no child present at the scene,” Williamson wrote in arrest reports.
Cole William Peterson of Cumby reportedly identified himself to the trooper and admitted to being the driver of the red Mustang at the time of the crash. Williamson reported smelling a strong odor of an intoxicating beverage on 21-year-old Peterson’s breath while talking with him. Peterson admitted to consuming numerous alcoholic beverages prior to operating the car, but denied that a child was in the car at the time of the crash, Williamson alleged in arrest reports.
Peterson was unable to successfully complete standard field sobriety tests and demonstrated he did not have the normal use of his mental and physical faculties due to alcohol, Williamson noted in arrest reports. At that point, Peterson was place under arrest for driving while intoxicated and taken to jail. He blew 0.147 and 0.142 on breath tests, well over the 0.08 legal limit for blood-alcohol content, Williamson stated in arrest reports.
“I contacted the mother of the child who confirmed she had lied to deputies who responded to her residence to check the welfare of the child. The mother confirmed the female child,” Williamson alleged in arrest reports, “approximately 1.5 years of age, was with [Peterson], in the vehicle at the time of the crash and that he had called someone to take the child from the crash scene to the mother in Como. The mother also confirmed that the child had received minor injuries during the crash.”
Williamson alleged that Peterson, by not seeking medical attention for the child considering the severity of the crash and his actions, acted with criminal negligence for the child’s safety and wellbeing. Peterson’s actions were a “gross deviation from the standard of care that an ordinary person would exercise under all the circumstances,” Williamson wrote in arrest reports. The trooper alleged in arrest reports that Peterson “tampered with evidence by having the child removed from the scene and attempting to conceal that the child was involved in the crash.”
Peterson was subsequently charged with driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under the age of 15 years in the vehicle, abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence, and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence with intent to impair.
Peterson remained in Hopkins County jail Sunday evening March 14, 2021 on all three charges stemming from the alleged FM 1870 drunk driving crash. Bond was set at $30,000 on the tampering with evidence charge, and $10,000 each on the DWI with child passenger and child endangerment-criminal negligence charge, according to jail reports.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
March 15-19 Meal A Day Menu
Although the Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center remains closed due to COVID-19, volunteers continue to work five days a week preparing and delivering meals to shut-in elderly in the community. The March 15-19 Meal A Day Menu includes:
Monday – Hash Brown Beef Casserole, Corn, Green Beans
Tuesday – Chicken Spaghetti, Italian Vegetables, Garlic Toast
Wednesday – Rope Sausage, Sauerkraut, Black-Eyed Peas, Cornbread
Thursday – Chicken and Dumplings, Crackers, Toss Salad
Friday – Chili Cheese Dogs, Cole Slaw, Fritos
The Sulphur Springs Senior Citizens Center is a place where Senior Citizens age 50 and over can have a good time with old friends and make some new ones. Meal-A-Day is just one service the center provides. The coffee pot is always on and a smile is on each face. The SCC has a full library with all different kinds of reading books that can be taken, read and returned. Take as many as you like and bring some of your books in to share with others. Click here to find more information for seniors citizens.
Lady Cats Softball Wins Over Longview
Lady Cats Softball Team Wins Pitchers Duel With Longview, 1-0 Friday Evening
It took a perfect storm of weirdness for the Lady Cats Softball Team to defeat Longview, 1-0 in a district game pitchers’ duel at Lady Cat Park Friday (March 12) evening. Lady Cat Crimson Bryant and the Lady Lobos Reagan Rios just about matched each other pitch for pitch. Here’s the way the Lady Cats scored the games only run in the bottom of the sixth. Nylah Lindley got on base when the Longview first baseman dropped a throw to first Lindley stole second. Bryant put down a bunt that was fielded by the Longview first baseman who turned to first to find no one there. When pitch runner Kinley Friddle stole second base, the Lady Cats had runners on third and second. With two outs, Rios threw a wild pitch that got away from the Lobos’ catcher. Lindley, coming in from third, just beat the throw to the plate. Bryant, who got the win went 7 innings, threw 95 pitches and gave up only 2 hits and no runs while striking out 15 and walking none. Rios went 6 innings allowing only 3 hits and no earned runs while striking out 14 and walking one. In order to put the ball in play, Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo stressed small ball and bunting. The Lady Cats’ three hits never got out of the infield. Besides Bryant’s hit, Addison DeSmet hit a slow roller to short that she easily beat out without a throw. Parris Pickett, probably bunting to sacrifice ended up beating the throw to first for a hit. The Lady Cats evened their district record to 1-1. They are 10-3 for the season. Longview slips to 1-2 in district play. The Lady Cats host Mount Pleasant at Lady Cat Park next Tuesday.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Wildcats Baseball Comes Up Short Against Atlanta
Wildcats Baseball Team Ends Up on the Short End of a 4-3 game to Atlanta in Hallsville Tournament Saturday
After falling behind 3-0 to Atlanta, the Wildcats Baseball Team tied the game with 3 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning only to see the Rabbits score a decisive fourth run in the top of the sixth in the Reich Builders Classic in Hallsville Saturday (March 13). The 4-3 loss gave the Wildcats two wins and two losses in the three-day tournament. Atlanta scored what turned out to be the winning run without the benefit of a hit. On the day, the Wildcats outhit the Rabbits, 7 to 6. In the Wildcats big fourth inning, Ty Stroud, Kaden Wallace and Hayden Hurst scored runs and Hurst, Aiken Owens and Dawson Carpenter had the RBI’s. Carpenter and Wallace had 2 hits in the game and Hurst hit a double. Owens, who took the loss, pitched the first 5 1/3 innings allowing 6 hits and 4 runs while striking out 2 and walking five. Matthew Mitchell and Hector Martinez each pitched 1/3 of an inning and Martinez got a strikeout. The Wildcats season record is now 4-10. The Wildcats, who are 1-0 in district play, resume district play Tuesday night at Mount Pleasant.
KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.
Saltillo Lions Basketball Players Named to All-Region Team
Saltillo Lions Basketball Players Boekhorst and Redburn Are Named to All-Region Team
Saltillo Lions Basketball Coach Casey Riddle announced late Friday (March 12) that Lions senior Chris Boekhorst and junior Andrew Redburn were named to the All-Region Basketball Team. The two players were big contributors to a strong Lions’ team that made it all the way to the Regional Quarterfinals. There the Lions came up short against #1 state ranked Slidell, 63-53 at Bells on February 27. The Lions ended up ranked #13 in the final Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Poll issued prior to the playoffs. The Lions had a 20-8 season record and a perfect 12-0 record in district play.
March 13 COVID-19 Update: 1 Fatality, 8 New Cases, 7 Recoveries, 148 Active Cases
COVID-19 numbers in Hopkins County are coming down overall as the number of residents receiving COVID-19 vaccinations increases, with more recoveries this month than new cases so far. Unfortunately, the number of COVID-19 fatalities continues to rise in Hopkins County too, according to Texas Department of State Health Services’ March 13 COVID-19 dashboards and reports.
Case Counts
The new confirmed cases reported so far this month is the fewest number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases reported during the first 13 days of the month since July, when 23 Hopkins County residents received lab-confirmed positive molecular COVID-19 results during that period and 89 the entire month. July was also the first month in which a Hopkins County resident was confirmed by death certificate to have died as a direct result of COVID-19.
Over the last three months the daily confirmed case count has been steadily decreasing. In December 2020 and January 2021, 138 Hopkins County residents had received lab-confirmed positive COVID-19 test results as of the 13th of the month. While there were 240 confirmed COVID-19 cases Dec. 1-28 and a total of 290 on Dec. 31, that number was slightly less for Jan. 1-28, with 232 new confirmed cases, and was down to 247 by Jan. 31. In February, 93 county residents had received lab-confirmed positive COVID results by the 13th and 135 on the 28th. Of the 28 new confirmed molecular cases reported this month, 15 new cases were reported this week: three on Monday, four each on Tuesday and Saturday, one each on Wednesday and Thursday and two on Friday, according to the DSHS March 12 COVID-19 Case Counts dashboard and New Probable Cases over Time by County report.
Twenty additional probable cases have also been reported during the first 13 days of March, including four Saturday, two on Friday and one each on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. That’s down from 85 new probable cases reported for Hopkins County Feb. 1-13 and 80 new probable cases from Jan. 1-12. Texas Department of State Health Services did not begin reporting new probable cases daily until Dec. 11; a total of 963 probable cases had been documented since the state agency began requiring healthcare agencies to report positive COVID-19 antigen test results and cases in which a county resident has a combination of symptoms and a known exposure to someone with COVID-19 without a more likely diagnosis. Thirteen new probable cases were reported on Dec. 11, and 40 from Dec. 7-11.
A total of 54 Hopkins County residents have recovered from COVID-19 this month, 45 of those this week – Four Sunday, two Monday, three Tuesday, 15 Wednesday, six Thursday, eight Friday and seven Saturday. That means recoveries outpace new cases, 55 to 48 so far this month.
Cumulatively, that’s 2,715 recoveries out of the 2,972 Hopkins County residents who’ve had COVID-19 since March 21, 2020 (the date local emergency management official began giving regular updates regarding COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County).
Unfortunately, there have also been three Hopkins County residents confirmed this month to have died from COVID-19, two on March 2 and one on March 6. So far, that’s one more COVID-19 fatality than during the first 13 days of February, which concluded with five COVID-19 deaths. In fact, the last time the monthly COVID-19 death total was a single digit was last August, when six Hopkins County residents died from novel coronavirus 2019. Cumulatively, that’s 107 Hopkins County residents who have been confirmed by death certificate to have died from COVID-19 in the last year.
That reduces the active COVID-19 cases count among Hopkins County residents from 172 last Saturday to 148 March 13. While not as low as the 129 active cases on Nov. 13, the 148 active cases is significantly less than the 267 active cases reported Dec. 13, the 239 active cases on Jan. 13, and 208 on Feb. 13.
Vaccine Data
As of 11:59 p.m. March 12, a total 4,137 people in Hopkins County had received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and were waiting to receive the second of either the Pfizer or Moderna shots, that’s 165 additional people getting their first dose of vaccine on Friday. Another 45 people in Hopkins County were fully vaccinated for COVID-19 on Friday, increasing the total number of vaccinated Hopkins County residents who have been fully vaccinated, either with one of the new Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines or both doses of a Moderna or Pfizer 2-dose vaccine, to 2,614. That includes 447 people who received either a first dose of the Moderna vaccine or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine the week of this week, according to the DSHS March 13 COVID-19 Vaccine Data dashboard.
Hopkins County, after a week with no allocates of doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, was allocated 500 first doses during Week 13 of distribution (March 8-14), 300 first doses of Moderna to the hospital and 200 doses of the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine (100 each to CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic and Brookshire’s Pharmacy); as well as 200 second doses of the vaccine. In fact, Hopkins County providers have been allocated first doses of the vaccine in only 8 of the first 13 weeks of distribution, and second doses in only six of those weeks.
For Week 14 of distribution, March 15-21, one provider in Hopkins County is among the 445 in 178 counties across the state allocated first doses of COVID-19 vaccines. CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs has been designated to receive another 300 doses of the Moderna vaccine this week to administer to eligible individuals, which starting March 15 (in addition to individuals who have certain health conditions, healthcare and emergency services workers, teachers and child care workers and adults 65 and up) has been expanded to include anyone age 50 or older who have yet to receive any COVID-19 vaccination — if they can get on a list and schedule an appointment to receive the shot.
For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine, visit dshs.texas.gov/covidvaccine
Click the following links for information on
Weekly vaccine allocations, including the full list for the week of March 15
Vaccination hub providers with contact information
DSHS/TDEM map of vaccine providers
Texas COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Wasted Report
Testing
A total 20 COVID-19 tests were conducted March 11 at the free testing site, increasing the total number of molecular tests performed at the site since it opened to 9,941.
Twenty-three molecular COVID-19 tests were performed in Hopkins County on Friday, increasing the total to 15,770 molecular COVID-19 tests conducted in Hopkins County, including all molecular tests performed not only at the free testing sites but also by healthcare providers in Hopkins County.
Four antigen tests and five antibody tests were also performed by Hopkins County healthcare providers on Friday, increasing the cumulative total reported to DSHS to 2,842 antigen tests and 1,842 antibody tests performed in Hopkins County since the state began tracking the data several months into the pandemic.
Overall, that’s 51 additional COVID-19 tests performed on Friday in Hopkins County, increasing the total number of all COVID-19 tests performed in Hopkins County and reported over the last year to DSHS to 20,473, according to the DSHS March 13 COVID-19 Test and Hospital Data dashboards.
Free COVID-19 testing will continue during the month of March at 128 Jefferson Street in Sulphur Springs. Online registration is required at GoGetTested.com to schedule an oral swab test inside the Red Cross (Old Fidelity Express building) across College Street from First Baptist Church.
Como Pickton FFA Chapter Annual Meal and Auction Fundraiser
The students of the Como-Pickton CISD FFA Chapter were determined to have a successful “stew and auction” this Spring because they were not able to hold their fundraiser in the Autumn of 2020 due to Covid-19 restrictions. The Spring event, held on Thursday March 11, 2021 was modified to become a ‘Baked Potato Supper and Auction” and it turned out great. A good crowd was already gathering inside the high school cafeteria prior to serving time at 6pm, and good interest was indicated in the items that were coming up for bid. In all there were 67 lots of auction items. The majority were student-built projects and others were new items donated by local businesses and members of the community.
Providing hospitality as the audience gathered were FFA Chapter members and officers, all wearing green chapter shirts. Officers are (shown L. to R.) Sentinel Freshman Landon Cummins, Secretary Sr. Maci Wright, Vice President Jr. Presley Cummins, President Sr. Katie Morgan, Cummins, Treasurer Jr. Kara Tifft, Reporter Jr. Leslie Galvan. Ag Instructors and FFA Advisors are Miss Chanda Neal and Michael Bowen.
As a special part of the evening, according to Miss Neal ” our FFA chapter took the time to recognize Mrs. Betty Flora for her contributions to our chapter and community over the years. She was inducted as an Honorary FFA Member. We also awarded her with a shop-made “God Made a Farmer” bench.
Proceeds from the dinner and the auction amounted to over $15,000 and will be ised for FFA, FCCLA and Skills USA students programs at Como-Pickton CISD.
Cumby City Council Lifts Mask Requirement, To Finish Installing Waterline On Black Jack Road
City Employees To Be Reimbursed For Some Time Used During Winter Storm, Elected Officials Salaries To Be Reduced
Cumby City Council worked through the regular portion of this week’s meeting agenda in just under 45 minutes, then spent a little over 20 minutes discussing a water line on Black Jack Road. The City mask requirement, police department Facebook page, reduction of elected officials salaries, establishing a separate fund for sanitation services, reimbursement of some time employees used during the winter storm, reappointment of a city attorney and moving of a water line were all considered at the March 11 meeting.
Staffing Appointments
Cumby Mayor Doug Simmerman announced that the city has selected a new secretary, as Codi Reynold’s resignation from the position was officially accepted on Jan. 28. The new secretary will begin her duties starting next Wednesday.
“We think she’s going to be a good fit and are excited to get her here,” Simmerman said.
Mayor pro Tem Sheryl Lackey has been serving as interim secretary expressed appreciation to utilities clerk Kelsey Thomas who has been “a tremendous help,” along with the Municipal Court Clerks Rita Graham and Alexis Pryor, and Judge Lana Adams
The Cumby City Council on Dec. 8 terminated Jay Garrett’s service to the city as attorney. During a special meeting on Dec. 15, Leigh Thompson was appointed Cumby City Attorney for a 90-day probationary period. That probationary period is ending. The City Council Thursday night appointed Thompson officially as City Attorney. Thompson, at the Dec. 15 meeting, noted she had worked for Garrett’s office before, handling prosecutorial aspects of the job, and has worked well with Judge Lana Adams before.
“I think Leigh has done an outstanding job, doing her due diligence and research. I think she has the city’s best interests at heart. I think she’d doing an outstanding job,” Simmerman said Thursday.
Chief Jeff Hundley also introduced a new officer to Cumby.
Pay Matters
Alderman Amber Hardy asked the council to consider reimbursing employees for comp time or vacation time used to make up for days they were out due the week of the winter storm. She suggested rewarding them with extra comp time or vacation time as it wasn’t fair they were unable to be at their usual post during the uncontrollable weather event.
City officials noted that the office employees may have been at home those days, but they weren’t sitting doing nothing. They answered phones and worked on their computers from home when possible. For instance, one court clerk used 11 hours of comp time and the
Photo of downtown Cumby taken by Police Chief Jeff Hundley at 7:01 Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, urging residents to stay home if possible as conditions were expected to worsen and did that week. 
Image taken from a video from the dash of Cumby Police Chief Jeff Hundley’s patrol vehicle in answer to residents’ inquiries regarding the condition of Interstate 30 in Cumby on Feb. 17, 2021.
Also proposed was to reward the maintenance and other employees who were on duty during the storm.
The city voted to reimburse office employees the pay different between comp and vacation time, up to 32 hours and to grant public works and police who worked those day with comp time at time and a half.
Hardy also proposed a resolution reducing elected officials salaries. She said she’d like to see pay to elected city officials eliminated entirely. It was noted that those who serve for free typically do so with the best interest of the city and those they serve at heart.
Because the city legally can’t stop pay in the middle of a term, a measure to eliminate pay for elected officials would need to be approved at the end of December before the year that the new term starts. For Places 3, 4 and 5, an end or reduction in pay could not be enacted until 2023. For the current cycle, the resolution should have been approved by the end of December 2020. However, that does not prohibit those who do receive compensation from returning the check and funding to the city.
The motion for pay reduction passed as proposed to begin at the next possible cycle.
Mask Mandate
The Cumby City Council also voted to lift the masking requirement for city employees and facilities, leaving the decision to the individual whether or not to wear a mask, but will plan to continue social distancing measures for at least the next 3 months. Since that will limit the number able to attend, the City Council will continue to provide a Zoom link which those who are unable to attend in-person city council meetings or are unable to attend can use to virtually log into and view the meeting. The possibility of having one computer to connect the entire council to the Zoom meeting was discussed as an alternative to all of the Council members logging into Zoom individually for each City Council meeting.
Judge Adams noted that courts can reopen for jury trials on April 1. They have nine pending. They do not anticipate beginning those until May. Social distancing will be a consideration.
Waste Disposal
Simmerman asked the council to consider creating a separate fund for Republic Services, so that funds paid monthly on utility bills for waste disposal can go directly into that fund so that it’s there in a separate fund in the city accounting system, ready to pay the city’s bill to Republic at the appropriate time. Currently that money is going into the general fund.
“We want to make sure we have the money there to pay that bill. Since we collect it every month, we need to be sure we have the money there to pay that,” the mayor noted.
Lackey said when customers’ bills are entered into the accounting system, funds can be allocated into the different funds. She said to the best of her knowledge, that can be removed from the general fund and added to the undeposited funds and allocated for waste disposal service.
The measure to create a separate fund in the accounting system for waste disposal received unanimous approval from Cumby City Council.
Other Regular Items
Lackey reported the City Employee Handbook is about 85 percent complete. She experienced some technical issues with the computer system being used, so she wasn’t able to give it a final polish, including aligning of an appendix and things of that nature.
A new Facebook page is being readied for the City of Cumby. The City Council will have access to it. They were asked to look it over to make sure everything is in order before its ready. The old Facebook page will cease being used, and includes a notation referring community members to the new official City of Cumby Facebook page.
Black Jack Road Water Line
Cumby City Council concluded the regular portion of the March 11 meeting at 7:12 p.m. and entered into executive session to discuss a proposal from the owner regarding a water line and state permitting at 11282 Black Jack Road.
At the Dec. 8 City Council meeting, Simmerman noted that Hot Rods by JSK (Jeff Kinsey) plans to expand the business by adding another building to the property. The existing water line runs across the property with no easement. The city maintenance staff had begun moving the water line within the city’s easement, down the ditch along the service road. However, the city is waiting on a permit from the state. Initially, the state had approved it, then notified City officials that the state needs the coordinates, and all work should halt until that time. Simmerman noted the coordinates can be attained from Hopkins County CAD. Kinsey indicated he would get the coordinates to provide to the state. no action was taken at that time. The matter was tabled. As of the Feb 22 City Council meeting approval was still needed from the state for the permit to proceed, officials reported. Kinsey expressed exasperation that the process was taking so long. His plans are on hold until the matter can be settled. No action could be taken.
When Cumby City Council returned from the closed session at 7:33 p.m. March 11, they were ready to vote on the issue. A motion was made to complete the process of moving the water lines at 11282 Black Jack Road. The conclusion stated was that since the city began the work the City of Cumby is responsible for finishing the work required to move the water line where it should have been installed to begin with. The Council agreed to proceed with relocation of the water line from the property along the easement.
Over 55 Indictments Signed During March 2021 Grand Jury Session
More than 55 indictments were signed during the March 2021 Grand Jury session, pushing those cases forward for prosecution.
The charges range from stalking, assault of a public servant, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment to felony drunk driving, money laundering, evading arrest in a vehicle, burglary and theft offenses. At least half of the charges were for controlled substance and marijuana offenses, according to the list released by the District Clerk’s Office this week.
Approximately 45 individuals were named in the indictments, including at least six people accused of more than one offense and, in a few cases, more than one individual was alleged to have participated in the same offense.
Kathleen Rose Ramshur was indicted during the March 5, 2020 Hopkins County Grand Jury session on stalking and tampering with or fabricating evidence with intent to impair it. She was arrested on June 2, 2020, by a Texas Ranger for allegedly stalking a former Sulphur Springs police officer, when he returned to town briefly over the summer.
The officer alleged being stalked 8 years before, with a cell phone user’s number distorted or masked when it was used to sent harassing messages. The officer, who moved from Sulphur Springs after accepting employment elsewhere, said the contact ceased after he moved to another town. Following a brief visit by the man to Sulphur Springs over the summer, the phone messages reportedly resumed. Through investigation officials reported obtaining information implicating Kathleen Rose Ramshur as the suspect in the stalking, officials reported.
While being interviewing, Ramshur was reportedly asked to release her cell phone to the Texas Ranger, so items on the phone could be downloaded as part of the stalking investigation. The then 45-year-old Sulphur Springs woman claimed it was in the process of downloading and eventually turned the phone over to the Ranger, arrest reports alleged. When a sheriff’s detective attempted to download the contents of the phone, he learned the phone had been reset, in what appeared to officials to be an attempt to destroy evidence of the crime, according to arrest reports. When the Ranger questioned Ramshur about it, Ramshur allegedly admitted she was attempting to destroy all evidence of the stalking crime, the arrest report alleged.
Ramshur was arrested June 2, 2020, on both a stalking charge and a tampering with evidence charge for trying to “dump” the contents of her phone. She was released from Hopkins County jail June 4, 2020 on a $15,000 bond per charge, according to jail reports.
Named in three assault of a public servant indictments was Jacob Wyatt Burgess.
The 28-year-old has remained in jail since his arrest March 22, 2020 on a criminal trespassing charge after he was caught at a County Road 1441 residence for which he’d previously been issued a trespass warning. At the time of his arrest in March 22, officials were reportedly investigating a report of an alleged sex crime by Burgess. After interviews, investigators received and served Burgess with a second-degree felony warrant alleging indecency with a child by sexual contact the next day, officials reported following Burgess’ arrest in early 2020.
While still in custody on Dec. 2, 2020, Burgess allegedly began fighting with three corrections officers, who were attempting to remove him from his cell in order for it to cleaned. He allegedly struck all three jailers with his hands and feet more than once, causing bodily injury to the jail officers. He was indicted March 5, 2021 on the three assault on a public servant. charges.
Leeroy Cecilio Luna was indicted March 5, 2021 on an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.
The 33-year-old Sulphur Springs man was arrested Jan. 9, 2021, on he aggravated assault charge and a public intoxication charge after allegedly making a threat with a knife at a North Davis Street location, according to police reports. He was determined to be intoxicated in a public place. Then, officers were told by several witnesses that Luna had made a threat with a knife to another person present. Officers searched the location but did not find a weapon. Luna was taken to jail, where jail staff recovered from Luna’s pants pocket a weapon matching the description of the knife used during the alleged threat. Luna was released from Hopkins County jail on Jan. 10 on a $35,000 bond on the second-degree felony charge, according to arrest and jail reports.
Indicted on three theft of a firearm charges and one unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon was 24-year-old Justin Alexander Carty of Commerce. Cordryc Quinnshau Shropshire of Sulphur Springs was also indicted on a related theft of a firearm charge.
Carty was identified via a Crime Stoppers tip Dec. 30, 2020, to be a potential person of interest in multiple theft/burglary cases. They contacted Carty at a Helm Lane apartment, where one pistol was found in a case in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator. Carty allegedly admitted to breaking into cars on Jill Lane as well as the Dec. 27 incident and was found to be a convicted felon, sheriff’s officers alleged in December 2020.
Investigators contacted 27-year-old Shropshire who allegedly admitted to trading two stolen firearms for marijuana. Two additional guns reportedly taken during the Dec. 27 burglary were located on a bedroom closet shelf, sheriff’s officers alleged in a December 2020 news release. Shropshire claimed he’d had a third firearm found in the apartment for more than a year. A records check showed the gun had been reported stolen in 2011.
Both were arrested Dec. 30, 2020 on the charges they were indicted on during the March 5 Grand Jury session. Carty has remained in Hopkins County jail since his arrest; bond was set at $5,000 on the theft of firearm charges and $10,000 on the unlawful possession of firearm by a felon charge, according to jail reports. Shropshire was released from Hopkins County jail on New Year’s Eve on a $5,000 bond on the theft of firearm charge, jail reports show.
Michael Leslie Copeland was indicted during the March 5, 2021 court session on a burglary of a habitation charge.
Deputies arrested the 40-year-old Cooper man, who appeared to be sleeping in his vehicle at the roadside Dec. 23, 2020, following what is believed to be a crime spree involving mail theft and a home burglary. Copeland, at the time, claimed he was resting in the road after leaving a County Road 1190 residence, where he used to live. He claimed he had yet to change his mailing address so he was just checking the mail box for mail, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Seeing several open containers in the vehicle, the deputy searched the silver vehicle. Three debit cards that did not belong to Copeland and multiple articles of mail from multiple addresses on CR 1190 were located, the deputy wrote in arrest reports. As a result, Copeland was taken into custody for mail theft and fraudulent use or possession of credit/debit card information.
Another deputy, apprised of the situation located an open door on a vehicle at the address where he claimed to have previously lived. The vehicle appeared to have been rummaged through, the front door of the residence appeared to have been forced open, a window unit appeared to be missing and the inside of the residence appeared to have been destroyed, deputies alleged in arrest reports. A ladder was propped next to a window on the rear of the residence and a window unit was located in the trunk of the vehicle, according to arrest reports. Thus, Copeland was also charged with burglary of a habitation in connection with the deputies’ findings on CR 1190. He had remained in the county jail since his arrest on the charges.
Clinton Scott Williams was indicted during for burglary of a habitation and possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
The 38-year-old was arrested early Jan. 9, 2021, after being caught at County Road 3364 residence window. The homeowner had a live feed from security cameras of someone shining a light through the windows. Deputies spotted Williams fleeing on foot from a back window. After a brief foot pursuit, he was taken into custody; he allegedly had 1.5 grams of methamphetamine in his pocket at the time of his arrest, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
He remained in jail from Jan. 8 through Feb. 26, when he was released on a $30,000 bond on the burglary charge and a $10,000 bond on the controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Mary Elizabeth Walker was indicted in March 2021 for possession of 4 grams or more but less than 200 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance and abandoning or endangering of a child-criminal negligence.
The 26-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested on Jan. 4, 2021 on the child endangerment charge warrant; the offense, according to arrest reports was alleged to have occurred on Nov. 28, 2020. She remained in Hopkins County jail on that charge until Feb. 10, 2021. She has at least four prior controlled substance arrests on her record, the last on Feb. 4 for less than 1 gram and a warrant for 1-4 grams on Dec. 2, 2020. She was released from jail on the latter on a $10,000 bond on Dec. 4, according to jail reports.
Pedro Esquivel-Carriezes was indicted was indicted for unauthorized use of a vehicle.
Cumby Police stopped the 33-year-old Grand Prairie man on Interstate 30 on Jan. 23, 2021; Esquivel-Carriezes was driving a car that’d been reported to Grand Prairie Police as stolen.
He was released from jail the next day on a $5,000 bond on the UUV charge, according to jail reports.
Jesse J. Anderson, 33, of Arkansas was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on an evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge.
He was arrested Sept. 26, 2020 on the charge. A state trooper tried to stop him for traveling on Interstate 30 at speed from 75 to more than 100 miles per hours. A bag was thrown out the driver’s side window and continued on I-30, increasing speed, passing a big rig on the shoulder and weaving between vehicles. A Cumby Police spiked the car’s tires at mile marker 100. It continued to the 107 mile marker before stopping. Suspected codeine and a bag of suspected marihuana was found in the car. All four occupants denied ownership and were arrested on that charge. Anderson also was charged with evading arrest in the vehicle. He was released from jail on Sept. 28, 2020 on a $50,000 bond on one controlled substance charge, $15,000 bond on the evading arrest charge and $1,000 on the possession of marijuana charge.
Ronald Floyd Jr. and Erik Maray Williams were indicted on one count each of money laundering.
Both were reportedly arrested on Jan. 8, 2021, following an I-30 traffic stop. A trooper alleged smelling marijuana. The occupants gave conflicting stories about their travels and destination. Williams then claimed to have a medical marijuana card and admitted to possessing marijuana; a useable quantify of marijuana and large amount of cash secured with rubber bands in Williams’ luggage. The 38-year-old Williams of Cincinnati claimed the cash was about $20,000. Floyd admitted to having a jar of marijuana; the trooper found a useable amount of marijuana and large amounts of currency 36-year-old Floyd of Cincinnati claimed amounted to about $43,000. All occupants from their vehicle were arrested and interviewed. A DPS canine reportedly alerted on the money, an indication to the state officials the money had been within close proximity to narcotics, the trooper alleged in arrest reports. Both were taken into custody for possession of marijuana and money laundering, the trooper alleged in arrest reports.
Gilbert Ray Collier Jr. was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on an evading arrest or detention with a vehicle charge.
Cumby police initially contacted Collier after the man claimed his vehicle had been grazed and pushed off the I-30 by another vehicle, but admitted when police arrive that the other car hadn’t actually struck his vehicle and asked for a wrecker. After the wrecker pulled the vehicle out of the mud, they began negotiating payment. The 33-year-old San Antonio man paid $74 of the $150 owed for the service, went back to his vehicle and refused to get out. When the officer reached for the key to shut off the ignition, Collier allegedly grabbed the officer’s hand, put the car in drive and sped off while holding the policeman’s arm. Fortunately, the officer disengaged and received only a minor scratch on his hand, according to arrest and police reports.
Collier got on I-30 and continued from the 112 to the 120 mile marker, where the vehicle’s tires were spiked, then another mile before stopping. When deputies approached the car, the man again refused their instructions to get out, so they removed him from the car. He was taken into custody and the car was impounded, adding to the bill fees he already owed for wrecker service in Hopkins County. He was arrested for evading arrest or detention with the vehicle and theft for not fully paying or making arrangement to pay for the tow out of the mud early Jan. 4, 2021, Cumby police and deputies alleged in arrest reports.
He remained in Hopkins County jail Thursday, March 11, 2021, in lieu of $10,000 bond on the evading charge and a $5,000 bond on the theft charge, according to jail reports.
Chun Zachary Lambert was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and theft of a firearm.
Lambert was arrested Jan. 13, 2021 and had remained in jail ever since. Bond was set at $20,000 on the unlawful possession charge and $10,000 on the theft charge. The 43-year-old The Colony resident was initially jailed on two aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charges and one charge each of fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, failure to identify and violation of parole charge and possession of a controlled substance charges, as well as two warrants for theft of property, following a Jan. 13 County Road 4711 disturbance involving a firearm. A search of his truck resulted in location of nearly 6 grams of suspected methamphetamine. He also allegedly ran his truck through a fence and had someone else’s wallet with 13 items of identifying information inside of it. He was served two weeks later with a warrant for the firearm theft, deputies alleged in arrest and jail reports.
Randy Dale Hargrave was also indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on an unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon charge.
The 45-year-old Cooper man was allegedly caught Jan. 8 by a deputy trying to discard a pill bottle out the passenger window of a truck during a traffic stop. The bottle allegedly contained nearly 7 grams of suspected methamphetamines. A firearm was also found in the truck; a records check of Hargrave’s criminal history showed he has prior felony convictions, so he was arrested not only on a controlled substance possession charge and a tampering with evidence charge for trying to discard the bottle, but also the firearm charge, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
Hargrave was released from Hopkins County jail Jan. 11, 2021 on a $30,000 bond on the controlled substance charge and $10,000 bond each on the tampering with evidence and firearm charge, according to jail reports.
Allen Dayne Lawson was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session for criminal mischief resulting in $30,000 to $150,000 worth of damage.
Lawson, while in jail for public intoxication following a Dec. 13 altercation with a truck driver at a Cumby rest stop, allegedly destroyed the protective padding on the door and tore a circular section from the wall of the “violent cell” he was placed in Dec. 14 for trying to physically harm himself. When he continued to display violent behavior, Lawson was placed into a restraint chair to prevent him from causing any further harm to himself and was charged with criminal mischief for the cell damage, deputies alleged in arrest reports.
The 62-year-old Quitman resident was released from Hopkins County jail later Dec. 14, 2020, on a $10,000 bond for a criminal mischief charge, according to jail reports.
Heather Marie Anderson was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on a credit or debit card abuse charge.
The 28-year-old was arrested Nov. 21, 2020, at a local motel, where deputies had received a tip the wanted woman could be found. the offense was alleged to have occurred on Sept. 28, 2020, on FM 1567 east, according to arrest reports.
Anderson was released from the county jail Sunday, Nov. 22, on a $10,000 bond on the credit or debit card abuse charge, according to jail reports.
Jose Juan Arellano-Soria was indicted for driving while intoxicated with a child passenger under 15 years of age.
The 29-year-old Winnsboro man was arrested early Jan. 17, for the charge. Troopers reportedly stopped him for driving 81 miles per hour in a 70 mph speed zone on SH 11 east, and the highway patrol noted he displayed signs of intoxication when contacted. He allegedly admitted to drinking 3-4 beers and showed signs of intoxication during standard field sobriety testing and was taken into custody for DWI. The man’s wife and three children, ages 3, 7 and 11 were reported in the pickup with him at the time of the traffic stop. The truck and kids were released to Arellano-Soria’s wife. He reportedly tested 0.127 and 0.13 on breath tests and was arrested on the felony DWI charge a well as not having a driver’s license, according to arrest reports. He was release from jail Jan. 20, 2021 on a $5,000 bond on the DWI charge, according to jail reports.
Melvin Jerome Askew Jr. and Johnny Vance Danner were both indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on one driving while intoxicated, third or more offense, charge each.
Askew was arrested on Dec. 12, 2020, and Dec. 26, 2020 on DWI charges. He was detained by an officer helping direct traffic for the annual Blue Santa distribution. Police reported Askew had heavy, slurred speech that sounded as if his tongue was swollen, as well as glassy, bloodshot eyes and continued to apologize. He showed clues of intoxication on horizontal gaze nystagmus tests but didn’t have vertical nystagmus, and refused to perform any other sobriety tests. Askew then agreed to submit to a blood sample, which was taken at the hospital, but not a breath test, police alleged in arrest reports. He was released from jail on Dec. 13 on a $10,000 bond. Askew was jailed again the day after Christmas on a DWI charge as well; he was released on a $2,000 bond on Dec. 27, according to jail reports. He had previously been arrested on May 15, 2005 and was released from jail the next day on a $1,000 bond for DWI; and was arrested Sept. 2 and released Sept. 3, 2016 on a $2,000 bond for DWI, according to jail reports.
Danner was arrested by Cumby police on June 6, 2020 on the felony DWI charge, following a single-vehicle traffic crash on I-30 west. When asked, the 60-year-old Arlington man alleged he’d had “a lot” to drink. He was unsteady on his feet and refused to perform sobriety tests. Although he was allowed to lean against his vehicle for balance, he reportedly fell to his knees and had to be assisted by two officers to a patrol vehicle. Danner had a prior third or more DWI conviction on his record, hence the felony charge, according to June 2020 arrest reports. He was released from Hopkins County jail the next day on a $10,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Indicted during the March 5 Grand Jury Session on a possession of 4 pounds or more but less than 5 pounds of marijuana charge was Brandon Jabbar Green. The 38-year-old Grand Prairie man was arrested by DPS on the charge on Nov. 1, 2020. He was released from Hopkins County jail later that day on a $2,000 bond on charge, according to jail reports.
Tommy Lee Davis was indicted on a possession of more than 1 gram but less than 4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance with intent to distribute charge, while Janie Natasha Johnson was indicted during the March 5 Grand Jury session on a manufacture or delivery of less than 1 gram of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance charge.
Davis was arrested Dec. 9, 2020, after police found over 6 grams of suspected crack cocaine and packaging in the 44-year-old Sulphur Springs man’s pocket, and other drug paraphernalia found in his possession during a late night traffic stop, police alleged in arrest reports. Davis was released from Hopkins County jail on a $50,000 bond, according to jail reports.
Johnson, who is also known by Janie Natasha Crist, Natasha Janie Johnson and Janie Natasha Craig, was arrested by Commerce Police on Dec. 2, 2020, at a Commerce Inn on a Hopkins County warrant, then transferred to Hopkins County jail on the charge. The 39-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was released from Hopkins County jail on Dec. 4 on a $20,000 bond. Johnson was then jailed from Dec. 11-15 for violation of probation on a manufacture or delivery of 1-4 grams of a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance.
Elizabeth Cadena was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session for possession of less than 28 grams of a Penalty Group 3 controlled substance in a drug-free zone. The 19-year-old Sulphur Springs woman was arrested Nov. 1, 2020 by police, who reported finding a baggy of a suspected marijuana, a bag with one white pill and one blue pill later identified as Xanax in her truck during a routine traffic stop.
Brady Michael Miller was indicted during the March 2021 Grand Jury session on a possession of 4 grams or more but less than 400 grams of a Penalty Group 2 controlled substance. The 20-year-old was arrested early Aug. 20, 2020 by deputies who reported finding a green-like substance inside of clear pill capsules believed to be mushrooms, edible brownies, suspected marijuana and two fake driver’s licenses during an I-30 traffic stop. Miller admitted the pills were mushrooms, having marijuana and fake driver’s licenses, resulting in his arrest for possession of two controlled substances, marijuana and fraudulent use or possession of identifying information, officers alleged in arrest reports. He was released from jail Aug. 22, 2020 on $35,000 per controlled substance charge, and $5,000 bond each on the two other charge, according to jail reports.
The other half of the indictments signed during the March 2021 Grand Jury session were for possession of Penalty Group 1 controlled substance; included among the 22 accused in the indictments of having a Penalty Group 1 controlled substance were:
- David Lane Basham – less than 1 gram;
- Carolyn Denise Brumley – 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Walter Lynn Crawford – less than 1 gram;
- Samantha Mitchell Elkins 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Mary Angela Denton – less than 1 gram;
- Leah Brooke Fisher – less than 1 gram;
- Kelly Wayne Gathright – less than 1 gram;
- Lori Ann Hall – less than 1 gram;
- Justin Powell Freeman – 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Carolyn Suzanne Hinson – less than 1 gram;
- Earnest Miller Johnson – less than 1 gram;
- Melissa Ann Kerby – 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Bailey Magnuson – less than 1 gram;
- Kevin Wayne Morey – 4 grams but less than 200 grams;
- Shannon Aaron Payne – less than 1 gram;
- Stacy Lynn Rasch – less than 1 gram;
- Doris Rosamarie Russell – less than 1 gram;
- Cecily Elizabeth Saffel – 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Stephanie Deann Smith – less than 1 gram;
- Justinian M. Smith, 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams;
- Jeramy Lynard Thomas – 400 grams or more; and
- Russell James Whited – less than 1 gram.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
KSSTRadio.com publishes Sulphur Springs Police Department reports and news. The Police Department is located at 125 Davis St., Sulphur Springs, Texas. Non-emergency calls can be made to (903) 885-7602.
If you have an emergency dial 9-1-1.
The Sulphur Springs Police Department continues to serve its citizens with pride in its overall mission and will strive to provide the best possible police force in the 21st century.
If you have an emergency, dial 9-1-1
The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.
Email Scam Asks TDLR Licensees To Validate Information
Texas Department of Licensing And Regulations Recommends Deleting Emails Without Clicking Enclosed Link
AUSTIN – An unknown number of people appear to have been targeted with an email scam that asks them to validate their profile information with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. TDLR did not send the email, and the agency urges anyone who received it to delete the email without clicking on the link or confirming or providing any personal information, TDLR noted in a press release Friday.
A TDLR licensee alerted the agency to the email scam, and the TDLR Information Security team is investigating.
The email appears to come from TDLR but has a return email address that does not belong to the agency. Recipients are falsely told that TDLR is requiring all licensees to validate their information on the website as of April 2021, or they may “experience issues with their license.” TDLR sent no such email.
Recipients who click on the link are taken to a page that appears to belong to TDLR and are asked to supply information including their date of birth, Social Security number and driver license number. If someone clicked on the link in the email and provided the information requested, they should follow the steps suggested by the Federal Trade Commission.
TDLR reminds everyone to protect their personal information while they’re online:
- Never disclose your password to anyone, even a customer service representative from TDLR.
- If you are providing personal information to a state agency – or any company – make sure the site is encrypted before providing any personal information. Look for a key or lock on your screen. But do not assume this is safe, be sure you are connected to Texas.gov
- Use unique passwords when setting up an account. Don’t re-use passwords and avoid using your date of birth, Social Security number, or simple words as a password. Use a password manager to assist in creating and tracking secure passwords.
- Avoid sending personal information via email unless the security method used is specifically outlined and the data is encrypted.
- Use a secure browser.
