Justice sought for mentally ill ex-inmate
Dallas: DA's office seeks dismissal of fines after man was stuck in jail
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Walter Mann Sr. figured he had paid Dallas County plenty by spending 15 months in jail without any felony charges filed against him and without access to a lawyer. In fact, he figured Dallas County owed him something.
But as he left the jail a few weeks ago, after a public defender heard about his plight and worked to get him released, he was handed a citation that ordered him to appear in Justice of the Peace Luis Sepulveda's court on Jan. 5.
Mr. Mann is indigent and takes medication to ward off the effects of schizophrenia. He spent his first few nights of freedom sleeping in the cab of an old truck behind the Oak Cliff church he attended. When Mr. Mann showed up in court Jan. 5, he was told a warrant was outstanding against him for a bad check he wrote to Minyard's for $67.05.
He was told he would have to pay the amount of the check, plus a fine of $500 and court costs of $93. But first he would have to contact the district attorney's office to work out the details.
The district attorney's office on Wednesday sought the case's dismissal, and the judge will review the request. Mr. Mann, who showed up in court last week with his pastor but no lawyer, pleaded no contest. And on the second page of the plea paperwork, where a line can be checked to indicate if the defendant is indigent or not, a checkmark appears next to "I am not indigent."
Mr. Mann insists he did not make that mark. But Judge Sepulveda said that clerks are not allowed to fill out that part of the form and that they are well trained to know they shouldn't. Mr. Mann, who had just endured 15 months in jail without apparent justification, wondered why he had to pay such heavy court fines on a $67 bad check. After all, a bad check is a Class C misdemeanor, which carries a maximum fine of $500 and no jail time. For such misdemeanors, the county offers people who cannot afford to pay a $300 credit toward fines for each day of jail time. He sought out defense lawyer David Finn. On Tuesday, Mr. Finn called Nick Cariotis, who has headed up the bank fraud division of the district attorney's office for more than a decade, and explained Mr. Mann's situation.
On Wednesday, The Dallas Morning News talked to Judge Sepulveda about Mr. Mann's check case and left a message for Mr. Cariotis. A short time later, Mr. Cariotis called Judge Sepulveda and asked that the case be dismissed.
"I did it in the interest of justice," Mr. Cariotis explained. "Under the policies, he would be entitled to having everything cleared with the time he served in jail."
Judge Sepulveda said he "really feels for people in a situation like Mr. Mann's. This is not what should be happening in Dallas County, or anywhere. Our system should be a good one."
Mr. Mann, 69, had originally been brought to the jail after his 13-year-old son was found guilty of assaulting him and was assigned to a boot camp. The county charged Mr. Mann $50 a month to cover the cost of assigning his son to boot camp. But Mr. Mann, who is unemployed, has an eighth-grade education and was on disability benefits, didn't pay.
As a result, in spring 2004, the district attorney's office filed a motion for contempt of juvenile court, and after Mr. Mann failed to appear for a hearing the following July, the court issued a motion authorizing the Sheriff's Department to hold Mr. Mann in the jail and "bring him immediately before the judge of the 305th district court ... on the next work day."
Mr. Mann was never assigned a lawyer, and a ruling in the contempt case was never made.
Finally, a cellmate told his public defender, E.A. Srere, about Mr. Mann. She and public defender Shoshana Paige made inquiries, and Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon ordered Mr. Mann's release.
News from the Lone Star State
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Survey: Dallas streets mean for homeless
Dallas: Miller says advocates' label doesn't consider all city efforts
By KIM HORNER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas ranked as the nation's sixth "meanest city" for enforcing laws that target the homeless, according to a report national advocacy groups released Wednesday.
But Mayor Laura Miller and others said the label was unfair – especially given that voters recently approved $23.8 million in bonds to build a homeless assistance center.
"We're doing great things. And they're not considering them at all," she said. "They're only looking at the laws – that's all. It's unfortunate, because I think we're doing such a terrific job in how we're addressing the homeless."
The survey of 224 cities by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, both in Washington, D.C., tracks what it calls a growing trend among cities nationwide of criminalizing homelessness.
The organizations ranked cities based on the number of "anti-homeless" laws, enforcement of the laws, political climate toward homeless people and the city's history of addressing homelessness.
Dallas moved up from No. 15 on the homeless advocates' last report in November 2004. The study states that Dallas ranked sixth because of an ordinance banning anyone from possessing a shopping cart off the cart owner's property, restrictions on feeding the homeless and repeated razing of encampments.
"Dallas has had a long, sorry history of criminalizing homelessness," said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Houston, which received praise for its handling of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, also made the list – at No. 7.
The advocacy groups acknowledge that many cities have taken steps to build more shelters but said punitive measures against the homeless impede the progress. The advocates urged cities to focus on what they consider to be more constructive approaches, including outreach teams – which Dallas already has – who visit homeless people on the streets to try to get them into social services.
"Criminalizing homelessness is a waste of time, energy and resources, and it gets in the way of ending homelessness," Mr. Stoops said. "Rather than arresting and jailing people for quality-of-life violations, let's find out why that person is sleeping in a city doorway in the first place."
Developer Larry Hamilton, who fought the city's bond proposal because of the project's downtown location, was surprised that anyone would call Dallas a mean city – especially because voters just approved the new homeless center.
"I think it's very insulting to the citizens of the city of Dallas to be told by a bunch of homeless advocates that they're one of the meanest cities in the nation after they just ponied up $23.8 million to help the homeless," he said.
Homeless people living under the roar of the Interstate 45 overpass south of downtown said Wednesday that Dallas has many kind and generous residents who make sure they have basic necessities, including food and tents. But they agreed with the study's findings that the city's ordinances make it a crime to be homeless. Residents said Dallas police visited the large camp on Friday, arresting people with outstanding warrants and ripping up newly donated tents.
"They figure if they harass us, we'll leave," said a 57-year-old man named Larry, who would not give his last name.
Mackie Choice, a 48-year-old man who has lived in the camp for 11 years, said police come through the site routinely but residents always move back.
"It's politics," said the man, who said he cannot find a job because he has a criminal record.
Police and city officials have done sweeps at homeless camp for years because of complaints about trash and criminal activity. A Dallas police spokesman did not have information Wednesday about recent police activity at the site.
Staff writer Emily Ramshaw contributed to this report.
Dallas: Miller says advocates' label doesn't consider all city efforts
By KIM HORNER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas ranked as the nation's sixth "meanest city" for enforcing laws that target the homeless, according to a report national advocacy groups released Wednesday.
But Mayor Laura Miller and others said the label was unfair – especially given that voters recently approved $23.8 million in bonds to build a homeless assistance center.
"We're doing great things. And they're not considering them at all," she said. "They're only looking at the laws – that's all. It's unfortunate, because I think we're doing such a terrific job in how we're addressing the homeless."
The survey of 224 cities by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, both in Washington, D.C., tracks what it calls a growing trend among cities nationwide of criminalizing homelessness.
The organizations ranked cities based on the number of "anti-homeless" laws, enforcement of the laws, political climate toward homeless people and the city's history of addressing homelessness.
Dallas moved up from No. 15 on the homeless advocates' last report in November 2004. The study states that Dallas ranked sixth because of an ordinance banning anyone from possessing a shopping cart off the cart owner's property, restrictions on feeding the homeless and repeated razing of encampments.
"Dallas has had a long, sorry history of criminalizing homelessness," said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.
Houston, which received praise for its handling of Hurricane Katrina evacuees, also made the list – at No. 7.
The advocacy groups acknowledge that many cities have taken steps to build more shelters but said punitive measures against the homeless impede the progress. The advocates urged cities to focus on what they consider to be more constructive approaches, including outreach teams – which Dallas already has – who visit homeless people on the streets to try to get them into social services.
"Criminalizing homelessness is a waste of time, energy and resources, and it gets in the way of ending homelessness," Mr. Stoops said. "Rather than arresting and jailing people for quality-of-life violations, let's find out why that person is sleeping in a city doorway in the first place."
Developer Larry Hamilton, who fought the city's bond proposal because of the project's downtown location, was surprised that anyone would call Dallas a mean city – especially because voters just approved the new homeless center.
"I think it's very insulting to the citizens of the city of Dallas to be told by a bunch of homeless advocates that they're one of the meanest cities in the nation after they just ponied up $23.8 million to help the homeless," he said.
Homeless people living under the roar of the Interstate 45 overpass south of downtown said Wednesday that Dallas has many kind and generous residents who make sure they have basic necessities, including food and tents. But they agreed with the study's findings that the city's ordinances make it a crime to be homeless. Residents said Dallas police visited the large camp on Friday, arresting people with outstanding warrants and ripping up newly donated tents.
"They figure if they harass us, we'll leave," said a 57-year-old man named Larry, who would not give his last name.
Mackie Choice, a 48-year-old man who has lived in the camp for 11 years, said police come through the site routinely but residents always move back.
"It's politics," said the man, who said he cannot find a job because he has a criminal record.
Police and city officials have done sweeps at homeless camp for years because of complaints about trash and criminal activity. A Dallas police spokesman did not have information Wednesday about recent police activity at the site.
Staff writer Emily Ramshaw contributed to this report.
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Robbery suspects nabbed after chase
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police arrested two armed robbery suspects early Thursday morning—but not before one of them led officers on an hour-long chase through two cities.
Investigators said it all started Wednesday night when the men burst into a restaurant in the 2800 block of Northwest Highway, fired gunshots and fled with money.
A short time later, police said, the same men broke into an apartment, pistol-whipped a man, and robbed him.
Armed with a good description of the suspects' vehicles, police spotted them parked near Northwest Highway and Harry Hines Blvd. One of them surrendered, but the other fled in a black Jeep Cherokee.
The ensuing chase—snaking along along streets and highways in Dallas and Irving—lasted more than an hour. The driver obeyed traffic laws, but refused to pull over as a parade of police cars trailed his vehicle.
The suspect's car finally came to a halt in Oak Cliff after police used road spikes to flatten his tires.
The unidentified man surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. When his wife arrived at the scene, she was also arrested on outstanding warrants.
Police said they found several weapons—including two shotguns—in the suspect's Cherokee.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police arrested two armed robbery suspects early Thursday morning—but not before one of them led officers on an hour-long chase through two cities.
Investigators said it all started Wednesday night when the men burst into a restaurant in the 2800 block of Northwest Highway, fired gunshots and fled with money.
A short time later, police said, the same men broke into an apartment, pistol-whipped a man, and robbed him.
Armed with a good description of the suspects' vehicles, police spotted them parked near Northwest Highway and Harry Hines Blvd. One of them surrendered, but the other fled in a black Jeep Cherokee.
The ensuing chase—snaking along along streets and highways in Dallas and Irving—lasted more than an hour. The driver obeyed traffic laws, but refused to pull over as a parade of police cars trailed his vehicle.
The suspect's car finally came to a halt in Oak Cliff after police used road spikes to flatten his tires.
The unidentified man surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody. When his wife arrived at the scene, she was also arrested on outstanding warrants.
Police said they found several weapons—including two shotguns—in the suspect's Cherokee.
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Bolton finalist for San Antonio chief job
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Former Dallas Police Chief Terrell Bolton is a finalist for the police chief job in the San Antonio Police Department.
Mr. Bolton is one of 46 candidates for the position that will be vacated by retiring Police Chief Albert Ortiz, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Mr. Bolton was fired in 2003 after a series of public controversies in Dallas, including a fake-drug scandal, a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city by demoted police commanders and a crime rate that was the highest in the nation among big cities.
In September, Mr. Bolton told The Dallas Morning News he wanted to run for mayor in Dallas.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Former Dallas Police Chief Terrell Bolton is a finalist for the police chief job in the San Antonio Police Department.
Mr. Bolton is one of 46 candidates for the position that will be vacated by retiring Police Chief Albert Ortiz, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Mr. Bolton was fired in 2003 after a series of public controversies in Dallas, including a fake-drug scandal, a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against the city by demoted police commanders and a crime rate that was the highest in the nation among big cities.
In September, Mr. Bolton told The Dallas Morning News he wanted to run for mayor in Dallas.
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BREAKING NEWS: Fire rages at North Dallas condos
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas — Dallas firefighters called in more equipment and manpower Thursday afternoon to battle a stubborn six-alarm blaze at the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building.
"We have about eight to 10 units that are being destroyed by this fire," said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Annette Ponce. "All of the residents of this apartment have gotten out safely."
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Ponce said.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Fire investigators were at the scene to determine what sparked the blaze in the 25-year-old building.
The American Red Cross was helping the estimated ten families who were displaced.
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas — Dallas firefighters called in more equipment and manpower Thursday afternoon to battle a stubborn six-alarm blaze at the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building.
"We have about eight to 10 units that are being destroyed by this fire," said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Annette Ponce. "All of the residents of this apartment have gotten out safely."
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Ponce said.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Fire investigators were at the scene to determine what sparked the blaze in the 25-year-old building.
The American Red Cross was helping the estimated ten families who were displaced.
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
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Few clues in Dallas triple murder
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police say they have few clues and no suspects in the murder of three people in a West Dallas apartment early Thursday.
The bodies were discovered about 5 a.m. in an upstairs unit at the Mountain View apartment complex at Keeneland Pkwy. and Walton Walker Blvd.
The victims—three men who appeared to be in their 20s—had been shot in the head, police said. Detectives said they were treating it as a triple murder.
Their bodies have been taken to the Dallas Medical Examiner.
Sgt. Ross Salverino, a Dallas homicide supervisor, said neighbors told police that they heard an argument and shots sometime between 1:30 and 2 a.m.
The victims were found about three hours later by a man who told police he had dropped by to visit.
"The door was ajar, so it was open, he was able to look inside," said Dallas police Lt. Gil Cerda. "He found what he thought to be three bodies, so he immediately went and called police."
Police have not released names of the victims.
"He was a good person. He was real kind, sweet. He would do anything," said a victim's cousin Lasandra Green, who added that he had just become a father.
"This is no way of life... Go the right way," said another cousin, Caroly Edmond.
Dallas Morning News reporter Tanya Eiserer contributed to this report.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police say they have few clues and no suspects in the murder of three people in a West Dallas apartment early Thursday.
The bodies were discovered about 5 a.m. in an upstairs unit at the Mountain View apartment complex at Keeneland Pkwy. and Walton Walker Blvd.
The victims—three men who appeared to be in their 20s—had been shot in the head, police said. Detectives said they were treating it as a triple murder.
Their bodies have been taken to the Dallas Medical Examiner.
Sgt. Ross Salverino, a Dallas homicide supervisor, said neighbors told police that they heard an argument and shots sometime between 1:30 and 2 a.m.
The victims were found about three hours later by a man who told police he had dropped by to visit.
"The door was ajar, so it was open, he was able to look inside," said Dallas police Lt. Gil Cerda. "He found what he thought to be three bodies, so he immediately went and called police."
Police have not released names of the victims.
"He was a good person. He was real kind, sweet. He would do anything," said a victim's cousin Lasandra Green, who added that he had just become a father.
"This is no way of life... Go the right way," said another cousin, Caroly Edmond.
Dallas Morning News reporter Tanya Eiserer contributed to this report.
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2 Fair Park museums will merge
By GRETEL C. KOVACH / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Fair Park museums plan to merge to create one premier facility dedicated to nature and science.
Officials from the Dallas Museum of Natural History and The Science Place announced Thursday that they will combine resources. The new merged organization will be called the Museum of Nature & Science.
"Dallas has a long history of being a center of innovation and scientific advancement," said Frank-Paul King, chairman of the board of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. "In working together, we can make sure that our city continues to be a leader in pioneering technologies that improve our community, our country and the world."
Beginning immediately, the two museums have united membership rolls. Separate admission tickets for each facility are still required for nonmembers, but officials said that process eventually will be combined as well.
The consolidated museum will have an annual operating budget of more than $6 million and serve more than 500,000 visitors annually at the Fair Park buildings.
Officials already have begun working to bring an Albert Einstein exhibit from New York to the museum, which space limitations previously had prohibited.
"This is a unique moment in time to create a world-class science museum – the kind of museum Dallas deserves," said George Consolver, president of the board of The Science Place. "The synergy of these two organizations together will be vastly greater than either one individually."
Plans also are under way to add a facility for the Museum of Nature & Science in downtown Dallas’ Victory Park beginning in 2009.
The new building will be built on a 4.66-acre site at the northwest corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street. It will be approximately 150,000 to 200,000 square feet and provide innovative content, including live plants and animals, water elements, permanent and temporary exhibits, indoor and outdoor programming, in-depth research and collections, interactive displays and cutting-edge technology.
King said he wanted to make it clear that the plans did not mean abandoning their landmark buildings at Fair Park. He said most exhibits eventually could move to the downtown facility, but administrators expect to use the Fair Park buildings for educational purposes such as charter schools or science laboratories.
"The practical reality of leaving doesn't make any sense," he said. "There are more opportunities than there are facilities today to accommodate them."
A unification committee comprised of members from both boards will complete the plan for the consolidation within the next 90 days. Upon approval of the committee's recommendations, a new governing board will be formed for the Museum of Nature & Science.
The Dallas Museum of Natural History was founded in 1936 as part of the Texas Centennial and was one of the first natural history museums in the region. Its mission is to promote a greater appreciation of the natural world through collections-based research, educational programs and exhibitions.
Founded in 1946 as the Dallas Health Museum, The Science Place is one of the oldest science museums in the nation. Its goal is to inspire a passion for science, math and technology.
By GRETEL C. KOVACH / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Fair Park museums plan to merge to create one premier facility dedicated to nature and science.
Officials from the Dallas Museum of Natural History and The Science Place announced Thursday that they will combine resources. The new merged organization will be called the Museum of Nature & Science.
"Dallas has a long history of being a center of innovation and scientific advancement," said Frank-Paul King, chairman of the board of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. "In working together, we can make sure that our city continues to be a leader in pioneering technologies that improve our community, our country and the world."
Beginning immediately, the two museums have united membership rolls. Separate admission tickets for each facility are still required for nonmembers, but officials said that process eventually will be combined as well.
The consolidated museum will have an annual operating budget of more than $6 million and serve more than 500,000 visitors annually at the Fair Park buildings.
Officials already have begun working to bring an Albert Einstein exhibit from New York to the museum, which space limitations previously had prohibited.
"This is a unique moment in time to create a world-class science museum – the kind of museum Dallas deserves," said George Consolver, president of the board of The Science Place. "The synergy of these two organizations together will be vastly greater than either one individually."
Plans also are under way to add a facility for the Museum of Nature & Science in downtown Dallas’ Victory Park beginning in 2009.
The new building will be built on a 4.66-acre site at the northwest corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street. It will be approximately 150,000 to 200,000 square feet and provide innovative content, including live plants and animals, water elements, permanent and temporary exhibits, indoor and outdoor programming, in-depth research and collections, interactive displays and cutting-edge technology.
King said he wanted to make it clear that the plans did not mean abandoning their landmark buildings at Fair Park. He said most exhibits eventually could move to the downtown facility, but administrators expect to use the Fair Park buildings for educational purposes such as charter schools or science laboratories.
"The practical reality of leaving doesn't make any sense," he said. "There are more opportunities than there are facilities today to accommodate them."
A unification committee comprised of members from both boards will complete the plan for the consolidation within the next 90 days. Upon approval of the committee's recommendations, a new governing board will be formed for the Museum of Nature & Science.
The Dallas Museum of Natural History was founded in 1936 as part of the Texas Centennial and was one of the first natural history museums in the region. Its mission is to promote a greater appreciation of the natural world through collections-based research, educational programs and exhibitions.
Founded in 1946 as the Dallas Health Museum, The Science Place is one of the oldest science museums in the nation. Its goal is to inspire a passion for science, math and technology.
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Over 100 displaced by fire
By RICHARD ABSHIRE / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - More than 100 Dallas firefighters battled a stubborn six-alarm blaze Thursday afternoon at a North Dallas condominium complex.
The fire at the Richland Trace condominiums, in the 9800 block of Walnut Street, quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story wood and brick building. Officials said 40 units were affected. Of those, 36 were destroyed.
Anita Foster of the American Red Cross said 108 people have been displaced.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials reported the blaze under control at 2:30 p.m. No one was injured, and all residents were evacuated safely.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Annette Ponce said 122 firefighters using up to 40 pieces of equipment were used in trying extinguish the fire, which erupted shortly after 11 a.m.
“It’s taken us a long time to control the fire. It went to six alarms after more than an hour,” she said.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle. Ms. Ponce said the firefighters were working in shifts, allowing tired teams to be replaced with fresh ones.
This was the first six-alarm fire in Dallas in 2006. There were four in 2005, the most recent a Dec. 3 fire at the Wedgwood Tower apartments in Oak Cliff that left an elderly woman dead.
Ms. Ponce said the fire moved quickly through the open spaces of the third-floor attics, consuming the insulation in its path.
“I don’t think the wind is a factor right now,” she said.
The wind was about 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Residents Richard and Diane Bruton were huddled on the curb, watching the firefighters at work. Richard Bruton said his father owned the unit where he has lived for 15 years, and he was unclear about the extent of the damage.
“All our personal possessions are here. They say the Red Cross is going to help, but I don’t know what they mean by that,” Bruton said.
Asked if they managed to salvage anything, Diane Bruton pointed to their 9-year-old Chihuahua, Jack, in her husband’s arms. “Just him,” she said.
Pamela George, who lives across the street from the burning building, said she got phone calls from her mother and a friend alerting her to the fire. She was volunteering at an event in Arlington, and rushed home to check on her Boston terrier, Vegas.
As she watched the building burn across the parking lot from her own, she gasped and said, "It's really not that far."
Anh Dao also lives across the street from the burning building. She got a call from her roommate, who was at home when the fire started.
"Everything's going to be damaged, I know." she said. "I'm upset that I cannot do anything. I pray to my Buddha, my God."
Fire investigators were at the scene to determine what sparked the blaze in the 25-year-old building.
Dallas Morning News reporters Wendy Hundley and Karin Shaw Anderson and WFAA ABC 8 contributed to this report.
By RICHARD ABSHIRE / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - More than 100 Dallas firefighters battled a stubborn six-alarm blaze Thursday afternoon at a North Dallas condominium complex.
The fire at the Richland Trace condominiums, in the 9800 block of Walnut Street, quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story wood and brick building. Officials said 40 units were affected. Of those, 36 were destroyed.
Anita Foster of the American Red Cross said 108 people have been displaced.
Dallas Fire-Rescue officials reported the blaze under control at 2:30 p.m. No one was injured, and all residents were evacuated safely.
Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Annette Ponce said 122 firefighters using up to 40 pieces of equipment were used in trying extinguish the fire, which erupted shortly after 11 a.m.
“It’s taken us a long time to control the fire. It went to six alarms after more than an hour,” she said.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle. Ms. Ponce said the firefighters were working in shifts, allowing tired teams to be replaced with fresh ones.
This was the first six-alarm fire in Dallas in 2006. There were four in 2005, the most recent a Dec. 3 fire at the Wedgwood Tower apartments in Oak Cliff that left an elderly woman dead.
Ms. Ponce said the fire moved quickly through the open spaces of the third-floor attics, consuming the insulation in its path.
“I don’t think the wind is a factor right now,” she said.
The wind was about 20 mph, with gusts up to 30 mph, according to a National Weather Service meteorologist.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Residents Richard and Diane Bruton were huddled on the curb, watching the firefighters at work. Richard Bruton said his father owned the unit where he has lived for 15 years, and he was unclear about the extent of the damage.
“All our personal possessions are here. They say the Red Cross is going to help, but I don’t know what they mean by that,” Bruton said.
Asked if they managed to salvage anything, Diane Bruton pointed to their 9-year-old Chihuahua, Jack, in her husband’s arms. “Just him,” she said.
Pamela George, who lives across the street from the burning building, said she got phone calls from her mother and a friend alerting her to the fire. She was volunteering at an event in Arlington, and rushed home to check on her Boston terrier, Vegas.
As she watched the building burn across the parking lot from her own, she gasped and said, "It's really not that far."
Anh Dao also lives across the street from the burning building. She got a call from her roommate, who was at home when the fire started.
"Everything's going to be damaged, I know." she said. "I'm upset that I cannot do anything. I pray to my Buddha, my God."
Fire investigators were at the scene to determine what sparked the blaze in the 25-year-old building.
Dallas Morning News reporters Wendy Hundley and Karin Shaw Anderson and WFAA ABC 8 contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Day center evacuated after suspected gas leak
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Children at a Dallas day center are being evacuated following a suspected gas leak which made some of them ill.
Two ambulances are presently outside the center located on South Buckner Boulevard at Bruton.
An employee at the center told WFAA the ambulances were called as some of the children are asthmatic and are having problems breathing.
The gas line entering the center was cut.
Two people were reported unconscious in the building next to the center.
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Children at a Dallas day center are being evacuated following a suspected gas leak which made some of them ill.
Two ambulances are presently outside the center located on South Buckner Boulevard at Bruton.
An employee at the center told WFAA the ambulances were called as some of the children are asthmatic and are having problems breathing.
The gas line entering the center was cut.
Two people were reported unconscious in the building next to the center.
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TexasStooge
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Plano church burglar caught on video
By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - A Plano church burglarized a couple of weeks ago was hit again Tuesday morning - and police have posted surveillance video on the Internet in an effort to identify the suspect.
The unidentified man took musical equipment and electronics from Grace Outreach Center in the 3300 block of Preston Road and placed them in an older model Ford extended cab pickup, said Officer Carl Duke, a Plano police spokesman.
Video of the burglary shows a man using a wheeled cart to push a keyboard and other items out of the church door.
The first burglary was on Dec. 26. The suspect in Tuesday’s burglary looks similar to the man seen on last month’s videotape, Officer Duke said.
Anyone with information about the crime or the suspect's identity is asked to call Plano police at 972-941-5555.
By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas - A Plano church burglarized a couple of weeks ago was hit again Tuesday morning - and police have posted surveillance video on the Internet in an effort to identify the suspect.
The unidentified man took musical equipment and electronics from Grace Outreach Center in the 3300 block of Preston Road and placed them in an older model Ford extended cab pickup, said Officer Carl Duke, a Plano police spokesman.
Video of the burglary shows a man using a wheeled cart to push a keyboard and other items out of the church door.
The first burglary was on Dec. 26. The suspect in Tuesday’s burglary looks similar to the man seen on last month’s videotape, Officer Duke said.
Anyone with information about the crime or the suspect's identity is asked to call Plano police at 972-941-5555.
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TexasStooge
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Condo fire leaves more than 100 homeless (Updated)
By BERT LOZANO and DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas — Dallas firefighters called in extra equipment and manpower Thursday afternoon to battle a stubborn six-alarm blaze at the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building. It took firefighters more than three hours to bring it under control.
The American Red Cross was helping more than 100 tenants who were displaced.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Officials estimated that 40 units in the 25-year-old building were damaged or destroyed, but all residents escaped without injury.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
"We've gone from an offensive to a defensive attack," fire department spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender said two-and-a-half hours after the first alarm was sounded. "It's too dangerous to put our firefighters inside."
One firefigher was slightly hurt.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Anita Ponce said.
The fire was declared under control around 2:30 p.m.—more than three hours after it was reported.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Lavender said investigators traced the source of the fire to an occupied unit, but would not be more specific about the cause..
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
"It's a very sad situation," Watson said. "I wish the best for everybody."
The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
By BERT LOZANO and DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas — Dallas firefighters called in extra equipment and manpower Thursday afternoon to battle a stubborn six-alarm blaze at the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building. It took firefighters more than three hours to bring it under control.
The American Red Cross was helping more than 100 tenants who were displaced.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Officials estimated that 40 units in the 25-year-old building were damaged or destroyed, but all residents escaped without injury.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
"We've gone from an offensive to a defensive attack," fire department spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender said two-and-a-half hours after the first alarm was sounded. "It's too dangerous to put our firefighters inside."
One firefigher was slightly hurt.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Anita Ponce said.
The fire was declared under control around 2:30 p.m.—more than three hours after it was reported.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Lavender said investigators traced the source of the fire to an occupied unit, but would not be more specific about the cause..
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
"It's a very sad situation," Watson said. "I wish the best for everybody."
The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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After suspects released, police revisit tactic
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police have taken steps to take a serious look at the way it does so-called "knock-and-talk" searches after several suspected drug dealers were set free because of the tactic.
Dallas police officers frequently do knock-and-talks after they get a tip from a resident who says they suspect a drug house in their neighborhood. Officers go to the suspect's door and knock on the door and simply ask permission to search.
However, there have been some problems recently with how the officer's get the permission to go inside.
"They never asked to search the house," said Tim Sims. "They just came in with guns drawn and said open the door."
Last February, Sims said Dallas police officers barged into a house where he was staying and searched for drugs without a search warrant.
"They just came in, put us against the wall and started asking us questions," Sims said.
Dallas police said they got a tip the house was a suspected drug haven and began to do a knock-and-talk when they saw a drug deal going on.
Officers said they legally chased Sims and others into the house.
But the suspect's attorney, Ken Blassingame, said he isn't so sure of the officers' account of the story.
"Without any information and no probable cause, they are going to locations, knocking on the door, throwing down on people with pistols and going in and searching and that is illegal," Blassingame said.
Sims' knock-and-talk experience wasn't the first time the procedure was questioned.
In December, Dallas police had to let these three suspected drug dealers go free after a knock-and-talk after the district attorney's office refused to prosecute.
One who helped police catch those drug dealers said he is afraid.
"I was happy when they took them away," said one resident. "Now it kind of scares me."
In another case, a federal judge in Dallas tossed out evidence in another knock-and-talk case because he said he did not believe the officer's version of the story and should not have searched the suspect's home.
Police said they also aren't happy at the result of the suspects being released and are searching for ways to legally capture drug suspects.
"We have to put drug dealers in jail and we have to find ways to do it legally, ethically and morally," said First Asst. Chief David Brown, Dallas Police Department.
The department is now looking at asking officers to get written consent from people inside the home before searching and perhaps video or audio taping all knock-and-talks to make sure officers are following proper procedure.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police have taken steps to take a serious look at the way it does so-called "knock-and-talk" searches after several suspected drug dealers were set free because of the tactic.
Dallas police officers frequently do knock-and-talks after they get a tip from a resident who says they suspect a drug house in their neighborhood. Officers go to the suspect's door and knock on the door and simply ask permission to search.
However, there have been some problems recently with how the officer's get the permission to go inside.
"They never asked to search the house," said Tim Sims. "They just came in with guns drawn and said open the door."
Last February, Sims said Dallas police officers barged into a house where he was staying and searched for drugs without a search warrant.
"They just came in, put us against the wall and started asking us questions," Sims said.
Dallas police said they got a tip the house was a suspected drug haven and began to do a knock-and-talk when they saw a drug deal going on.
Officers said they legally chased Sims and others into the house.
But the suspect's attorney, Ken Blassingame, said he isn't so sure of the officers' account of the story.
"Without any information and no probable cause, they are going to locations, knocking on the door, throwing down on people with pistols and going in and searching and that is illegal," Blassingame said.
Sims' knock-and-talk experience wasn't the first time the procedure was questioned.
In December, Dallas police had to let these three suspected drug dealers go free after a knock-and-talk after the district attorney's office refused to prosecute.
One who helped police catch those drug dealers said he is afraid.
"I was happy when they took them away," said one resident. "Now it kind of scares me."
In another case, a federal judge in Dallas tossed out evidence in another knock-and-talk case because he said he did not believe the officer's version of the story and should not have searched the suspect's home.
Police said they also aren't happy at the result of the suspects being released and are searching for ways to legally capture drug suspects.
"We have to put drug dealers in jail and we have to find ways to do it legally, ethically and morally," said First Asst. Chief David Brown, Dallas Police Department.
The department is now looking at asking officers to get written consent from people inside the home before searching and perhaps video or audio taping all knock-and-talks to make sure officers are following proper procedure.
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TexasStooge
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Explosion damages laboratory at Texas A&M
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Windows were shattered and walls displaced Thursday after a laboratory explosion at Texas A&M.
Officials said nobody was injured or in the building at the time of the explosion, around 6 a.m.. There were no flames
when firefighters arrived.
A fire department official said the explosion happened on the third floor of the school's chemistry building and didn't damage other rooms.
A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
So far no damage estimates are available.
Spring semester classes begin January 17.
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Windows were shattered and walls displaced Thursday after a laboratory explosion at Texas A&M.
Officials said nobody was injured or in the building at the time of the explosion, around 6 a.m.. There were no flames
when firefighters arrived.
A fire department official said the explosion happened on the third floor of the school's chemistry building and didn't damage other rooms.
A&M spokesman Lane Stephenson said the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
So far no damage estimates are available.
Spring semester classes begin January 17.
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TexasStooge
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Suspect in '05 Park Cities slayings captured
Arrest concluded nine-month search
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
PARK CITIES, Texas - U.S. marshals and police converged on a Dallas gas station Thursday morning to capture a suspect in a triple homicide that rocked University Park in March.
The arrest concluded a nine-month search for Israel Barretero, who is charged with three counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated assault. Police say the 22-year-old fired an assault rifle out of a Jaguar's sunroof, killing three men and seriously wounding one near Southern Methodist University on March 15.
Killed were Eddie Pech, 36, Bernardo Andrade, 21, and his cousin Favio Andrade, 19. Osvaldo Juarez, the fourth occupant in the victims' vehicle, is still recovering from his injuries.
Police arrested the man they think was driving the Jaguar, Jimmy A. Velasquez, 20, shortly after the shootings. He remains in Dallas County jail on two charges of capital murder and one of aggravated assault. His bail was set at $1.25 million in March.
Police have said the crime was an act of revenge that backfired after a friend of Mr. Barretero's and the other suspect was injured during a fight at a Dallas bar.
After Mr. Velasquez and Mr. Barretero left their wounded friend at a hospital emergency room, police said, they drove toward the access road intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway, where the shootings occurred. There, police say, they ambushed the four men they'd fought with earlier at the bar.
The case – twice re-enacted on Fox's America's Most Wanted – was University Park's first murder investigation since September 2002.
"It is a great start to 2006," said Police Chief Gary Adams, who praised the work of Detective Travis Vavra and Sgt. Robert Flood. "We are appreciative to the Dallas Police Department and to the U.S. Marshals Service for their continued efforts to assist us with this major case."
Police arrested Mr. Barretero at a gas station near Singleton and Walton Walker boulevards in West Dallas shortly after he dropped his girlfriend off at high school about 9 a.m. Thursday.
Though University Park police say the case's airing on America's Most Wanted generated only a few tips, the number doesn't matter.
"At least two people called police to tell them that they had seen Barretero on America's Most Wanted and they knew where he was," said a statement posted Thursday on the television show's Web site. "Cops staked out the locations, and sure enough, our viewers were right on the money."
Arrest concluded nine-month search
By KRISTEN HOLLAND / The Dallas Morning News
PARK CITIES, Texas - U.S. marshals and police converged on a Dallas gas station Thursday morning to capture a suspect in a triple homicide that rocked University Park in March.
The arrest concluded a nine-month search for Israel Barretero, who is charged with three counts of capital murder and one count of aggravated assault. Police say the 22-year-old fired an assault rifle out of a Jaguar's sunroof, killing three men and seriously wounding one near Southern Methodist University on March 15.
Killed were Eddie Pech, 36, Bernardo Andrade, 21, and his cousin Favio Andrade, 19. Osvaldo Juarez, the fourth occupant in the victims' vehicle, is still recovering from his injuries.
Police arrested the man they think was driving the Jaguar, Jimmy A. Velasquez, 20, shortly after the shootings. He remains in Dallas County jail on two charges of capital murder and one of aggravated assault. His bail was set at $1.25 million in March.
Police have said the crime was an act of revenge that backfired after a friend of Mr. Barretero's and the other suspect was injured during a fight at a Dallas bar.
After Mr. Velasquez and Mr. Barretero left their wounded friend at a hospital emergency room, police said, they drove toward the access road intersection of Mockingbird Lane and Central Expressway, where the shootings occurred. There, police say, they ambushed the four men they'd fought with earlier at the bar.
The case – twice re-enacted on Fox's America's Most Wanted – was University Park's first murder investigation since September 2002.
"It is a great start to 2006," said Police Chief Gary Adams, who praised the work of Detective Travis Vavra and Sgt. Robert Flood. "We are appreciative to the Dallas Police Department and to the U.S. Marshals Service for their continued efforts to assist us with this major case."
Police arrested Mr. Barretero at a gas station near Singleton and Walton Walker boulevards in West Dallas shortly after he dropped his girlfriend off at high school about 9 a.m. Thursday.
Though University Park police say the case's airing on America's Most Wanted generated only a few tips, the number doesn't matter.
"At least two people called police to tell them that they had seen Barretero on America's Most Wanted and they knew where he was," said a statement posted Thursday on the television show's Web site. "Cops staked out the locations, and sure enough, our viewers were right on the money."
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rainstorm
TexasStooge wrote:2 Fair Park museums will merge
By GRETEL C. KOVACH / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two Fair Park museums plan to merge to create one premier facility dedicated to nature and science.
Officials from the Dallas Museum of Natural History and The Science Place announced Thursday that they will combine resources. The new merged organization will be called the Museum of Nature & Science.
"Dallas has a long history of being a center of innovation and scientific advancement," said Frank-Paul King, chairman of the board of the Dallas Museum of Natural History. "In working together, we can make sure that our city continues to be a leader in pioneering technologies that improve our community, our country and the world."
Beginning immediately, the two museums have united membership rolls. Separate admission tickets for each facility are still required for nonmembers, but officials said that process eventually will be combined as well.
The consolidated museum will have an annual operating budget of more than $6 million and serve more than 500,000 visitors annually at the Fair Park buildings.
Officials already have begun working to bring an Albert Einstein exhibit from New York to the museum, which space limitations previously had prohibited.
"This is a unique moment in time to create a world-class science museum – the kind of museum Dallas deserves," said George Consolver, president of the board of The Science Place. "The synergy of these two organizations together will be vastly greater than either one individually."
Plans also are under way to add a facility for the Museum of Nature & Science in downtown Dallas’ Victory Park beginning in 2009.
The new building will be built on a 4.66-acre site at the northwest corner of Woodall Rodgers Freeway and Field Street. It will be approximately 150,000 to 200,000 square feet and provide innovative content, including live plants and animals, water elements, permanent and temporary exhibits, indoor and outdoor programming, in-depth research and collections, interactive displays and cutting-edge technology.
King said he wanted to make it clear that the plans did not mean abandoning their landmark buildings at Fair Park. He said most exhibits eventually could move to the downtown facility, but administrators expect to use the Fair Park buildings for educational purposes such as charter schools or science laboratories.
"The practical reality of leaving doesn't make any sense," he said. "There are more opportunities than there are facilities today to accommodate them."
A unification committee comprised of members from both boards will complete the plan for the consolidation within the next 90 days. Upon approval of the committee's recommendations, a new governing board will be formed for the Museum of Nature & Science.
The Dallas Museum of Natural History was founded in 1936 as part of the Texas Centennial and was one of the first natural history museums in the region. Its mission is to promote a greater appreciation of the natural world through collections-based research, educational programs and exhibitions.
Founded in 1946 as the Dallas Health Museum, The Science Place is one of the oldest science museums in the nation. Its goal is to inspire a passion for science, math and technology.
sounds like a good idea
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TexasStooge
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Arson fire kills three family members
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A mother and her two daughters died in a West Dallas house fire early Friday. Investigators said the fire was deliberately set, and a suspect was in custody.
The fire, in the 3600 block of Harston Street, was reported just after 1 a.m. Neighbors told News 8 they will never forget the screams for help coming from the burning one-story frame house.
Two police officers were suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation attempting to rescue the four people inside, which included two bedridden and disabled elderly women.
One woman was pulled from a window of the burning house, but she died later at Parkland Memorial Hospital. A fourth person was hospitalized with injuries.
Investigators said the fire was started by an accellerant and was fueled by exploding oxygen tanks in the house.
"It's a terrible situation," said Gerald Bennett, a relative of the victims. "You've got to be strong and do what we have to do to get past this."
Dallas police homicide detectives said a young man related to the victims was in custody in connection with the fire.
Neighbors described the suspect as mentally disabled.
Names of the victims and the suspect were not released.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A mother and her two daughters died in a West Dallas house fire early Friday. Investigators said the fire was deliberately set, and a suspect was in custody.
The fire, in the 3600 block of Harston Street, was reported just after 1 a.m. Neighbors told News 8 they will never forget the screams for help coming from the burning one-story frame house.
Two police officers were suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation attempting to rescue the four people inside, which included two bedridden and disabled elderly women.
One woman was pulled from a window of the burning house, but she died later at Parkland Memorial Hospital. A fourth person was hospitalized with injuries.
Investigators said the fire was started by an accellerant and was fueled by exploding oxygen tanks in the house.
"It's a terrible situation," said Gerald Bennett, a relative of the victims. "You've got to be strong and do what we have to do to get past this."
Dallas police homicide detectives said a young man related to the victims was in custody in connection with the fire.
Neighbors described the suspect as mentally disabled.
Names of the victims and the suspect were not released.
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TexasStooge
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Plumber's torch believed cause in condo fire
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Eleven hours after a six-alarm fire blazed across the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas, some hot spots still burned into late Thursday night.
About 100 members of the Dallas Fire-Rescue were called in and they brought in extra equipment Thursday afternoon to battle the stubborn fire that began around 11:00 a.m.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building.
Authorities said they believe it was careless use of a plumber's torch that was the cause of the fire.
The American Red Cross was helping the more than 100 tenants who were displaced.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Officials estimated that 36 units in the 25-year-old building were damaged or destroyed, but all residents escaped without injury.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
"We've gone from an offensive to a defensive attack," fire department spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender said two-and-a-half hours after the first alarm was sounded. "It's too dangerous to put our firefighters inside."
One firefigher was slightly hurt.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Anita Ponce said.
The fire was declared under control around 2:30 p.m.—more than three hours after it was reported.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Lavender said investigators traced the source of the fire to an occupied unit, but would not be more specific about the cause..
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
"It's a very sad situation," Watson said. "I wish the best for everybody."
The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Eleven hours after a six-alarm fire blazed across the Richland Trace Condominiums in North Dallas, some hot spots still burned into late Thursday night.
About 100 members of the Dallas Fire-Rescue were called in and they brought in extra equipment Thursday afternoon to battle the stubborn fire that began around 11:00 a.m.
The fire—in the 9800 block of Walnut Street—quickly escalated as flames spread through the upper floor of the three-story building.
Authorities said they believe it was careless use of a plumber's torch that was the cause of the fire.
The American Red Cross was helping the more than 100 tenants who were displaced.
Resident Russell Way stood barefoot in the parking lot and watched as flames engulfed the building where his third-floor condominium is located.
"Everything I own is gone," Way said. "It's all destroyed."
Way said he was awakened by a child screaming, "Help us! Help us!" He said he opened his front door, saw people running down the stairs and smelled smoke.
Before long, flames were visible and he had to flee his apartment.
William Hammonds, a complex maintenance man and first-floor resident, said third-floor residents came to his unit to notify him about the fire. Then he helped others get out.
“I heard they were working in the shower and they had a torch,” Mr. Hammonds said.
Officials estimated that 36 units in the 25-year-old building were damaged or destroyed, but all residents escaped without injury.
Firefighters, using water and foam, initially approached the source of the flames on the top of the building, but they were forced to retreat as the flat roof began to buckle.
"We've gone from an offensive to a defensive attack," fire department spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender said two-and-a-half hours after the first alarm was sounded. "It's too dangerous to put our firefighters inside."
One firefigher was slightly hurt.
The exterior walls of the building began to collapse about 90 minutes after the first alarm went out.
"We've got approximately 100 firefighters out here; probably 20 to 30 trucks and engines," Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Anita Ponce said.
The fire was declared under control around 2:30 p.m.—more than three hours after it was reported.
North Texas was under a Red Flag Warning through 6 p.m. Friday. Winds gusting to 30 mph coupled with low humidity and tinder-dry vegetation compounded problems for firefighters.
Lavender said investigators traced the source of the fire to an occupied unit, but would not be more specific about the cause..
Fire officials urged spectators to stay clear of the area to make more room for emergency vehicles.
"It's a very sad situation," Watson said. "I wish the best for everybody."
The Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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A life arranged around arts
Irving: Ex-Navy nurse focuses on Japanese Ikebana, but also stage
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Joan Pasek retired from tending wounds and now tends to her passions.
They range from the arts to the military to her Boston terriers, though the arts draw most of her time.
The former Navy nurse is devoted to Irving's musical theater company, Lyric Stage, as well as to Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers.
One of her Ikebana arrangements is on display in the "Brushwork and Fans" exhibit at the Irving Arts Center.
She discovered the ancient art while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
"The simplicity and serenity drew me to it," Mrs. Pasek said. "It was a wonderful escape from the stresses of being a war nurse."
Part of her military service occurred during the Vietnam War. From 1967 through 1987, her duty stations included Subic Bay in the Philippines; Bethesda, Md., Long Beach, Calif., and Great Lakes, Ill., in the U.S.; and Yokosuka and Okinawa in Japan.
After she left the Navy, she and her husband, Marvin Pasek, moved to Illinois for a short time.
"It was too cold, so we came to Irving," she said.
She did not stay retired long. She became a home health care nurse for the Irving Healthcare System and in 1996 was named one of the Great 100 Nurses by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.
"The award was such an honor because it was voted on by my peers," she said.
After retiring from nursing, she stayed connected to the health industry.
She works part time for Nikken, an international manufacturer and marketer of wellness products.
"I love teaching people about prevention," she said about her home-based business.
The part-time work allows her to delve into the arts.
The Dallas Ikebana chapter keeps her busy. "This is my second time as president," she said. She said the art form "brings me a sense of balance, peace and harmony."
Of the chapter's 49 members, four live in Irving. Diann Contestabile of Irving has two works on display in the exhibit.
"I became aware of Ikebana about 10 years ago," Mrs. Contestabile said, raving about the art form and her good friend Mrs. Pasek. "She has a heart of gold and is very involved."
When not engaged with Ikebana, Mrs. Pasek enjoys volunteering for Lyric Stage, where she and her husband are on the board.
"When I saw its first show way back when, I fell in love with it," Mrs. Pasek said.
The couple are helping with the company's fundraiser, scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas.
Two more activities that draw Mrs. Pasek's attention are the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, of which she is treasurer, and the Boston Terrier Rescue organization.
"We have three adorable Boston terriers from the organization," she said.
Along with her volunteering, Mrs. Pasek found time to be a contestant in the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant in Dallas in September.
"My talent was explaining Ikebana," she said. "I didn't win, but it was a tremendous experience to meet incredible senior women who make a positive difference in our society."
Mrs. Pasek can count herself among those women making a difference.
Irving: Ex-Navy nurse focuses on Japanese Ikebana, but also stage
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Joan Pasek retired from tending wounds and now tends to her passions.
They range from the arts to the military to her Boston terriers, though the arts draw most of her time.
The former Navy nurse is devoted to Irving's musical theater company, Lyric Stage, as well as to Ikebana, the Japanese art of arranging flowers.
One of her Ikebana arrangements is on display in the "Brushwork and Fans" exhibit at the Irving Arts Center.
She discovered the ancient art while stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
"The simplicity and serenity drew me to it," Mrs. Pasek said. "It was a wonderful escape from the stresses of being a war nurse."
Part of her military service occurred during the Vietnam War. From 1967 through 1987, her duty stations included Subic Bay in the Philippines; Bethesda, Md., Long Beach, Calif., and Great Lakes, Ill., in the U.S.; and Yokosuka and Okinawa in Japan.
After she left the Navy, she and her husband, Marvin Pasek, moved to Illinois for a short time.
"It was too cold, so we came to Irving," she said.
She did not stay retired long. She became a home health care nurse for the Irving Healthcare System and in 1996 was named one of the Great 100 Nurses by the Dallas-Fort Worth Hospital Council.
"The award was such an honor because it was voted on by my peers," she said.
After retiring from nursing, she stayed connected to the health industry.
She works part time for Nikken, an international manufacturer and marketer of wellness products.
"I love teaching people about prevention," she said about her home-based business.
The part-time work allows her to delve into the arts.
The Dallas Ikebana chapter keeps her busy. "This is my second time as president," she said. She said the art form "brings me a sense of balance, peace and harmony."
Of the chapter's 49 members, four live in Irving. Diann Contestabile of Irving has two works on display in the exhibit.
"I became aware of Ikebana about 10 years ago," Mrs. Contestabile said, raving about the art form and her good friend Mrs. Pasek. "She has a heart of gold and is very involved."
When not engaged with Ikebana, Mrs. Pasek enjoys volunteering for Lyric Stage, where she and her husband are on the board.
"When I saw its first show way back when, I fell in love with it," Mrs. Pasek said.
The couple are helping with the company's fundraiser, scheduled for Jan. 28 at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las Colinas.
Two more activities that draw Mrs. Pasek's attention are the Dallas Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars, of which she is treasurer, and the Boston Terrier Rescue organization.
"We have three adorable Boston terriers from the organization," she said.
Along with her volunteering, Mrs. Pasek found time to be a contestant in the Ms. Texas Senior America Pageant in Dallas in September.
"My talent was explaining Ikebana," she said. "I didn't win, but it was a tremendous experience to meet incredible senior women who make a positive difference in our society."
Mrs. Pasek can count herself among those women making a difference.
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TexasStooge
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- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Worker's comp to get overhaul after frustrations
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
Around one year ago, state officials, due in part to a News 8 Investigation, pledged to overhaul the workers compensation system in Texas.
But so far, frustrated injured workers and their doctors had seen few changes and had little reason for optimism, until Thursday.
On Sept. 1of 2005, House Bill 7 abolished the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and a new work compensation system operated by the State Insurance Department was put in its place.
But four months later, many state lawmakers became frustrated and some demanded answers Thursday.
For more than one year, News 8 documented case after case of legitimately injured workers being denied access to surgeries, therapies and medicine by work compensation insurance carriers.
Not only were workers suffering, but doctors who gave away care just to help their patients also felt the effects.
Charles Osborne of Waxahachie was among those doctors and criticized the system on a News 8 report because he was stripped of his ability to treat work compensation patients.
"And the only reason I'm here today is I have nothing to lose," Osborne said.
Along with others fighting the new program, Osborne went to Austin to plead with lawmakers to restore his credentials and integrity to the system.
Business and Industry Chair Helen Giddings was outraged at the apparent retribution.
"We are not going to tolerate that, not here in this committee, not in the state of Texas," Giddings said. "We are going to have to restore confidence in our ability as regulators."
And newly appointed Workers Compensation Commissioner Albert Betts not only promised reforms, he acted on it by introducing a special counsel hired specifically to help workers being unfairly denied their medicines, surgeries and benefits.
"I'm gonna shine the light on those processes and we are going to expose those processes," said Norman Darwin, the newly hired special counsel.
"Norman, I mean to tell you, I love what you are saying," said State Rep. Bill Zedler, (R) Arlington.
Figures just obtained by News 8 showed that while premiums collected from employers pretty much stay the same at $2.5 billion, the payout of claims dropped each year.
In three years time, the insurance company profit gap continued to grow from $1 billion dollars in 2002 to $1.5 billion in 2004.
The numbers appeared to conflict with assertions by the insurance industry.
When News 8 showed the figures to an insurance industry representative, he said perhaps it's time for premium rates to start dropping.
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
Around one year ago, state officials, due in part to a News 8 Investigation, pledged to overhaul the workers compensation system in Texas.
But so far, frustrated injured workers and their doctors had seen few changes and had little reason for optimism, until Thursday.
On Sept. 1of 2005, House Bill 7 abolished the Texas Workers' Compensation Commission and a new work compensation system operated by the State Insurance Department was put in its place.
But four months later, many state lawmakers became frustrated and some demanded answers Thursday.
For more than one year, News 8 documented case after case of legitimately injured workers being denied access to surgeries, therapies and medicine by work compensation insurance carriers.
Not only were workers suffering, but doctors who gave away care just to help their patients also felt the effects.
Charles Osborne of Waxahachie was among those doctors and criticized the system on a News 8 report because he was stripped of his ability to treat work compensation patients.
"And the only reason I'm here today is I have nothing to lose," Osborne said.
Along with others fighting the new program, Osborne went to Austin to plead with lawmakers to restore his credentials and integrity to the system.
Business and Industry Chair Helen Giddings was outraged at the apparent retribution.
"We are not going to tolerate that, not here in this committee, not in the state of Texas," Giddings said. "We are going to have to restore confidence in our ability as regulators."
And newly appointed Workers Compensation Commissioner Albert Betts not only promised reforms, he acted on it by introducing a special counsel hired specifically to help workers being unfairly denied their medicines, surgeries and benefits.
"I'm gonna shine the light on those processes and we are going to expose those processes," said Norman Darwin, the newly hired special counsel.
"Norman, I mean to tell you, I love what you are saying," said State Rep. Bill Zedler, (R) Arlington.
Figures just obtained by News 8 showed that while premiums collected from employers pretty much stay the same at $2.5 billion, the payout of claims dropped each year.
In three years time, the insurance company profit gap continued to grow from $1 billion dollars in 2002 to $1.5 billion in 2004.
The numbers appeared to conflict with assertions by the insurance industry.
When News 8 showed the figures to an insurance industry representative, he said perhaps it's time for premium rates to start dropping.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Mentally ill man held over fatal fire
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police are holding a mentally ill man in custody, who is accused of setting fire to his West Dallas family's house, killing his mother and two daughters.
The fire, in the 3600 block of Harston Street, was reported just after 1 a.m. Neighbors told News 8 they will never forget the screams for help coming from the burning one-story frame house.
Two police officers suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation attempting to rescue the four people inside, which included two bedridden and disabled elderly women.
One woman was pulled from a window of the burning house, but she died later at Parkland Memorial Hospital. A fourth person was hospitalized with injuries.
Investigators said the fire was started by an accelerant and was fueled by exploding oxygen tanks in the house.
"It's a terrible situation," said Gerald Bennett, a relative of both the victims and suspect. "You've got to be strong and do what we have to do to get past this."
"My brother was sick. They should have got him the help he needed. He didn't need to be out here because he was a danger to himself and others as well."
Relatives said the suspect had been in and out of mental institutions and that his health was deteriorating.
Neighbors described the suspect as mentally disabled.
Names of the victims and the suspect were not released.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police are holding a mentally ill man in custody, who is accused of setting fire to his West Dallas family's house, killing his mother and two daughters.
The fire, in the 3600 block of Harston Street, was reported just after 1 a.m. Neighbors told News 8 they will never forget the screams for help coming from the burning one-story frame house.
Two police officers suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation attempting to rescue the four people inside, which included two bedridden and disabled elderly women.
One woman was pulled from a window of the burning house, but she died later at Parkland Memorial Hospital. A fourth person was hospitalized with injuries.
Investigators said the fire was started by an accelerant and was fueled by exploding oxygen tanks in the house.
"It's a terrible situation," said Gerald Bennett, a relative of both the victims and suspect. "You've got to be strong and do what we have to do to get past this."
"My brother was sick. They should have got him the help he needed. He didn't need to be out here because he was a danger to himself and others as well."
Relatives said the suspect had been in and out of mental institutions and that his health was deteriorating.
Neighbors described the suspect as mentally disabled.
Names of the victims and the suspect were not released.
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