Interstate 30 Traffic Stop Nets Methamphetamine, Marijuana, 2 Arrests
Deputies arrested an Atlanta woman and Fort Worth man after finding bags of methamphetamine and marijuana in their possession during an Interstate 30 traffic stop late Monday night, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Patterson reported stopping a silver Chevrolet Impala at 11:25 p.m. June 29 on I-30 west at mile marker 123 (League Street) for having an obscured license plate and because the license plate light was out.
As he contacted the occupants of the car, Patterson alleged smelling an odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. HCSO Lt. Amanda Weatherford assisted with the stop.
While checking the occupants for weapons and narcotics, Weatherford reported finding a bag of methamphetamines and a bag of marijuana on the female passenger, identified in arrest reports as 40-year-old Veronica Bryant of Atlanta, Texas. A search of the vehicle revealed a sealable bag with more bags that contained suspected meth in the center console within reach of the driver, identified in arrest reports as 33-year-old Quintin Leon Robinson of Fort Worth, Patterson alleged in arrest reports.
Robinson allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day. Marijuana cigarette remnants were allegedly located inside the storage area in the driver’s side door as reported by Robinson, the deputy alleged in arrest reports. Inside of the bag found on Bryant more marijuana remnants were also found.
Both Robinson (whose aliases include Karl Richard Cherico and Nighttrain) and Bryant (whose aliases include Veronica Pendleton, Pendleton Veronia Bruyant, Pendelton Veronica Bryant and variations thereof) were arrested at 11:43 p.m. June 29, 2020 and transported to Hopkins County jail. The suspected meth weighed 1.5 grams including packaging and field-tested positive for meth, resulting in both being booked into Hopkins County jail after 2 a.m. June 30 on a possession of 1 gram or more but less than 4 grams of a controlled substance charge, according to jail reports.
Both Bryant and Robinson was released from jail later June 30 on a $10,000 bond on the third-degree felony 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.
Louisiana Man Accused of Vehicle Burglary
A 41-year-old Louisiana man was accused of a vehicle burglary after police caught him in the front seat of a vehicle with a damaged door handle, a hollowed out key hole and a damaged ignition switch.
Sulphur Springs Police officers were reportedly dispatched to a report of suspicious activity, what appeared to a witness to be two white males breaking into a vehicle. Just prior to arrival, police were told one of the pair had left the location in the vehicle in which they had arrived.
Upon arrival, officers observed one man sitting in the front of a truck. When police ordered him out of the truck, he reportedly told them he had permission to look at the truck, which was for sale. He showed the officer a cell phone which contained text messages exchanged with someone about looking at the truck, according to arrest reports.
The office took a closer look at the truck. The policeman reported the truck door handle appeared to have been damaged and the key hole was hollowed out as if there was forced entry. Two pairs of pliers were visible on the front seat, where the man was located, and the ignition also appeared to have been damaged, the officer alleged in arrest reports.
Police contacted the truck’s owner, who advised the truck was locked and not damaged when he left it at the location, so the man should not have been inside of the truck. The owners reportedly told police the man had contacted him earlier, claimed to be a truck driver who would be passing through Sulphur Springs late at night and didn’t want to drive to Cumby to look at the pickup. So, the owner drove the truck to the address and parked it for the man to look at overnight, police noted in arrest reports.
The Louisiana man was taken into custody and booked into Hopkins County jail early Tuesday morning June 30 on a Class A misdemeanor vehicle burglary charge, according to arrest and jail reports. He was released from Hopkins County jail later June 30. bond was set at $2,500 on the charge, according to jail reports.
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.
Hopkins County COVID-19 Update: 8 New Positive Cases Reported June 30
Newsom: CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Sulphur Springs Still Has Room In COVID-19 Unit
The Hopkins County Emergency Management Team at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, reported they’d received notification of 8 new positive COVID-19 cases in Hopkins County. That makes a total of 59 positive cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began in MidMarch, including 41 Hopkins County residents who have recovered. That leaves 18 active cases of COVID-19 among Hopkins County residents, the emergency officials reported.
Very little information was reported other than the cases include residents of both the city and county.
HCEMT also reported that one of the previously reported positive cases was a duplicate, which bumped the prior total to 51. Hopkins County Emergency Management Coordinator Andy Endsley explained the Local Health Authority nurse during regular auditing process discovered one of the previous cases reported by the state was a duplicate.
Endsley explained that sometimes, when patients are retested to see if they can be cleared as recovered or to return to work, the test may show as a positive, and inadvertently be counted by the state as new positive COVID-19 case.
“I have to give credit to the hospital, EMS, sheriff, police – everyone. Everyone is doing a great job here in Hopkins County. Newsom said.
Hopkins County Judge Robert Newsom said he’d been in contact with officials at the hospital and was told CHRISTUS – Mother Frances Hospital Sulphur Springs “is in great shape and can handle whatever comes.”
Hospital Preparedness
“If we have a surge, I feel confident we can care for them. We have the equipment and appropriate protocols, PPE, to do so in a safe manner,” CMFH-SS CEO Paul Harvey told Hopkins County Hospital District Board of Directors at the group’s June 23 meeting.
CMFHSS staff converted it’s ICU at the beginning of the pandemic to a designated COVID-19 unit, with 10 beds in a climate controlled environment for patients who test positive and need additional medical care or further testing, Harvey explained.
As a precaution as the pandemic progressed across the state, the hospital also sequestered 10 beds on the second floor as a COVID-ready unit, able to deal with overflow and patients, if needed, Harvey told HCHD board.
As the number of new COVID-19 cases in Texas and other states began to spike to record numbers of COVID-19 cases following Memorial Day weekend, CMFHSS did see a spike in patients for COVID-19 related services. However, the Sulphur Springs hospital as of Tuesday, June 23, had not been impacted nearly as much as some other hospitals in the East Texas area, nor as heavily as in the first few weeks of COVID-19 pandemic, Harvey reported at the hospital district meeting.
While the hospital may see patients admitted for COVID-19 related services, Harvey noted, that does not mean they have been admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 nor does it mean that those admitted require a ventilator. For instance, if the hospital saw 2 patients, it’s possible only 1 tested positive for COVID-19, and the other(s) may be “under investigation.”
Harvey assured HCHD Board that steps are taken to protect all patients and staff at the hospital from exposure. That includes screenings and certain precautions for all associates and visitors to the hospital, CMFHSS CEO explained.
While visitation of patients is limited to 1 person, it is and has continued throughout the pandemic to allow a visitor in all units except the COVID-19 unit for those meeting certain criteria. There continues to be one point of entry for a while longer as well, Harvey noted during the HCHD report.
CMFHSS is working with four companies to screen their workers daily, and has increased educational efforts of how to care for employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Harvey.
Just as CMFHSS’ COVID-19 unit can treat not only Hopkins County residents, but people from other areas, the hospital also tests people from other counties as well. Some tested are people who work in Hopkins County but live elsewhere, as well as people from other counties who need testing.
That means that while CMFHSS may provide services to a patient who tests positive for COVID-19, that case may not necessarily be a Hopkins County case nor recorded in Hopkins County. Positive cases are assigned to counties by the patient’s address, HCHD COO/EMS Director Brent Smith noted during the June 23 HCHD meeting.
Those, coupled with the hospital’s dedication to ensuring legal patients confidentiality for all patients, are among the reasons CMHFSS does not give out statistics regarding COVID-19. Doing so would not present a true picture of operations at the hospital.
Newsom affirmed during the June 30 COVID-19 news conference that he’d been assured “there is room in the COVID unit” at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital-Sulphur Springs, which the HCEM officials said is “not overflowing” with COVID-19 cases.
Restaurant Capacity
Hopkins County Emergency Management Team also reported that at this time restaurants in Hopkins County can continue to operate at 75 percent capacity inside.
Endsley said last Friday that Hopkins County meets the terms for the exception outlined in Governor Abbott’s Executive Order GA-28, which would allow them to remain open at 75 percent occupancy even though restaurants in most other counties in the state are limited to 50 percent.
“We are at 75 percent because we filled out the proper DSHS paper work. Even though it’s gone up, the number of cases is s still lower her than some counties surrounding us. We are truly blessed in that,” Endsley said.
The HCEMT June 30 explained that the rule is for “10 or less.” However, until further notice by state officials, they may continue to operate at 75 percent capacity.
The HCEMT continue to reiterate Governor Abbott’s encouragement for Texans to “wear a mask, wash their hands, stay six feet apart from others in public, and stay home if they can” to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Wildcats Football Coach Greg Owens Says He Sees Progress From Those Showing Up for The Edge
The Sulphur Springs Edge conditioning program is in its’ fourth week. Friday (June 26) , after three weeks of The Edge, Wildcats Athletic Director and Head Football Coach Greg Owens said yes indeed, he is seeing progress from the players who are regularly showing up for The Edge. He talked about players picking up some technical stuff in the weight room. Coach Owens said they are getting so much better. He said the key is the daily repetitions they are getting. The UIL is also now allowing coaches to teach one hour of football skills each session. Coach Owens said the teaching is what has his coaching staff excited. He said it is helping to make up for the loss of spring football in May due to coronavirus concerns. Coach Owens said players attending The Edge will have a great advantage over those not showing up. He said the non-attendees will be behind when football practice begins in early August. Coach Owens said they will be required to play catch up and he noted that will frustrate coaches. When The Edge gets into July, Coach Owens said there would be an effort to get some more players into The Edge. He is hoping that by mid-July, the Wildcats will be able to do more group things that they are unable to do right now. Coach Owens said athletes that make it through The Edge tend to gain confidence. The Edge will run through the end of July.
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.
Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Likes Cumby to Win Their District This Fall
You might say Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine is bullish on the Cumby Trojans. They pick the Trojans to win their District 9-2A in Division II this fall. Cumby, under new head coach Charles Boles, is in the same district with Clarksville, Simms Bowie, Maud, Detroit and Quinlan Boles. The Trojans have 23 returning lettermen off of a team that finished with an 8-4 record and were an area finalist last season. Cumby returns 5 starters on both offense and defense. Cumby running back Jacob Demidio, who gained 1432 yards last season, was selected by Texas Football as the district’s Preseason MVP. He is also on the magazine’s Cumby players to watch list along with running back Keagan McCollum, offensive lineman and linebacker Jacob Groves, wide receiver and defensive back Justin Demidio and wide receiver and defensive back Colton Lindsay. Listed as the Trojans top junior is wide receiver and defensive back Fabian Camargo and their top sophomore is said to be linebacker and running back Logan Butler. McCollum and Jacob Demidio are expected to give the Trojans a strong 1-2 punch at running back. Justin Demidio is the top returning tackler for the Trojans. Should be an interesting year for the Trojans.
Winnsboro Police Department Media Report
The Winnsboro Police Department media report for the week of June 22 through June 28, 2020, included the following activity:
Arrests
Tyler Wright, age 27, of Quitman, was arrested on 6/26/2020 for Driving While Intoxicated 2nd
Bobby Overstreet, age 55, of Leesburg, was arrested on 6/25/2020 on a Wood County warrant for DUI Liquor and a Dallas County warrant for Assault – Injury to a child.
Calls for Service
The Winnsboro Police Department responded to a total of 159 calls for
service during this reporting period.
Citations
The Winnsboro Police Department issued 33 citations and 71 warnings
during this reporting period.
121 Ballots Cast During 1st Day Of Early Voting In Party Primary Runoff Elections
The first day of early voting in the Party Primary runoff elections concluded Monday with 121 total ballots casts in Hopkins County, 106 cast in the Republican Primary Runoff and 15 in the Democratic Primary Runoff. Governor Greg Abbott on March 20 issued a proclamation postponing runoff elections across the state from May until July due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Early voting in the party primary runoff elections will continue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, June 29-Friday, July 10, in the Justice of Peace 2 Courtroom inside the Hopkins County Courthouse Annex Building (which houses the tax office and justice of the peace offices), located at 128 Jefferson St. in Sulphur Springs.
No voting will be conducted on either July 3 or July 4 in observance of the federal/state holiday.
On Primary Runoff Election Day, July 14, voting will be conducted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the four consolidated voting centers.
Click here to learn more about requirements for voting by mail in Texas. The last day applications for ballots by mail will be accepted is Thursday, July 2. The deadline to receive ballots by mail is July 14.
County Clerk Tracy Smith serves as early voting clerk; she may be contacted at her office at 128 Jefferson St., Suite C, Sulphur Springs; by phone at 903-438-4074; fax at 903-438-4110; or email at [email protected].
Republican Runoff
Forty voters cast ballots in the Republican Primary Runoff Monday morning, and 66 ballots were cast after lunch during the first day of early voting in the party primary runoffs, according to the running total posted by Election Judge Michael Wolfe.
State Representative, District 2
Hopkins County voters casting ballots in the Republican primary are asked to choose between incumbent Dan Flynn and challenger Bryan Slaton to serve as State Representative for District 2, which encompasses Hopkins, Hunt and Van Zandt counties.
The March primary concluded with Flynn receiving 12,246 votes or 44.76 percent of the overall votes 27,358 ballots cast in the District 2 State Representative Election. Slaton finished in second place with 9,889 voters or 26.15 percent and Dwayne “Doc” Collins received 5,223 votes or 19.09 percent of the overall ballots cast, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The winner of the Republican nomination for District 2 State Representative will face Democrat Bill Brannon in the General Election in November. Brannon, unchallenged for the party nomination, receive 4,408 votes in March.
Democratic Runoff
In the Democratic Primary, 11 voters cast ballots Monday morning, June 29, and 5 more voted in the afternoon, according to the running total posted by the presiding election judge.
Democratic voters in Hopkins County are asked to select their choices in two elections, Railroad Commissioner and United States Senator
Railroad Commissioner
Democratic candidates for Railroad Commissioner are Roberto R. “Beto” Alonzo or Chrysta Castañeda. Railroad Commissioners are elected statewide to six-year, staggered terms.
In the March primary for Railroad Commissioner, Castañeda received 598,639 votes or 33.85 percent of all Democratic ballots cast in the primary and Alonzo received 506,748 votes or 28.65 percent. The came in ahead of 2 challengers: Mark Watson who received 279,911 votes (15.83 percent) and Kelly Stone who received 383,453 votes (21.68 percent).
The winner of the Democratic nomination for Railroad Commissioner will face Republican James “Jim” Wright on the ballot in November. Wright defeated incumbent Ryan Sitton, 991,593 to 80,1904 votes or 55.29 percent to Sitton’s 4.71 percent.
US Senator
Democratic candidates on the July primary runoff ballot for United States Senator are Royce West and Mary “MJ” Hegar.
Hegar and and West lead in the March 3 Democratic Party Primary for US Senator, a ticket that included a dozen candidates. Hegar received 417,160 votes or 22.31 percent of the overall ballots cast. West received 274,074 or 14.66 percent overall. Additional Democratic results from the March Democratic primary for US Senator, as reported by the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, were as follows:
- Chris Bell, 159,751 votes (8.55 percent)
- Michael Cooper 92,463 votes (4.95 percent)
- Amanda K. Edward 189,624 votes (10.14)
- Jack Daniel Foster Jr. 31,718 votes (1.7 percent)
- Annie “Mamá” Garcia 191,900 votes (10.27 percent)
- Victor Hugo Harris 59,710 votes (3.19 percent)
- Sema Hernandez 137,892 votes (7.38 percent)
- D. R. Hunter 26,902 votes (1.44 perent)
- Adrian Ocegueda 41,566 votes (2.22 percent)
- Cristina Tzintzun Ramirez 246,659 votes (13.19 percent)
The Democratic Party winner will face incumbent John Cornyn on the November election ballot. Cornyn defeated challengers Virgil Bierschwale, John Anthony Castro, Dwayne Stovall and Mark Yancey in the March Republican Primary for US Senator.
Cornyn received 1,470,669 or 76.04 percent of the overall Republican ballots cast for US Senator. Bierschwale received 20,494 votes (1.06 percent), Castro 86,916 votes (4.49 percent), Stovall 231,104 votes (11.95 percent) and Yancey 124,864 votes (6.46 percent) in the Republican Party Primary Election for US Senator candidate.
Sulphur Springs’ Annual Clean Up Days Postponed, Again
The City of Sulphur Springs‘ annual clean up days for city residents have been postponed a second time due the COVID-19 pandemic, City Manager Marc Maxwell announced at 1:15 p.m. June 29, 2020.
Sulphur Springs’ annual clean up days, normally held in the spring, had been rescheduled for July 13-18. City officials today opted to error on the side of public health safety.
“In an effort to protect the public and city employees, I am postponing the annual Spring Cleanup again … this time indefinitely. As soon as conditions warrant, I will reschedule the cleanup,” Maxwell stated.
5th Suspect In Home Invasion Robbery In Custody
The fifth suspect wanted in connection with a home invasion and robbery on Lee Street is in custody at Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning on two aggravated robbery and one burglary of habitation with intent to commit other felony offense warrants.
Tyreese Tupac Shukar Williams turned himself in at Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office just after noon June 29, 2020 and was escorted into the county jail by Cpl. Todd Evans. The 21-year-old Paris man was booked on all three felony warrants for his alleged involvement in the Sept. 25, 2019 offenses. He remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, June 30. Williams’ bonds on the charges totaled $300,000, set at $100,000 per charge, according to jail reports.
Williams is among five men accused of forcing entry into a Lee Street residence on Sept. 25, 2019, then, of robbing the occupants at gunpoint. The suspects allegedly took cell phones, a rifle and cash. Three pistols were reportedly used. One round was allegedly fired from one firearm during the commission of the offenses, but no one was injured, Sulphur Springs Police Det. Sgt. David Gilmore said following the September incident.
The four other suspects were arrested shortly after the alleged offenses. Williams was also identified as a suspect. Police on Oct. 1 reported warrants had been issued for Williams’ arrest on the charge; a Crimes Stoppers reward was offered for information leading to his arrest, according to police reports.
At least two of the other suspects, Zavarion Caymond Christopher Swain and Dequenek Timothy Craig Shepard, were sentenced by 8th Judicial District Judge Eddie Northcutt on June 22, 2020. Judge Northcutt sentenced Shepard to 10 years and gave Swain 10 years of deferred probation, with 180 days in jail as a condition of his probation.
Swain and Shepard had in a previous hearing plead guilty to one count each of aggravated robbery, and acknowledged their guilt in the other un-adjudicated offenses in what is referred to as a 12.45 agreement.
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.
High Speed Pursuit Ends With Dallas Man’s Arrest For Evading Arrest In Stolen Vehicle
The high speed pursuit of a stolen vehicle ended with a Dallas man’s arrest for evading arrest in a stolen vehicle, according to arrest reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff‘s Deputy Thomas Patterson reported receiving notification from a license plate reading system regarding a BMW 328 that was eastbound on Interstate 30 near Cumby around 4:45 p.m. June 29, 2020. The car was reported stolen. He and other units in marked vehicles activated their lights and attempted to stop the car near mile marker 110 on Interstate 30 east, Patterson alleged in arrest reports.
The BMW did not immediately pull to the improved shoulder, so Patterson initiated his vehicle’s siren. Instead of stopping, Patterson alleged, the vehicle was driven at an increased speed and began making evasive maneuvers in what the believed was an attempt to evade law enforcement.
“During the course of the high speed police pursuit, the vehicle eluded stop sticks, nearly striking the deploying deputy near the 117 mile marker, ending up on the south service road and taking Business Highway 67 to the east,” Patterson wrote in arrest reports.
The vehicle was reportedly recovered in the 1200 block of Kendal Lane, after citizens contacted dispatchers about it. The male allegedly exit the car on foot and was identified by witnesses as the driver of the stolen vehicle.
The man was identified as Demondre Deshawn Holiness. The 23-year-old Dallas man’s cell phone was allegedly still connected to the stolen vehicle’s bluetooth radio system, further linking him to the vehicle.
Holiness was transported to Hopkins County jail, where he was booked for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest or detention with a vehicle. The car was impounded, according to arrest reports.
Holiness remained in Hopkins County jail Tuesday morning, June 29. Bond was set at $5,000 on the stolen vehicle charge and $10,000 on the evading arrest 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.
