Aggravated Assault Trial of Jarrod Smith Ends in a Mistrial, DA Will Try Again
February 13, 2015 – A jury in Hopkins County’s 8th District Court deliberated for six hours Wednesday before saying they were at a stalemate in an aggravated assault trial. District Judge Eddie Northcutt declared a mistrial. 41-year old Jarrod Arnold Smith of Pine Forest was on trial for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Smith is accused of shooting a woman who was then his wife in 2012. District Attorney Will...
Texas Arrests Mexican Mafia Gang Members, Human Smugglers
December 16, 2024 – Austin, Texas – Governor Greg Abbott, the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the Texas National Guard continue to work together to secure the border; stop the smuggling of drugs, weapons, and people into Texas; and prevent, detect, and interdict transnational criminal activity between ports of entry. Since the launch of Operation Lone Star, the multi-agency effort has led to over 529,500...
Rochelle Marie Mims’ Killer Convicted
September 19, 2023 – A jury convicted 59-year-old Lucious Newhouse III on Tuesday of the murder of Rochelle Marie Mims. She was murdered and dumped in Hopkins County. Mims had been shot in the head. See that story here. Lucious Newhouse III Records show Newhouse was previously convicted of assault in 2000 and sentenced to deferred-adjudication probation, which he completed successfully.
Former Sulphur Springs DPS Officer Named First Female Ranger Major in 200 Year History
September 12, 2023 – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces the promotion of Texas Ranger Captain Wende O. Wakeman to the rank of major, making her the first female Ranger major in the organization’s storied two-hundred-year history. “Major Wende Wakeman’s years of hard work, her tremendous strength of character and her unwavering determination have all led her to this moment,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “I...
Freudiger May Avoid Additional Jail Time
August 11, 2023 – Michelle Denise Freudiger, who shot her husband in the face after an argument, may be able to avoid additional jail time. Michelle Denise Freudiger was arrested in April after Wood County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call about a woman shooting a man in the face. Freudiger’s husband survived the shooting. Freudiger, charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, entered a guilty plea in Judge...
Alba Police Sergeant Arrested
July 18, 2023 – Hopkins County Sheriff Deputies responded to a Disturbance with Weapon call this week. When they arrived at the rural Cumby address, they found David Reed Tipps, age 46, standing in the front yard of his residence. For the safety of deputies, Tipps was directed to walk backwards toward them with his hands on his head. Tipps was handcuffed, mirandized, and informed that he was being detained while an investigation...
Ward Back in Hopkins County Jail; Bond Denied
July 15, 2023 – Nikolaus Kayne Ward, a resident of Brashear, is back in Hopkins County Jail. Sheriff’s Deputies retrieved him from the Byrd Unit in Huntsville, TX. According to online inmate listings, he was serving time for: 2020-05-28 EVADING ARREST DET W/VEH 2023-05-11 ROCKWALL 2-21-0262 2020-05-28 POSS CS PG1 1-4G 2023-05-11 ROCKWALL 2-21-0261 Nikolaus Kayne Ward, 2021 Ward was arrested in 2021 and charged with...
Madison Back in Jail; Third Time in Three Weeks
July 11, 2023 – MICHAEL VAN MADISON is back in Hopkins County Jail with new charges. This marks the third time he has been arrested in roughly three weeks. On June 25, Madison booked a room at a local hotel. He invited his special lady friend to the room, even though he knew she had a protective order against him. She visited him and was confirmed to be in the room with him. Hopkins County Sheriff deputies received an anonymous...
Fight at Local Retailer Lands Three in Jail
June 5, 2023 – Sulphur Springs Police responded to a local retailer on Sunday after a report of a fight was received. Before police arrived several individuals left the scene in a vehicle, and another left on foot. A woman involved in the fight was located walking alone nearby. The female did not acknowledge the patrol car, or the commands to stop. The officer had to drive past the woman, and force her to stop. She continued to...
Wood County Shooting Incident
April 5, 2023- Wood County dispatchers were notified at about 4:15 Tuesday afternoon that a Winnsboro woman had allegedly shot a man in the face in the 2100 block of FM 312. Officers were dispatched immediately to the scene to handle the situation, and to proceed with caution as the suspect is armed and dangerous. Deputies arrived on the scene, and detained the shooter without delay. The shooter was identified as Michelle Denise...
