News from the Lone Star State

[TexasStooge]

Motorists warned over roadside conman

By Jack Beavers / WFAA.com

It's a sad sight often seen at a busy North Texas intersections: a forlorn man, his faithful dog at his side, - and a sign that says their house burned down. Before you stop to give them money police want you to read this first.

Frisco Police first encountered the pair two years ago -- and say the man told them that he had been all over the country "conning" people using the sign.

He also told the officer that he normally collected $60-100 an hour with the scheme. That resulted in a trip to jail for Kevin Rowell. Once in custody they learned that Lewisville authorities had issued a warrant for a similar crime in their city.

Frisco Police say Rowell had fled from them several times before that arrest and has continued to elude police since.

They say his usual method is to stand on the north median of 121 and Preston, and then run across the boundary into Plano's city limits, where he disappears.

Early this month, Rowell wasn't so lucky. Frisco Police caught him during a foot chase.

Rowell, again, told the officer that he has made up to $60 in an hour and sometimes its $10, $20 or $25 of "fast" cash each time.

He was arrested for evading arrest and outstanding warrants issued by Denton PD for soliciting without a permit.

Police are warning motorists of his scheme in hopes of preventing more people from being conned -- and ending the game of cat and mouse they say he continues to play.

[TexasStooge]

Downtown land-swap deal fizzles

Entertainment district developer fails to give financial guarantees

By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News

DALLAS, Texas - A downtown Dallas land-swap deal, which called for building a massive entertainment complex and demolishing Reunion Arena, is dead – at least for now, City Hall officials confirmed Tuesday.

Representatives from Dallas City Limits, the proposed entertainment complex's developer, told City Manager Mary Suhm that they could not provide the City Council with financial guarantees that policymakers had sought by today.

Some council members lamented the news, while others wondered aloud whether the group, which was seeking millions of dollars in city tax subsidies, ever had the money to build its project.

Regardless, the decision ends a year's worth of complex negotiations among the city, Dallas City Limits and billionaire Ray Hunt's Woodbine Development Corp.

"They just didn't think that with all the complexity that they could get it all done," Ms. Suhm said. "They still like the concept they've got. If something changes, they'd like to come back and talk. No one's shut any doors."

Woodbine wanted to trade the city land near the Dallas Convention Center, known as Lot E, for rights to little-used Reunion Arena and its surrounding land. The city, in turn, hoped to sell Lot E, along with adjacent land it already owns, to Dallas City Limits for $30 million.

Some Dallas officials saw the deal as their best chance yet to further develop the southwestern section of downtown and create momentum for the money-losing Convention Center and a proposal to build a hotel next to it.

David Cain, a consultant with Dallas City Limits, predicted that the 100,000-square-foot project, filled with restaurants, clubs, shops, concert facilities and other amenities, would still get build, perhaps in a different form, at a different location. Billy Bob Barnett, who has built facilities such as the Billy Bob's Texas honky-tonk in Fort Worth, was a key project backer.

"We're moving forward. It's going to happen," Mr. Cain said.

The council, Mr. Cain said, didn't specify in writing what financial documents it wanted from Dallas City Limits. And the negotiations, he said, had gone months beyond what company officials had expected.

At this point, Mr. Cain said Dallas City Limits "has to take a whole new look at how we go at it." But he said the project it proposed building next to the Convention Center could be constructed on land it controls several blocks to the south, just outside downtown in the Cedars neighborhood.

Dallas City Limits had slated that tract for a second project phase, which envisioned a horse-racing track, equestrian center, hotel and residential units.

Mr. Cain didn't rule out approaching the city again with a different deal.

Council members' reaction to the news varied.

"Since they never showed us their hand, it's pretty obvious they didn't have a hand to show," said Mitchell Rasansky, chairman of the council's finance, audit and accountability committee. "It doesn't surprise me at all. I don't think they had anything from the beginning."

Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, one of the deal's most vocal backers on the council, called its demise disheartening. He blamed Mayor Laura Miller in part.

"There was obviously an awful lot of excitement. It should be a real disappointment to our citizens," said Mr. Hill, who two weeks ago predicted that a deal would be struck. "They ran into a perfect storm: They ran into the mayor and her total opposition of this, plus gambling interests who wanted at Reunion."

Ms. Miller, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, had lobbied to retain ownership of Reunion Arena in hopes that a casino could one day be housed in it or on Reunion land. Casino gambling is banned Texas, though the Legislature continues to flirt with legalizing it.

The mayor also decried the Dallas City Limits deal as too rich for taxpayers – the group had sought $20 million in tax incentives.

Woodbine representatives, who previously said they'd never use Reunion Arena for gambling and intended to tear it down, also could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Woodbine retains ownership of Lot E, which today is a typically empty parking lot.

Just because Dallas City Limits and City Hall couldn't reach a deal doesn't mean the two entities won't talk again, said Bill Blaydes, chairman of the council's economic development and housing committee.

"Nobody's closing doors, not from their side, not from our side," Mr. Blaydes said. "For now, they're pulling away. But they're not gone."

Council member James Fantroy, the committee's vice chairman, said: "I'm very disappointed. We had fought for it to get it done. But the developers never did put money on the table, and that's what we didn't like."

[TexasStooge]

DNA evidence helps solve 2000 Arlington murder

ARLINGTON, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Arlington police said Tuesday they have solved the 2000 slaying of 46-year-old Amy Blow after they matched DNA evidence from the crime to a man in Texas prison for an unrelated crime.

Police have filed capital murder charges against Tony Lane Gregory, 39, for the July 8, 2000 murder of Amy Beth Blow, 46, was found in her apartment. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten and strangled and had been dead for several days before her body was found by friends who had not heard from her in several days.

Original investigators including Cold Case Detective Jim Ford interviewed several people acquainted with Ms. Blow, but could not locate a suspect. Det. Ford and Det. Bell reopened the case in October 2005.

A re-examination of evidence led to a DNA match with Tony Gregory. Investigators determined that the suspect and victim lived in the same complex. At the time of Ms. Blow's death, Mr. Gregory lived in a building adjacent to her apartment a short distance away.

Police said there is no indication that Ms. Blow and Mr. Gregory had a relationship. Investigators located a witness who reported that she had seen Mr. Gregory annoying Ms. Blow on several occasions at the pool before her death. Investigators also learned that Mr. Gregory had a history of bothering female tenants who did not return his advances.

Mr. Gregory is in prison in the Allred Unit in Iowa Park serving a 40-year sentence for a 2001 aggravated sexual assault in Fort Worth.

Since the department's Cold Case Unit was formed in November 2004, detectives have cleared a total of 14 murder cases. Six cases, including Ms. Blow's murder, were cleared by arrest. In eight other cases, there were enough facts and information to substantiate issuing a warrant for an arrest, but the suspect is deceased.

Investigators will continue to review about 55 cold cases dating back to 1968.

[TexasStooge]

Garland sewer line damages child care center

By RICHARD ABSHIRE / The Dallas Morning News

GARLAND, Texas - A Garland child care center faces $125,000 in repairs and lost income, its owner says, after a city sewer line clogged two weeks ago and flooded the place with sewage that was four inches deep.

Owner Gail Sullivan said she had to shut down For Kids Only for two days, still can't use three of her nine classrooms, and her insurance will only cover $25,000 of the loss.

City Council member Weldon Bradley, City Manager Bill Dollar and John Teel, managing director of code compliance and health, visited the facility Tuesday afternoon. But Mr. Dollar said beforehand that he doubted the city would help repair the damage.

"We are extremely sympathetic," Mr. Dollar said. "But state law doesn't allow us to pay for anything we didn't cause. No city could exist if it paid in a case like this because we're all self-insured. Our insurance comes from the taxpayers."

It's not clear what happened on Feb. 1 that led to the damage at the child care facility, even though city crews have examined the main with fiber-optic equipment.

"It could have been anything," Mr. Dollar said. "We find oil filters, tennis balls, teddy bears, anything that will fit."

There have been cases where crews working to clear a line inadvertently caused a backflow, but that is rare and did not happen this time, according to Mr. Dollar.

The center was closed the evening the sewer line backed up, sending sewage up through restroom floor drains for more than half an hour. The smelly water was four inches deep before city crews cleared the line stoppage and the water receded.

"I had to close for two days," Ms. Sullivan said Tuesday. "I still can't use three of my nine classrooms."

She totaled up the income lost from closing, the $28,000 she paid a restoration company for clean-up and estimates for repairing the remaining damage and came up with $125,000 as her total cost. Her insurance will only cover $25,000.

It seems clear to her that, since it was the city's sewer line that malfunctioned, it should be the city's responsibility to help pay for the repairs.

Besides the money, she's worried about lingering environmental effects.

"I'm asking for a soil test," she said. "The health department said it would be safe after 30 days, but I think we need to do further testing."

Ms. Sullivan met with parents last weekend to let them know what was going on. They decided to hold a fundraiser from 7 a.m.- 4 p.m. this Saturday at the center, with a community garage sale, barbecue, a bake sale, games, a bounce house and a raffle.

"It's a wonderful place," said Kela Bullock whose daughter goes to For Kids Only.

Mr. Dollar didn't disagree.

"By all accounts, the lady does an outstanding job," he said. "We've heard a lot of testimonials from parents.

"I guess we're going to be made the bad guys here because we're bound by the law."

[TexasStooge]

Trapped workers rescued from fire

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - Two workers were rescued and a third man was missing after fire broke out at a vacant Dallas hotel early Wednesday.

The three-alarm fire was reported just after 3 a.m. at the former Days Inn in the 4500 block of Harry Hines Blvd.

The two trapped workers, who were renovating the property, sought refuge on the top floor of the nine-story building, and were moved to safety by Dallas-Fire Rescue personnel. They were treated for smoke inhalation.

Firefighters used high-tech thermal imaging devices in an attempt to locate the third man, but no one else was found. His status was unclear.

Investigators said the fire originated on the second floor but its cause was not immediately identified.

Parts of the building suffered significant smoke and water damage.

More than 50 firefighters were part of the effort to bring the fire under control.

The same building, constructed in 1971, was the site of a five-alarm fire last March, when it was still an operating hotel. It is now being renovated as a Holiday Inn.

The new hotel will have a sprinkler system that was not required under earlier fire codes.


Robert Flagg / WFAA ABC 8
Flames burst from a second-floor window of the vacant hotel.

[TexasStooge]

Youth shot at DART station

DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Dallas police said a group of juveniles were involved in a shooting incident at a South Oak Cliff DART transit center late Tuesday night.

One young person was wounded when gunfire broke out around 11 p.m. at the Illinois Ave. stop on the Blue Line light rail service. The shooting victim was hospitalized in good condition.

Police said two suspects were in custody and a third was being sought.


WFAA ABC 8
Gunfire erupted at a DART transit center.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coincidentally, the ad on this side of the bus said "GUN CRIME GETS YOU MORE TIME"...prison time that is.

[TexasStooge]

3 officers injured, suspect dead in Garland

GARLAND, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Three officers were injured and the suspect killed after an altercation at a residence in the 700 block of John Glenn Drive in Garland Tuesday night.

One officer was shot in the hand and two others were reported to have been cut with a knife. The officer shot in the hand was taken by ground ambulance to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

All three of the officers' injuries were said to be not life threatening.

The suspect, who was said to be armed with two knives, was pronounced dead on arrival at Baylor Medical Center in Garland after being fatally shot.

There is still no information on how the officer was shot and authorities said the suspect was not armed with a gun.

[TexasStooge]

Spina bifida pupil is basketball hero

By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8

ARLINGTON, Texas - The Arlington Heights High School freshman basketball team played its final game Monday, leaving the court with a win and a star player: Trevor Davis, who wishes he were five feet tall.

Trevor, 15, was born with spina bifida, but nothing gets in the way of his love for basketball, even though he's always off the court delivering water and motivation.

"I wanted to get this win, end the season strong," he said.

Coach J.W. Briscoe had promised Trevor he could play, and he was happy and ready.

One parent's photos captured the excitement in the final two minutes against rival Western Hills. All eyes were on Trevor as he took the final shot for three points.

It went in.

"When I made that shot—whew! Out of control; people coming off the court," Trevor said.

"It was awesome," said Coach Briscoe.

Trevor proved what he misses in inches he makes up in courage. And some say, he's an inspiration to all.

"It's so easy to take for granted your skills to run, walk, dribble. And to see someone work so hard to be like them," said Kathleen Dahle, a parent at the school.

"[You need] to just focus on what you're doing," Trevor added.


Courtesy
Trevor Davis releases his three-point shot.

[TexasStooge]

Schlosser 'cut baby's wrists,' says husband

McKINNEY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) -- In the weeks after her daughter was born, Dena Schlosser cut her wrists with scissors. Her husband said she once ran away from their apartment, leaving baby Maggie alone.

But John Schlosser said he never sought medical help, even when his wife told him she wanted to "give the baby to God" about a week before authorities say she severed the baby's arms in 2004.

Attorneys for Dena Schlosser, who has pleaded not guilty by insanity, have questioned whether her husband could have done more to help her, saying he and the unconventional beliefs of the family's church downplayed and normalized her strange behavior.

"You didn't call about her wrists. You didn't call about your wife running off. You never called authorities," defense attorney William Schultz said during cross-examination Tuesday.

John Schlosser said he wasn't alarmed that she said she wanted to give their baby to God because she acted normally after he calmed her down. He also said it didn't occur to him to seek help.

"I had had several months of my wife slowly becoming herself again after whatever it was that happened after Maggie was born," John Schlosser said. "I was relieved to be able to have a normal conversation with her again."

Defense attorneys argue Dena Schlosser, 37, became so mentally ill she could not tell right from wrong in her baby's death.

Testimony resumed Wednesday with the defense continuing to detail the incident when Dena Schlosser abruptly left her apartment complex and was found by Plano police two miles away. The children were home alone.

Officer Mike Letfelter testified that police found her on a street corner and took her home.

The prosecution, which has argued that she knew what she was doing, concluded its case Tuesday with photos of the dead baby. They are not pursuing the death penalty.

Dena Schlosser was arrested after police responding to a 911 call found her in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.

Defense witness Dr. Nasir Zaki testified that the Schlossers never told him about Dena Schlosser's extreme behavior days before a May 2004 psychiatric appointment. Schlosser left home in the middle of the night and went to a hospital, where she was found passed out on the floor, records show.

The prosecution emphasized that Zaki did not find Dena Schlosser to be dangerously insane during her treatment.

Zaki characterized Dena Schlosser as "delusional and hyperreligious." He said she told him in May she was staying up nights and reading the Bible, which scared her.

The Schlossers attended the non-denominational Water of Life Church, whose leader Doyle Davidson seeks to exorcise women of a wicked "jezebel spirit," defense attorney William Schultz said.

The defense called scriptural expert Rev. Kathryn Self, who characterized those beliefs as far outside of mainstream Christianity.

After her arrest, Dena Schlosser was diagnosed with manic depression. In February 2005, a jury deliberated only a few minutes before deciding she was mentally incompetent to stand trial and she was committed to North Texas State Hospital. But in May, a judge decided she was competent.

She had been accused of child neglect in the months before Margaret's death, but a state investigation found Dena Schlosser did not pose a risk to the 10-month-old or her other two daughters. The case was one of a number of high-profile deaths that led to recommendations to overhaul the state's child welfare agency.

[TexasStooge]

Ammonia leak at Dallas Fair Park

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - A Dallas Fire-Rescue hazardous materials team was called in to investigate an ammonia leak at the Fair Park Coliseum building Wednesday morning.

A caller reported the distinctive aroma of ammonia in the area shortly before 8:30 a.m. The leak was determined to be coming from a recently-installed refrigeration unit for an ice skating rink inside the Coliseum.

Ammonia is a highly toxic, acrid gas that has a corrosive effect on moist body tissues like eyes and lungs.

Investigators determined that the leaking ammonia was bleeding itself off and was being dissipated by winds up to 14 mph.

A refrigeration team was summoned to go inside the rink to determine the precise source of the leak.

No injuries were reported.

[TexasStooge]

Wylie man, 18, dies in head-on accident

By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News

ST. PAUL, Texas - An 18-year-old Wylie man died in a head-on traffic collision early Wednesday morning, according to Collin County officials.

The accident occurred about 6:25 a.m. in the 2700 block of Parker Road, in the town of St. Paul north of Wylie.

A green Ford Ranger truck came around a bend in the road on the wrong side of the street and collided with a black Honda Civic driven by Christopher Hales, said Collin County Medical Examiner Dr. William Rohr. Mr. Hales died at the scene, Dr. Rohr said.

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Lonny Haschel said an unidentified passenger in Mr. Hale’s car was ejected and flown via CareFlite to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

The two people in the Ford truck, whose identities were not released, were also taken to Baylor, one by CareFlite and one by ambulance. Their conditions were unknown Wednesday.

[TexasStooge]

Girl, 5, found wandering Dallas streets

DALLAS, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Police officers on patrol found a 5-year-old Dallas girl wandering the streets early Wednesday.

The girl, who has some developmental disabilities, was unable to tell officers where she lived and was taken into Child Protective Services custody, agency spokeswoman Marissa Gonzales said.

“We have made contact with the mom,” Gonzales said. “Apparently she just wandered out when everyone was asleep.”

The girl was found about 3 a.m. at Hillcrest Avenue and Walnut Hill Lane, which Dallas police said was a few blocks from her home. Officials plan to interview the mother, but said the family has no history with CPS, Gonzales said.

The mother noticed the child was missing when she woke up and called police, Dallas police Sr. Cpl. Max Geron said.

Mother and daughter have been reunited and police do not expect to file charges, Geron said.

“It is just a simple reminder to parents to be ever vigilant in securing the home when you have small children,” he said.

[TexasStooge]

Officer nearly quit after witnessing Schlosser tragedy

By JENNIFER EMILY / The Dallas Morning News

McKINNEY, Texas - A Plano police officer testified this morning he almost quit after he responded to an apartment and saw a baby girl dead in her crib, her arms severed at the shoulders.

Officer Mike Letzelter was the second to arrive at the Plano apartment of Dena Schlosser. Ms.Schlosser is standing trial for capital murder and is accused of cutting off the arms of 10-month-old Maggie Schlosser. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

A former Marine and member of the Plano bomb squad, Officer Letzelter said he'd rather diffuse a bomb that could blow him into a million pieces than relive the horror of the apartment that rainy November day in 2004.

"I was completely played out in emotion in police work," he testified as a witness for the defense. "I had nothing left to give."

Officer Letzelter, who had been involved earlier that year when Ms. Schlosser was first diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, said he wondered why intervention attempts did not work.

This is the third day of testimony. The state rested its case Tuesday.

[TexasStooge]

Cleburne girl dies from injuries in wreck

CLEBURNE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - A 4-year-old girl who had been critical condition after a fiery auto accident in Cleburne died Tuesday night at Parkland Memorial Hospital, police said.

Cleburne's Cassidy Jarmon died as a result of the Sunday afternoon accident. Her 21-month-old sister remained in critical condition Wednesday, Cleburne police Sgt. Amy Knoll said.

Cleburne police said a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Jennifer Jarmon, 28, was stopped at a red light in the 1900 block of South Main Street with the two girls sitting in the back seat. When a Chevrolet Lumina struck it from behind, the Jeep burst into flames upon impact, according to police.

Several witnesses said they watched as the car with the two little girls trapped inside caught fire.

"I was standing inside and I heard this explosion, and I looked there and it was on fire," said one witness.

Video from a police squad car showed a large group of people quickly converged on the scene, trying to help the mother get the children out of the burning car.

"I was like, 'I have to get them out,'" said another witness. "'I have to help them.'"

Police said the girls' mother was on her way to see her husband at work. He is an employee at C & L Services, located across the street from where the accident occurred.

Witnesses tried to put the fire out on their own using fire extinguishers, but when that didn't work several C & L employees got one of the company's water trucks and put the fire out themselves. They were assisted by members of a church youth group, a nurse and two volunteer firefighters who were nearby at the time of the accident.

"When you see kids suffer like that, you do whatever you got to do to get them out," said Danny Parsley, who assisted in the rescue.

The children were taken via CareFlite to Parkland Memorial Hospital.

The driver of the Chevrolet, 69-year-old Delbert Joe Davidson, was treated at a local hospital. Jarmon refused treatment at the scene.

It was unclear whether Davidson would face charges.

“We still have not completed the investigation. I don’t know what charges, if any, will be filed,” Knoll said.

WFAA-TV reporter Rebecca Lopez contributed to this report.

[TexasStooge]

Pastor testifies at Schlosser trial

McKINNEY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — The pastor of the church attended by a woman accused of fatally cutting off the arms off her 10-month-old daughter told jurors Wednesday that mental illness is actually demon possession that can't be cured with medication.

Dena Schlosser, 37, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of Margaret in November 2004. She was not taking her anti-psychotic medication at the time of the slaying.

"I do not believe that any mental illness exists other than demons, and no medication can straighten it out, other than the power of God," said Doyle Davidson, the 73-year-old minister of the Water of Life Church where Dena Schlosser and John Schlosser attended several times a week.

Dena Schlosser's attorneys have faulted her husband and beliefs of the family's church for downplaying and normalizing her strange behavior. John Schlosser testified Tuesday that he did not seek medical help when his wife told him she wanted to "give the baby to God" about a week before their daughter's death.

Prosecutors contend that Dena Schlosser knew right from wrong in the baby's death.

Davidson said he hardly knew the family, although John Schlosser testified earlier that Davidson was the first person he called after his wife told him what she had done.

Davidson, who has a cable TV show in the Dallas area and several states, also testified that he has cast demons out of parishioners and seen evil spirits—including one 6 feet tall with a long tail.

Dena Schlosser was arrested after police responding to a 911 call found her in the living room, covered in blood, still holding a knife and listening to a church hymn.

The doctor who treated Dena Schlosser earlier in 2004 described her as "delusional and hyper-religious," and another defense witness, scriptural expert Rev. Kathryn Self, has characterized the beliefs of Davidson's church as far outside mainstream Christianity.

After her arrest, Dena Schlosser was diagnosed with manic depression. In February 2005, a jury deliberated only a few minutes before deciding she was mentally incompetent to stand trial and she was committed to North Texas State Hospital. But in May, a judge decided she was competent.

She had been accused of child neglect in the months before Margaret's death, but a state investigation found she did not pose a risk to the 10-month-old or her other two daughters. The case was one of a number of high-profile deaths that led to recommendations to overhaul the state's child welfare agency.

Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty. Dena Schlosser would face life in prison if convicted.

[TexasStooge]

Dallas Fair Park safe after ammonia leak

By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - The Fair Park Coliseum has been declared safe, after the Dallas Fire-Rescue hazardous materials team repaired an ammonia leak, which originated from a recently-installed refrigeration unit for an ice-skating rink.

"There is still a slight ammonia smell, but you can walk in there - there's no harm," said Jim From, vice president of Dallas Ice.

But today's inter-city kids ice-skating program scheduled for this afternoon has been cancelled.

The system is presently recharging.

A caller reported the distinctive aroma of ammonia in the area shortly before 8:30 a.m.

Ammonia is a highly toxic, acrid gas that has a corrosive effect on moist body tissues like eyes and lungs.

Investigators determined that the leaking ammonia was bleeding itself off and was being dissipated by winds up to 14 mph.

A refrigeration team was summoned to go inside the rink to determine the precise source of the leak.

No injuries were reported. Winds helped diffuse the vapours.

[TexasStooge]

Wylie man, 18, dies in head-on accident

By TIARA M. ELLIS / The Dallas Morning News

WYLIE, Texas - An 18-year-old Wylie man died in a head-on traffic collision early Wednesday morning, according to Collin County officials.

The accident occurred about 6:25 a.m. in the 2700 block of Parker Road, in the town of St. Paul north of Wylie.

A green Ford Ranger truck came around a bend in the road on the wrong side of the street and collided with a black Honda Civic driven by Christopher Hales, said Collin County Medical Examiner Dr. William Rohr. Hales died at the scene, Dr. Rohr said.

Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Lonny Haschel said an unidentified passenger in Mr. Hale’s car was ejected and flown via CareFlite helicopter ambulance to Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas.

The two people in the Ford truck, whose identities were not released, were also taken to Baylor, one by CareFlite and one by ground ambulance. Their conditions were unknown Wednesday.

[TexasStooge]

Shooting in Oak Cliff leaves teen dead

By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8

DALLAS, Texas - A shooting at a mini-mall in Oak Cliff in Dallas has left a teen dead, according to reports.

The incident took place at the intersection of Lancaster and Kiest.

The shooting took place after altercation at a pizza store between several men.

A young female who was picked up by a relative was shot dead as they were driving out of the parking lot.

There are multiple suspects.

Witnesses say earlier in the day a man had gone into the pizza restaurant and waved a gun around.

[TexasStooge]

Fort Worth man arrested in online sex sting

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - A former Arlington nursing home employee faces charges of soliciting sex from a minor after he was caught in an undercover internet sting.

The Texas Attorney General's office said Pablo Alegre of Fort Worth drove to Bastrop County in August 2005 intending to have sex with a 13-year-old girl he met online.

A cyber-crime investigator posing as the girl passed along the information to state and local authorities, and he was nabbed in an arrest that investigators captured on video.

Also indicted was a former substitute teacher who authorities said drove from Pflugerville to Bastrop County just before Christmas with the same intent.

Dwayne Lawhon thought he was chatting online with a 14-year-old girl, but he had also been snared by an online investigator who saved the messages as evidence.

Both men are free on bond awaiting felony trials. The former teacher is also forbidden from being near a school or having direct contact with children.

Texas’ Cyber Crimes Unit has arrested more than 70 people and obtained child porn-related indictments against 38 men since it was formed three years ago.

[TexasStooge]

Missing Texas teen turns up in Mexico

SAN DIEGO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A Texas teenager missing for three years has been reunited with her family after Mexican authorities found her living on the streets of Tijuana, Mexico.

Chelsea Castorena was 15 when she was reported missing in February 2003 from her Austin, Texas, home. Investigators initially thought she had run away, but later determined she was lured into Mexico, FBI spokeswoman Jan Caldwell said Wednesday.

Acting on anonymous tips from Texas, the FBI in San Diego contacted Mexican immigration authorities and Tijuana municipal police officials Tuesday afternoon, Caldwell said. Mexican authorities found Castorena, now 18, Tuesday evening and handed her over to the FBI.

Castorena was reunited with relatives living in San Diego and is in good shape emotionally, Caldwell said.

The FBI is continuing to investigate Castorena's disappearance.