News from the Lone Star State

[TexasStooge]

Deputy constable shot at Dallas club

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas County deputy constable was in critical but stable condition Thursday morning after an overnight shooting.

Police said the deputy was working off-duty security in the parking lot of the Chica Bonita nightclub at Harry Hines Blvd. and Walnut Hill Blvd. when he approached a white pickup truck that was blocking the driveway at closing time.

"At that time, the suspect rolled down the window and shot multiple times at the constable," said Dallas police Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough.

The deputy, identified as Alonzo Lizcano, 37, was struck once in the lower abdomen in the 2:30 a.m. shooting.

The victim was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was reported in critical condition early Thursday following surgery.

Lizcano did not return fire. The gunman fled the scene. Police were reviewing security tapes in an effort to identify the vehicle.

Lizcano becomes the fifth North Texas law enforcement officer to be shot in the last month. "This just better not be an indication this is open season on law enforcement out here," said Precinct 5 Constable Mike Dupree, who went to the hospital to comfort Lizcano and his family.

"This is a wakeup call to all police officers," Dupree added. "Use caution; don't be complacent, don't be too relaxed out here on the street."

Lizcano, who was expected to recover from his injuries, was scheduled for further surgery on Friday.

Schepps Dairy has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest related to the shooting.

[TexasStooge]

Plano officer accused of sex assault on girl

14-year veteran resigns after complaint from McKinney church

By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News

McKINNEY, Texas – A 14-year veteran of the Plano Police Department has resigned after being accused of sexually assaulting a young female relative, authorities said Wednesday.

Darryl Gregory Sullivan, 39, was arrested Wednesday and accused of aggravated sexual assault of a minor, a first-degree felony charge used when the victim is 14 or younger.

Officer Sullivan, a McKinney resident, was released from the Collin County Jail Wednesday night after posting $25,000 bail. If convicted, he faces five years to life in prison.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Because of the girl's age, McKinney police would not release any information about her or details of the alleged assault.

The investigation began Tuesday when the girl spoke to someone at her church and the Police Department was contacted, said Capt. Randy Roland, a McKinney police spokesman.

A pastor from the church was at the McKinney police station Wednesday but was not available for comment.

Investigators talked to the girl and believe her complaint is legitimate, police said.

"We don't believe it's a one-time deal," Capt. Roland said regarding whether police thought the incident was isolated.

Plano police spokesman Carl Duke said an internal Plano police investigation is pending. Authorities were waiting to speak with Officer Sullivan, who has been a training officer the past nine years.

Capt. Roland said victims in these circumstances usually reach out when they are comfortable or feel protected, such as at schools and churches or with their doctor.

"I don't know what precipitated this outcry [to the victim's church] ..." Capt. Roland said. "It's important once the outcry is made that the wheels of justice start. And from this point forward, she will be protected."

Although criminal incidents involving police officers are uncomfortable for others in law enforcement, Capt. Roland said the allegations are investigated just as they are in cases that don't involve peace officers.

Staff writer Jennifer Emily contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Surveillance photos show shooting suspect

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police released a series of surveillance photos Thursday afternoon in an effort to track down the man responsible for shooting a Dallas County deputy constable earlier in the day.

Alonso "Art" Lizcano, 35, was in critical but stable condition at midday following the 2:30 a.m. shooting at the Chicas Bonitas nightlub on Harry Hines Blvd.

The photos show a man with close-cropped dark hair and what appears to be a mustache wearing a light-colored, short-sleeved shirt. The photos also show the man's vehicle, a white extended cab pickup truck.

Police said the deputy was working off-duty security in the parking lot of the club when he approached the truck that was blocking the driveway at closing time.

"At that time, the suspect rolled down the window and shot multiple times at the constable," said Dallas police Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough.

Lizcano was struck once in the lower abdomen in the 2:30 a.m. shooting.

The victim was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was remained in critical condition following surgery.

Lizcano did not return fire. The gunman fled the scene.

Lizcano, who lives in DeSoto, becomes the fifth North Texas law enforcement officer to be shot in the last month. "This just better not be an indication this is open season on law enforcement out here," said Precinct 5 Constable Mike Dupree, who went to the hospital to comfort Lizcano and his family. "This is a traumatic situation for everybody."

Dupree said Lizcano had worked for the constable's office for four years and was assigned to the traffic division. The deputy worked off-duty jobs to support his wife and four young children, Dupree said.

"This is a wakeup call to all police officers," Dupree said. "Use caution; don't be complacent, don't be too relaxed out here on the street."

Lizcano, who was expected to recover from his injuries, was scheduled for further surgery on Friday.

Schepps Dairy has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest related to the shooting.

[rainstorm]

Man pleads guilty to slaying of girl, 15

He faces up to life in prison for killing teen he met on chat line

By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH, Texas – A man accused of killing a 15-year-old Arlington girl he met through a chat room pleaded guilty Wednesday – the same day he was to go on trial.

Ronald Michael Hill, 33, could face up to life in prison for the death of Ingrid Smith, a sophomore at Mansfield Timberview High School.

The girl was killed last March 15. Jurors are hearing testimony in the punishment phase of the trial before state District Judge George Gallagher.

Mr. Hill sat for a few minutes of testimony Wednesday but was allowed to leave the courtroom.

"He is noticeably absent," said his attorney, Edwin Youngblood, who said Mr. Hill saw the jury when the trial began and decided to plead guilty.

Ingrid was found dead at her home in South Arlington. She was lying on her back next to the fireplace with a pillow over her face. Her throat had been slashed.

Prosecutors said Mr. Hill killed the 15-year-old girl after she told him she was pregnant. The two had carried on a sexual relationship for about two months after meeting through Quest Personals – a singles chat line, police said.

Jurors were shown a video of Mr. Hill entering a Walgreen's store near Ingrid's house where he purchased a pregnancy test and condoms.

Richard Householder, senior risk manager for First Medium Group, which owns Quest Personals, testified that Mr. Hill became a customer in 2003.

Records from the Toronto company show that Mr. Hill spent about $2,500 to look at ads and talk live to other browsers.

The company charges men to use the service, but it's free for women, Mr. Householder said. Quest Personals attempts to keep those under 18 from entering chat rooms, he said.

"We don't believe minors should be using our service," Mr. Householder said.

Ingrid, he said, first used the system in November 2004 – four months before she was slain.

Testimony resumes today.

that is very scary

[TexasStooge]

Patch helps hyperactive children

By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA ABC 8

Cody Mitchell, 13, has lived with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) for most of his life.

"He would just have outbursts for no reason. Talk nonstop. You couldn't get him to hush," says his mother Kim.

Her son used to take pills that calmed his behavior, but they caused side-effects.

"There were so many peaks and valleys all the time. He would be less hungry. He didn't want to eat."

Now, he wears a patch that contains the drug methylphenidate.

It helps him focus, not matter what time of day it is.

The patch provides an even flow of medication through the skin for 9 hours.

In clinical studies, it was just as effective as standard treatments.

"What we saw was that by two hours, we had these significant differences compared to placebo, no medication, and they continued on through 12 hours," says Sharon Wigal, a patch researcher.

Doctors say it's also a good option for youngsters who can't swallow pills.

For Cody Mitchell, the patch has finally made him feel the way he's always wanted.

"Normal," he says.

[TexasStooge]

Developers, restaurateurs putting roots in Deep Ellum

Many bet area's image will improve

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

Tom Granese predicts that he won't have trouble finding buyers for his Eastside Lofts.

The four modern townhomes start at about $378,000 and include rooftop decks with postcard views of downtown Dallas.

Unlike dozens of similar developments north of downtown, the First Avenue townhouses are being built in edgy Deep Ellum.

Negative publicity about crime in the area and a rash of club, shop and restaurant closings have given Deep Ellum a bad name in the real estate market. Competition from newer close-in retail districts has also taken away new business, property brokers say.

Still, a handful of developers and several restaurant owners are kicking off new ventures in Deep Ellum, hoping the district will turn around again.

"We like the community feel Deep Ellum has," Mr. Granese said. "We saw a good opportunity in that area with the saturation of development in Oak Lawn and Uptown."

Add to the lower land prices, plans for two DART rail stations in Deep Ellum, and what's a developer not to like about the neighborhood just east of downtown?

But Mr. Granese admits he had to have "conversations with our banker" about Deep Ellum's image problems before getting financing for his deal.

Restaurateur Peter Tarantino, who opened Tarantino's Deep Ellum on Elm Street in December, said, "Because it is a controversial neighborhood right now, it is under the radar screen of a lot of people.

"There is a lot of room for growth down here," he said.

Transformations

Deep Ellum has seen a series of transformations. Starting in the 1980s, the blocks of warehouse and manufacturing businesses began to give way to artists' studios and lofts.

In the 1990s, the area boomed with nightclubs and restaurants. Then dot-com companies were attracted by the cheap space and prime location.

But the tech sector wreck that started in the 2001 put Deep Ellum into a spin, and media reports of street crime in the neighborhood did even more harm.

"There are more empty restaurant spaces on Dallas Parkway, but where's the front page story on that?" Mr. Tarantino asked.

In the last few years, vacant storefronts have proliferated, and some of Deep Ellum's largest club operators went bankrupt.

"How much longer can we survive in Deep Ellum with the image that crime is out of control?" Mr. Tarantino complained this week at a town hall meeting with city officials.

The crime worries haven't scared off all new business.

Kim Harris opened her diner on Elm Street this week. She'd previously worked in restaurants in Deep Ellum and in Oak Cliff.

"I'm going to be serving good old home cooking," Ms. Harris said. "I've always wanted to be here.

"I think Deep Ellum is a good place, and there are good people down here during the day," she said.

Crime and its effects

It's late at night – mostly on the weekends – that crime problems emerge in Deep Ellum. City officials blame most of the street violence on after-hours clubs, which they are trying to restrict.

"There is no place in any city in America that is perfectly safe at 3 o'clock in the morning," Dallas Mayor Laura Miller told business owners at this week's meeting. "It's a huge misconception about Deep Ellum and safety."

But the image is hard to overcome with retailers, say property brokers who've tried to lure national merchants to the neighborhood.

"We spent a lot of time making calls talking to retailers and at the end of the day, as hard as we tried, we couldn't make it work," said Mickey Ashmore, president of United Commercial Realty, which tried to market Deep Ellum properties a few years ago.

Mr. Ashmore said it's a mistake to try to turn Deep Ellum into a neo-urban retail district given competition from such projects at Victory and in Uptown.

"You have to embrace what it is and tout it as that – it isn't going to be the West Village," he said. "They need a mix of interesting shops, restaurants, clubs and art galleries."

Businessman Santiago Pena is currently remodeling his third restaurant in Deep Ellum. His Cantina Dallas on Main Street, which was redone last year, cost more than $1 million to fix up.

"I built it from scratch," Mr. Pena said. "If more people would commit to Deep Ellum and care about the area, all the rest would take care of itself.

"Sometimes I think maybe I ought to go to Uptown or Addison, but I really like this area," he said.

At home

Housing is also part of the mix. The first lofts were built in Deep Ellum in the 1980s and continue to attract new residents.

Investor Jeff Swaney is a partner in eight new townhouses being built on Commerce Street.

"We already have three of them presold," said Mr. Swaney, who also brokers properties and invests in businesses in the neighborhood.

His Delphi Group just rented 10,000 square feet nearby on Commerce Street to GLO Cleaners, which is moving from Gaston Avenue. "They had been in the same location for 60 years," Mr. Swaney said. "I also recently leased 22,000 square feet of renovated space to a glass studio."

Photographer Paul Morgan is finishing up his renovation of the former Bill Reed Building on First Avenue and hopes to have his studio and lease space open in about six weeks.

"I made the investment here because I believe in this neighborhood," Mr. Morgan said. "When the DART stations open, you'll see a spike in property values and the area will become more accessible."

The two DART stations – one at Good-Latimer Expressway and one closer to Baylor Medical Center – will open in 2009. Similar transit centers have resulted in a redevelopment booms.

But until the train arrives, city officials agree they have to work on crime and perception problems in Deep Ellum.

"It's one of the most important entertainment districts we have," Dallas City Council member Pauline Medrano said at the neighborhood meeting. "You play a very important part in what's happening to revitalize downtown."

[TexasStooge]

Apparent murder-suicide shocks friends, co-workers

Retired policeman, wife, found dead Wednesday in Johnson County

By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com

A retired Dallas policeman apparently killed his wife, a longtime secretary with the Irving school district, before committing suicide Wednesday. A day later, stunned friends and former co-workers were dealing with the aftermath.

Kim Hammond, 60, and his wife, Judy, 55, were found shot to death on the back porch of their new home in southwest Johnson County on Wednesday morning, authorities said.

Kim Hammond called 911 around 7:50 a.m. and told a dispatcher that someone had been shot, but hung up the phone when the dispatcher asked questions, said Cpl. Pam Jetsel of the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.

Deputies found the bodies about 30 minutes later on the back porch of their new home on Montroes Street, Jetsel said. Both had been shot with a 9 mm handgun. The Sheriff’s Department was investigating the case as a murder-suicide, although it was unclear what prompted the double shooting.

Kim Hammond retired from the Dallas Police Department in 2004 after working 32 years and earning 54 commendations, many for professionalism and outstanding job performance, Lt. Rick Watson said Thursday.

Judy Hammond retied last year as the secretary for the athletic department in the Irving district after 27 years of service.

Both were members of more than 20 years at First United Methodist Church in Irving. The couple just had moved from their Irving home into a newly built house in a gated community with a golf course, but planned to continue attending the church.

“They were both fixtures in Irving,” said Joe Barnett, athletic director for the Irving Independent School District. “They were both so excited about building this house they were beside themselves. Judy was in the office showing us pictures of the house on her camera. She had e-mailed us directions and I had e-mailed her on Monday and said we would come see her as soon they got settled.”

The Hammonds had three children, all Nimitz High School graduates, and seven grandchildren, Barnett said.

Before retiring in 2005, Judy Hammond was a favorite employee, Barnett said.

“She made everyone feel important and at ease. She took care of all the coaches in Irving,” he said. “She was just a friend to everyone, not just an employee, but a personal friend to all of us and the sweetest person you would ever want to meet.”

The idea that their deaths were being looked at as a murder-suicide, particularly the day after moving into their dream home, seems unbelievable, Barnett said.

“We are all devastated by this,” Barnett said. “Both of them were top-notch people. We are just so in shock we don’t know where to turn or what to do. Just to know them makes it difficult to understand.”

Beth Hindman, a co-worker who took over Mrs. Hammond’s job as office manager when she retired, knew the couple well. She also recalled her predecessor’s excitement about the new home, furniture and a pool table for her husband.

“Retirement was what she was looking forward to, and spending time with her grandkids. … They just had so many plans,” Hindman said.

“As far as we knew,” Hindman said, “everything was great.”

Meanwhile, Kim Hammond’s colleagues described him as a beloved and skilled police officer.

“Kim was the salt of the earth,” Sgt. Brenda Nichols said. “He was a good family man, Christian man and one of the best police officers I have ever known. He was a great street cop. He was one of the best training officers. If you learned as a rookie from Kim Hammond, you learned how to do police work.”

Nichols said Hammond underwent hip replacement surgery before retirement and was back to playing golf and enjoying life. The idea that Kim Hammond would shoot his wife and then kill himself is unfathomable and uncharacteristic, she said.

“Everyone in the whole Dallas Police Department is completely blown away by this,” Nichols said. “Nobody has the first clue as to what happened. Everyone is walking around looking at each other hoping someone has some answer to what has caused all of this.”

Connie Fredd, who works at First Methodist, said Hammond called the church Tuesday to share his new address and to promise that he and his wife would return. For years, the couple volunteered for church activities, including driving children to Bible school and camps, Fredd said.

“They were a wonderful loving family. Family was the center of their life, church was the center of their life and this doesn’t make sense,” she said. “This is not in character with them. It’s a story that has no rationality.”

Staff Writers Katherine Leal Unmuth and Margarita Martin-Hidalgo contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Samaritan talks after being dragged by car

By DAN RONAN / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - A Mesquite man was dragged some 30 feet down North Central Expressway Monday night after getting out of his car to help a stranded woman.

But Evan Browder said he's no hero.

Browder was trying to help the disabled motorist when he got out of his car to try to push the vehicle off the highway and was struck by another vehicle.

"I remember everything," he said. "I was up underneath the car getting dragged. I could see all the traffic. It was a scary sight."

Despite being dragged by the car on Central Expressway and enduring extensive injuries from his dangerous ride, Browder said he feels fortunate because he's still alive.

Browder said it was an easy decision to pull over, but he never thought he would nearly be killed.

"I don't know if it was the oil or the gas but something busted underneath there and all the hot liquid started pouring on me, and the minute it hit me it gave me an urge to get out from underneath the car as fast as I could," he said.

With a badly broken arm, damaged spleen, burns and an ankle injury, Browder found safety along the road's shoulder.

After the accident, he called home on his cell phone.

"He talked to my wife first and said, 'Jackie, tell dad I just got ran over, ran over and hit by a car,'" said Jimmy Browder, Evan's father.

On a routine day, Browder installs fences around swimming pools for a living and said he enjoys his job.

But on Monday he said he did just what he felt was the right thing to do.

"There's no hero about it," he said. "It's just someone needed help and I didn't want to see no woman on the road get hurt, so I got out to help her. [It was] bad timing."

However, his father might disagree that what he did wasn't a show of heroism.

"For him to be willing to get out of the car and be at risk to get out and help someone shows he has a really good concern for other people," he said.

There has been no word when Browder will be released from the hospital and he is still not walking yet, but Baylor University Medical Center officials said he has already made significant improvement.

[TexasStooge]

Police pursuit ends in wreck

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A high speed police chase through Irving and Dallas ended in a wreck on Stemmons Freeway early Friday.

The pursuit began about 3:30 a.m. in Irving. Police said the suspect may have been driving a stolen vehicle.

The chase ended when the car hit the center median of the northbound lanes of Interstate 35E at Wycliff Ave. near downtown Dallas.

Police shut down three lanes of the highway and the injured suspect was hospitalized in police custody.

No information was available about what prompted the pursuit.

Live Dallas/Ft. Worth Traffic Reports from Traffic Pulse.

[TexasStooge]

4 questioned in deputy constable shooting

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police were questioning four men late Thursday in connection with the shooting of a Dallas County deputy constable outside a nightclub in northwest Dallas.

Alonso “Art” Lizcano, 35, was in critical but stable condition late Thursday after being shot in the abdomen.

Police released surveillance photos early Thursday that showed someone of interest that wore close-cropped dark hair and what appears to be a mustache wearing a light-colored, short-sleeved shirt. The photos also show the man's vehicle, a white extended cab pickup truck.

Police said the deputy was working off-duty security in the parking lot of the club when he approached the truck that was blocking the driveway at closing time.

"At that time, the suspect rolled down the window and shot multiple times at the constable," said Dallas police Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough.

Lizcano was struck once in the lower abdomen in the 2:30 a.m. shooting.

The victim was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was remained in critical condition following surgery.

Lizcano did not return fire. The gunman fled the scene.

Lizcano, who lives in DeSoto, becomes the fifth North Texas law enforcement officer to be shot in the last month. "This just better not be an indication this is open season on law enforcement out here," said Precinct 5 Constable Mike Dupree, who went to the hospital to comfort Lizcano and his family. "This is a traumatic situation for everybody."

Dupree said Lizcano had worked for the constable's office for four years and was assigned to the traffic division. The deputy worked off-duty jobs to support his wife and four young children, Dupree said.

"This is a wakeup call to all police officers," Dupree said. "Use caution; don't be complacent, don't be too relaxed out here on the street."

Lizcano, who was expected to recover from his injuries, was scheduled for further surgery on Friday.

Schepps Dairy has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest related to the shooting.

The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report

[TexasStooge]

Developers, restaurateurs putting roots in Deep Ellum

Many bet area's image will improve

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - Tom Granese predicts that he won't have trouble finding buyers for his Eastside Lofts.

The four modern townhomes start at about $378,000 and include rooftop decks with postcard views of downtown Dallas.

Unlike dozens of similar developments north of downtown, the First Avenue townhouses are being built in edgy Deep Ellum.

Negative publicity about crime in the area and a rash of club, shop and restaurant closings have given Deep Ellum a bad name in the real estate market. Competition from newer close-in retail districts has also taken away new business, property brokers say.

Still, a handful of developers and several restaurant owners are kicking off new ventures in Deep Ellum, hoping the district will turn around again.

"We like the community feel Deep Ellum has," Mr. Granese said. "We saw a good opportunity in that area with the saturation of development in Oak Lawn and Uptown."

Add to the lower land prices, plans for two DART rail stations in Deep Ellum, and what's a developer not to like about the neighborhood just east of downtown?

But Mr. Granese admits he had to have "conversations with our banker" about Deep Ellum's image problems before getting financing for his deal.

Restaurateur Peter Tarantino, who opened Tarantino's Deep Ellum on Elm Street in December, said, "Because it is a controversial neighborhood right now, it is under the radar screen of a lot of people.

"There is a lot of room for growth down here," he said.

Transformations

Deep Ellum has seen a series of transformations. Starting in the 1980s, the blocks of warehouse and manufacturing businesses began to give way to artists' studios and lofts.

In the 1990s, the area boomed with nightclubs and restaurants. Then dot-com companies were attracted by the cheap space and prime location.

But the tech sector wreck that started in the 2001 put Deep Ellum into a spin, and media reports of street crime in the neighborhood did even more harm.

"There are more empty restaurant spaces on Dallas Parkway, but where's the front page story on that?" Mr. Tarantino asked.

In the last few years, vacant storefronts have proliferated, and some of Deep Ellum's largest club operators went bankrupt.

"How much longer can we survive in Deep Ellum with the image that crime is out of control?" Mr. Tarantino complained this week at a town hall meeting with city officials.

The crime worries haven't scared off all new business.

Kim Harris opened her diner on Elm Street this week. She'd previously worked in restaurants in Deep Ellum and in Oak Cliff.

"I'm going to be serving good old home cooking," Ms. Harris said. "I've always wanted to be here.

"I think Deep Ellum is a good place, and there are good people down here during the day," she said.

Crime and its effects

It's late at night – mostly on the weekends – that crime problems emerge in Deep Ellum. City officials blame most of the street violence on after-hours clubs, which they are trying to restrict.

"There is no place in any city in America that is perfectly safe at 3 o'clock in the morning," Dallas Mayor Laura Miller told business owners at this week's meeting. "It's a huge misconception about Deep Ellum and safety."

But the image is hard to overcome with retailers, say property brokers who've tried to lure national merchants to the neighborhood.

"We spent a lot of time making calls talking to retailers and at the end of the day, as hard as we tried, we couldn't make it work," said Mickey Ashmore, president of United Commercial Realty, which tried to market Deep Ellum properties a few years ago.

Mr. Ashmore said it's a mistake to try to turn Deep Ellum into a neo-urban retail district given competition from such projects at Victory and in Uptown.

"You have to embrace what it is and tout it as that – it isn't going to be the West Village," he said. "They need a mix of interesting shops, restaurants, clubs and art galleries."

Businessman Santiago Pena is currently remodeling his third restaurant in Deep Ellum. His Cantina Dallas on Main Street, which was redone last year, cost more than $1 million to fix up.

"I built it from scratch," Mr. Pena said. "If more people would commit to Deep Ellum and care about the area, all the rest would take care of itself.

"Sometimes I think maybe I ought to go to Uptown or Addison, but I really like this area," he said.

At home

Housing is also part of the mix. The first lofts were built in Deep Ellum in the 1980s and continue to attract new residents.

Investor Jeff Swaney is a partner in eight new townhouses being built on Commerce Street.

"We already have three of them presold," said Mr. Swaney, who also brokers properties and invests in businesses in the neighborhood.

His Delphi Group just rented 10,000 square feet nearby on Commerce Street to GLO Cleaners, which is moving from Gaston Avenue. "They had been in the same location for 60 years," Mr. Swaney said. "I also recently leased 22,000 square feet of renovated space to a glass studio."

Photographer Paul Morgan is finishing up his renovation of the former Bill Reed Building on First Avenue and hopes to have his studio and lease space open in about six weeks.

"I made the investment here because I believe in this neighborhood," Mr. Morgan said. "When the DART stations open, you'll see a spike in property values and the area will become more accessible."

The two DART stations – one at Good-Latimer Expressway and one closer to Baylor Medical Center – will open in 2009. Similar transit centers have resulted in a redevelopment booms.

But until the train arrives, city officials agree they have to work on crime and perception problems in Deep Ellum.

"It's one of the most important entertainment districts we have," Dallas City Council member Pauline Medrano said at the neighborhood meeting. "You play a very important part in what's happening to revitalize downtown."

[TexasStooge]

Denton man, 23, dies in 100 mph crash

FLOWER MOUND, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - An Argyle man died late Thursday in an accident authorities said was the result of excessive speed.

Jory Dean Vossler, 23, died in the wreck on Stonecrest Road at Cactus Drive, in an unincorporated part of Denton County between Argyle and Flower Mound.

Denton County Sheriff spokesman Tom Reedy said Vossler was driving over 100 mph when he lost control of his 1988 Ford Mustang around 11 p.m.

Investigators said the vehicle skidded for nearly 250 feet, struck a concrete culvert on the side of the road, became airborne and struck two trees. The car overturned, crushing the roof and killing Vossler instantly.

The street was closed for about three hours as authorities from the Denton County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety and Flower Mound police and fire departments worked at the scene.

An investigation is under way and toxicology results are pending in Vossler's death, Reedy said.

[TexasStooge]

Police pursuit ends in wreck

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A high speed police chase through Irving and Dallas ended in a wreck on Stemmons Freeway early Friday.

The pursuit began about 3:30 a.m. in Irving. Police said the suspect may have been driving a stolen vehicle.

The chase ended when the car hit the center median of the northbound lanes of Interstate 35E at Wycliff Ave. near downtown Dallas.

Police shut down three lanes of the highway and the injured suspect was hospitalized in police custody.

No information was available about what prompted the pursuit.

Live Dallas/Ft. Worth Traffic Reports from Traffic Pulse

[TexasStooge]

Man charged with deputy constable's shooting

By KIMBERLY DURNAN / DallasNews.com

DALLAS, Texas - A 26-year-old Dallas man has been charged with attempted capital murder in connection with the shooting of a deputy constable outside a nightclub in northwest Dallas.

Flavio Sarinana was one of four people Dallas police were questioning late Thursday, hours after Alonso “Art” Lizcano, 35, was shot in the abdomen outside the Chicas Bonitas nightclub at 11044 Harry Hines Blvd. around 2:30 a.m.

Sarinana was being held Friday at the Lew Sterrett Justice Center. Bond has been set at $500,000 on the attempted capital murder charge, but the suspected illegal immigrant also was being held on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to Dallas County Sheriff’s Department records.

Lizcano was working an off-duty security job, but he was wearing his uniform and was clearly identifiable as a deputy constable, said his boss, District 5 Constable Mike Dupree.

“It doesn’t matter whether you are on duty or not, you are still considered a peace officer,” said Dallas police Senior Cpl. Jamie Kimbrough in explaining why Sarinana was charged with attempted capital murder.

Lizcano was in stable but critical condition Friday at Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he was scheduled for surgery to repair damage to his bowel area, Dupree said.

Lizcano had approached a pickup that was blocking a driveway, when a suspect rolled down the window and fired several times, Kimbrough said.

Acting on a tip, Dallas police and county constables set up surveillance about 4:45 p.m. outside a mattress warehouse in the 10000 block of Stemmons Freeway. Two men were detained when they approached a pickup matching the description of the one used in the shooting. Two other men were also detained when they later approached the truck.

The three others who were questioned have been released but detectives are keeping in contact with them, Kimbrough said.

[TexasStooge]

Chief: Highland Park police aren't profiling

Hispanics, blacks searched more often after traffic stops

By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News

HIGHLAND PARK, Texas - Highland Park police continue to search a higher percentage of blacks and Hispanics they stop for traffic violations than whites, according to a recently released report.

Highland Park Chief Darrell Fant presented the state-mandated report compiled by his public safety department to the Town Council this week.

In 2005, Highland Park officers searched 5.7 percent of white drivers during traffic stops, 22.4 percent of black drivers and about 30 percent of Hispanic drivers. In 2004, officers searched 5.3 percent of white drivers, 16.7 percent of black drivers and 27.6 percent of Hispanic drivers they stopped.

Chief Fant said the department doesn't stop drivers based on race or ethnicity. He said that while the data may suggest profiling, nearly all of the 808 searches conducted in 2005 were tied to an arrest.

"We only searched 10 people that we didn't arrest, and seven were white people," he said, adding that all 10 consented to the search. Of the three other drivers searched, one was Hispanic and two were classified as other.

Alex del Carmen, an associate professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Texas at Arlington, said there's no proven reason why departments search minorities at a higher rate than whites.

"Sadly, the jury's still out as to what that means for most police departments," Dr. del Carmen said. "My recommendation for police departments is that they actually do a follow-up study on searches. Police departments need to go back and find out why those searches are as high as they are."

Since 2002, police agencies in Texas have been required to compile annual reports on the race and ethnicity of individuals who are stopped and searched. A 2001 law banned the use of racial or ethnic profiling during police stops, searches and arrests.

Chief Fant said the racial profiling criticism isn't likely to evaporate because of town policies.

For example, drivers who can't prove their identity or have an outstanding warrant go to jail if stopped in Highland Park. In 2005, roughly 75 percent of the drivers Highland Park officers arrested for not having a license were Hispanic, 14 percent were white and 10 percent were black, according to the report.

Molly Totman, policy analyst for the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, said that Highland Park's 2005 report has some good findings including the fact that only 0.5 percent of traffic stops resulted in consent searches. That means police asked people for few consent searches.

"We're excited about that," Ms. Totman said. "We've previously found that consent searches rarely result in findings of wrongdoing."

No racial profiling complaints were filed against a Highland Park officer in 2002, 2003 or 2004, but four were filed in 2005.

Chief Fant said that three of the four complainants were satisfied with the department's response. None could be reached for comment.

Though the search data may suggest racial profiling, Highland Park's data on the number of tickets officers issued in 2005 tells a different story.

When compared with Dallas County's driving population, white drivers might have been over-ticketed in Highland Park, Chief Fant said.

While whites make up less than 57 percent of the driving population in Dallas County, 77.4 percent of the 8,371 tickets issued by Highland Park police went to whites, according to the report.

Highland Park uses the county driving population as a baseline primarily because of the high number of drivers who commute through and into the town limits, Chief Fant said.

[TexasStooge]

City urged to track contracts

Irving: No policy in place for firms owned by minorities, women

By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News

IRVING, Texas – When doing business with companies owned by minorities and women, Irving appears to be in the minority among large North Texas cities.

Irving doesn't track how much money is awarded to such businesses. It doesn't have a written policy on how it works with them. And it hasn't joined a regional certification agency that some say gives cities better access to the companies.

Community activist Anthony Bond feels Irving has a long way to go. He wants the city to develop a policy and join such an agency.

"Anything that Irving ... can do on a positive note, to let people know that they've got an open-door policy, they've got a level playing field, will do volumes," he said.

Irving officials say they're making progress in reaching out to minority companies and folding more businesses into the mix. Some say they don't need to create a lengthy policy or join an agency to prove they're open to minorities when awarding contracts.

But similar-sized cities, including Plano and Garland, have detailed minority business policies or keep track of how much money is awarded to the companies. Large North Texas cities, like Dallas and Fort Worth, belong to the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency, which tracks minority- and female-owned businesses.

Irving Mayor Herbert Gears said his city welcomes companies owned by minorities and women. He said a minority business policy makes sense for Irving, but he's not ready to issue recommendations about what the city should do.

"It's a topic worthy of discussion," he said, "to make sure at the very least we can have a snapshot of ... what's happening with the contracts we're issuing."

Acting city manager Sandy Cash says Irving makes a concerted effort to let minorities know about city contracts and bidding procedures. The city also wants to spend taxpayer dollars wisely by awarding contracts to the lowest, most-qualified bidders, he said.

But Kanwar Suri, president of the Aamco Transmissions franchise in downtown Irving, says there's a perception that minorities shouldn't apply for Irving contracts.

"They generally don't like to give business to minorities," said Mr. Suri, whose company was awarded a city vehicle transmission contract in the early '90s. Mr. Suri raised questions earlier this decade about whether the city was being overcharged by another company that held a similar contract. An internal city audit came to the same conclusion.

Irving should have a policy to do more business with minority firms because of the city's diverse population, Mr. Suri said. About one-third of Irving residents are Hispanic and 10 percent are black, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 data.

Irving hosts forums on how to apply for contracts and comply with city policies for businesses owned by minorities and women, and more forums will be held, said Darlene Rush, who until last week served as the city's acting purchasing manager. A new manager has been hired.

The city's policy is to send letters of interest to those businesses that have completed city bidder applications or are on a state list of historically underutilized businesses, Ms. Rush said.

Education is key to making sure the companies have a chance to do business, Ms. Rush said. The department puts out about 150 bids a year, from equipment maintenance to office supplies.

"We try real hard ... to make sure they are given a fair opportunity to bid on our projects," she said.

Irving officials are aware of the importance of hiring diverse vendors, as well as city employees who work with the companies, said David Leininger, Irving's chief financial officer. At least two of the city's purchasing department employees speak Spanish, including the new manager, who is Hispanic, Mr. Leininger said.

City officials are also planning to do more analysis on tracking contracts and vendors, Mr. Leininger said.

While Irving might be making progress, Mr. Bond says it's still behind other cities.

Garland has a "procurement inclusion program" that outlines goals to increase the business awarded to minority- and female-owned companies and increase employees' awareness of the firms.

Garland awarded more than $5 million in purchasing department contracts in fiscal 2004-05 to historically underutilized businesses, said Carol Cooper, the city's director of materials management.

Tracking the business is important, she said, "because you can't improve when you don't know what you're doing."

Garland also participates in about six outreach programs each year that target businesses owned by minorities and women, Ms. Cooper said

"It's to give them an opportunity to compete for our businesses, to try to help them be successful," she said.

Plano has been operating a business outreach program for about 15 years that focuses on small businesses and minority- and female-owned companies, said Mike Ryan, the city's chief purchasing officer.

The city issues annual reports outlining its efforts, he said. Plano awarded about $20 million in fiscal 2004-05 to small businesses and companies owned by minorities and women.

Plano is also a member of the regional certification agency, which includes cities, educational groups, transportation authorities and companies. Cities pay an annual fee to access a database of minority companies, said John Kelly, agency director.

He believes cities should track how much they spend on minority companies. He also thinks it's important for municipalities to reach out to the firms.

"If you want to increase your tax base," Mr. Kelly said, "you need to reach out to everybody."

[TexasStooge]

Suspected child predator on loose in Rowlett

By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8

ROWLETT, Texas - Police are warning parents in Rowlett that a suspected sexual predator is trying to solicit children.

Police want to stress that no children have been harmed or abducted, but say the suspect has approached children on four different occasions, most recently just two days ago.

The man tends to prey on young boys.

The solicitations have happened near schools.

School officials have sent letters home with parents to warn them of the danger.

In each case, the boys have run away and reported the incident.

"At this point the solicitation is very blunt and very direct. He just drives up, rolls the window down and asks for the sex act," said Lt Dean Pods.

"He hasn't developed into luring them in with any type of enticements but simply by doing the solicitation, he is committing a criminal act."

The man is white, and drives a green or black pickup. Sometimes he wears a baseball hat or sunglasses.

[TexasStooge]

Arlington minister arrested again after release

By DEBRA DENNIS / The Dallas Morning News

FORT WORTH, Texas - Arlington minister Terry Hornbuckle was out of jail for about two hours Friday before a judge had him re-arrested.

The founder of the Agape Christian Fellowship was released to adult probation this morning after posting a $3.62 million bond.

State District Judge Scott Wisch, who is overseeing the minister's sexual assault and drug charge case, issued an arrest warrant before Mr. Hornbuckle could leave downtown.

Three deputies were dispatched to pick up the minister, officials said.

"We don't know what happened," said Terry Grisham, spokesman for the Tarrant County sheriff’s office.

"All we can be sure of is he booked out of jail at 8:42. None of us at the jail knows what occurred after 8:42. I don't recall a situation where someone’s been bonded out of jail and re-arrested before they leave the downtown campus area."

Mr. Hornbuckle, 44, is currently in a holding cell being processed back into the jail.

Judge Wisch has issued a gag order in the case.

[TexasStooge]

Austin restaurant patios now open to dogs

By ERIN OCHOA / KVUE ABC 24

AUSTIN, Texas - Are dogs dining on restaurant patios a luxury or a health hazard?

Thursday night, the Austin City Council approved a proposed ordinance that allows restaurant owners to decide for themselves whether to allow dogs to dine on outdoor patios.

The proposal has generated quite a bit of support from pet owners. Others have some serious health concerns, but since enforcement of the existing health regulation is complaint-driven, a lot of restaurants already cater to canines.

Even though it's against health regulations, Freddie's Place on South First Street has an open-door policy to dogs dining outdoors with their owners. The proposed ordinance would make it legal.

Restaurant owners can now decide whether to allow dogs on outdoor dining areas, provided the dogs are on a leash, on the ground, and far from where the food is prepared.

"You're eating outside," dog owner Dawnerin Larrimore said. "Most people are in flip-flops and barefoot, and I don't see a problem with that. They're not hanging out in the kitchens."

But not all patrons are on board with the ordinance.

"It's just nasty ... I think it's very nasty," said Rique Guyton, who worries she and her friends could get sick. "I think fleas can fly in my food or something. I think the smell is going to be very gross with a dog eating next to me or just sitting there ... I will not eat where dogs are allowed."

"People who come in, maybe they're carrying their dog in or petting their dog and then handling things on the table, like the salt shakers or the mustard bottles," said Jackie Ramos.

Though pediatrician Ari Brown said it's probably not the smartest idea to be eating in an area where dogs are present, she doesn't think it's as big a problem as some are suggesting.

"It's probably the equivalent of eating at a picnic at a park," Brown said.

Although the odds of getting ill are pretty slim, Brown said exposure to dog feces could cause health problems.

"Obviously, (they) can be contaminated with hookworms and tapeworms," she said. "Dog fleas can carry other diseases that can spread to humans, and then dog saliva can actually spread bacteria that can cause a form of food poisoning."

Hookworms and tapeworms can cause symptoms such as diarrhea or a rash. None of the illnesses are life-threatening, but can be more severe in patients with already-compromised immune systems.

[TexasStooge]

Diocese seeking aid for Plano school

Plano: John Paul II High enrollment lags, but officials optimistic

By KIM BREEN / The Dallas Morning News

PLANO, Texas - The Catholic Church is asking area parishes to contribute to a diocesan high school that opened this year after 15 years of anticipation, but to an enrollment too small to cover costs.

John Paul II High School in Plano has enrolled about half of the students leaders had anticipated, despite its position as the first high school to serve the booming Catholic population north of LBJ Freeway.

Seventeen parishes near the school are being asked to pitch in for start-up and operation costs, said Charles LeBlanc, director of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. Dr. LeBlanc did not give a figure for the shortfall, saying officials are still trying to determine how much they need.

"Every new business has a start-up difficulty," he said. "We're having a start-up difficulty." The school is likely to reach its capacity of 1,200 by 2010, he said. "We have high hopes for the future."

The school's current enrollment is about 320. School leaders had anticipated 600 or more. An additional 400 students have applied for admission next year, Dr. LeBlanc said.

"We're pretty excited that the enrollment will double," he said.

Catholic leaders had been pushing for a high school to serve North Dallas and Collin County since 1990, citing the growing population of Catholics and hundreds of students turned away from existing Dallas-area Catholic schools.

Tuition at the co-ed school is about $10,000. Dr. LeBlanc said leaders originally thought it would take an enrollment of about 550 to allow the school to cover most expenses. Now that the school has experience with utility bills and other costs, he said, that number would be closer to the high 800s.

The school's challenges are not uncommon, said Sister Mary Tracy of the National Catholic Educational Association.

Sister Tracy, who specializes in secondary education for the association, said she knows of no example nationally of a Catholic high school that failed after being built.

"I would expect success and steady growth, but I would not expect the growth to be dramatic," she said. She said the school's current enrollment is stronger than most first-year schools.

John Paul II president Thomas Poore declined to comment and a request to visit the school.

Parents of students enrolled there said they expect the school, which has earned accreditation from the Texas Catholic Conference Education Department, to fill fast.

Now that the school is running, more parents will feel comfortable enrolling their children, said Kathy Muhlenpoh, whose son is a freshman.

"It's really hard to make a decision when you're walking through a construction site," said Ms. Muhlenpoh. Her son was set on attending regardless, she said, and she is thrilled with the school.

"It's wonderful," she said. "It feels like it's a family."

A growing community

Since 1990, the population of Catholics in the Dallas area has grown from 200,000 to 900,000, according to the diocese. Prior efforts to build the school fell flat because of stalled fundraising campaigns. In January 2004, school leaders and trustees purchased the school's campus, a former Alcatel office complex. The property and renovations cost about $30 million.

Dr. LeBlanc said he did not know how much of those capital costs have been raised. Financial experts are determining that, he said.

The diocese has turned to parishes for assistance with the start-up costs.

"We're asking the parishes to help us through the difficult times," Dr. LeBlanc said. "No parish likes nor should any parish be given a mandated amount," he said. "Nobody's going to get a bill."

Michael Seibold, parish director of St. Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Community in McKinney, said church leaders discussed the high school's needs with parishioners at a meeting last month.

A consensus of support

Those with Catholic school upbringings were supportive, he said. "They see a great value to developing the youth with a good, strong Christian background."

Others questioned whether the parish should contribute because of its existing debt and plans for future construction to meet its own needs. By the end of the meeting, he said, the consensus was supportive.

"It's part of our Catholic community," he said. "A school is so expensive to get going initially."

One week after her son started high school in a Plano public school, Darlis Kelly transferred him to John Paul II.

She figured he would thrive in a smaller school, and she was immediately impressed by the school's staff. "They had little chance of failing," she said. "I think I went more on faith than anything."

Ms. Kelly, who is not Catholic, said John Paul II fills a vacuum many area parents are willing to pay for: a smaller school with a safer, Christian environment and high academic standards.

"I think there's a huge market here. There's nothing wrong with Plano schools. They're very, very good and one of the reasons we moved here," she said. "We just needed something slightly different."