Officers shoot, wound EMC robbery suspect

Law enforcement investigators take notes at the scene of a police-involved shooting near the intersection of Old Sorters Road and FM 1314 Sunday night in Porter.

By Howard Roden
Updated: 03.08.10
EAST COUNTY – A string of robberies along Loop 494 in the Kingwood and Porter areas Sunday evening led to a police chase and a shooting that wounded the suspect.

Houston police officers received a call for a robbery in progress around 8:15 p.m. Sunday at the Stop-n-Gas in the 22300 block of Loop 494 in Kingwood.

According to Houston PD Public Information Officer John Cannon, the suspect then allegedly robbed a Citgo in the 24000 block of Loop 494 in Montgomery County.

Then, in the 27000 block of Loop 494, a Houston patrol officer heard gunshots from yet another location of an attempted robbery. The suspect reportedly fired his weapon at all three robbery locations.

The pursuit, which covered around 10 miles, started down FM 1314 to Old Sorters Road, then around to Sorters Road and back onto FM 1314. The suspect reportedly fired at officers during the pursuit, striking one police vehicle in the front bumper.

The chase continued toward U.S. 59 when the suspect allegedly lost control of a Ford Excursion, which struck an advertising sign pole.

Cannon said officers told the suspect to exit the vehicle with his hands up. However, he said, the officers heard a shot and saw the suspect with a gun in his hand. Officers fired at the suspect, wounding him.

The suspect was transported to Ban Taub Hospital in Houston, where he was listed in stable condition with non-threatening injuries.

While the suspect’s identity was not released, Cannon said he is a 26-year-old East Montgomery County resident.

At least four HPD units were involved in the chase. Three officers reportedly discharged their weapons. At least 12 shell casings were on the ground at the scene. The intersection remained closed throughout the night Sunday and into the early morning hours Monday as law enforcement conducted the investigation.

The officers were placed on three days’ leave, which is standard, and Cannon said the administrative leave is not a punishment.

He credited the quick response of Houston police officers with preventing further threats to the community.

Law enforcement recovered a pistol that was believed to be used by the suspect in the robbery.

No officers or civilians were injured in the incident.

“Given his (suspect’s) dangerous behavior, we were fortunate that no one was injured,” Cannon said.

Cannon said the district attorney’s offices from Harris and Montgomery counties were discussing what charges to file against the man.

The Texas Rangers are the lead investigators in the case.

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Warrant roundup begins ...

Thayer Evans wrote:
If you have any tickets you haven't gotten around to paying, this is the week to take care of them.

League City, Friendswood, Houston and other cities around Clear Lake will join hundreds of jurisdictions participating in the Great Texas Warrant Roundup this weekend.

Starting Saturday, March 6, police will be visiting homes, schools and workplaces to arrest those with outstanding warrants from municipal courts.

Most of the offenses involve unpaid traffic or parking tickets but more serious violations are included, and no amnesty is being offered. Those with outstanding warrants can be arrested at any location.

Cities are mailing notices to the last known address of those with warrants.

League City Police Chief Mike Jez said those with warrants needs to resolve them before the roundup. His police department will have “quite a few” officers participating in it this year, he said.

“The message to folks right now is avoid getting arrested on your job site or an embarrassing moment,” Jez said. “Come take of things. It’ll save you time, money and embarrassment. It’s something that’s easily avoidable. Most of them are minor offense violations anyway.”

If you think there may be a warrant out on you, contact your local municipal court to find out how to post a bond.

Clear Lake's Houston residents can call 713-731-3950 or visit the city's Clear Lake police station at 2855 Bay Area Blvd. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Woman dies in auto wreck

A Department of Public Safety Trooper walks past a Ford minivan involved in a fatal accident Thursday on Texas 105 East near Cleveland. (Right) Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Warren Diepraam examines items scattered in the road, including a children’s stroller.


By Howard Roden
Updated: 03.04.10
EAST COUNTY – The front-seat passenger in a minivan died Thursday afternoon when the vehicle strayed into the path of a delivery truck on Texas 105 East.

Antonia Pacheco-Lara, 46, of Shepherd, was killed shortly after 2 p.m. at the intersection of Texas 105 and Lee Turner Road in far East Montgomery County near Cleveland.

A PHI medical helicopter transported the driver of the 2000 Ford Windstar minivan, Hermelinda Garcia-Gomez, 31, to Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston. She was in critical condition, Department of Public Safety Trooper Eric Lopez said.

Garcia-Gomez also resides in Shepherd.

Lopez said a 1-year-old child of Pacheco-Lara was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hermann–TMC, where the child was “crying and responsive.”

Douglas Jaeger, 38, of Montgomery, was behind the wheel of the Borden delivery truck that struck the right side of the van. He was OK and remained at the scene of the wreck, Lopez said.

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Man Helps Shooting Victim Get Medical Attention

HUMBLE, Texas - Investigators say a good samaritan picked up a woman who had been shot in northeast Harris County and drove her to a convenience store to get help.

Harris County Sheriff's deputies say the shooting took place at approximately 11:45 p.m. Sunday at The Park at Stone Creek apartments on Mesa Drive near Audubon Forest Drive.

The woman was apparently driving her car out of the complex when someone opened fire on her. She was shot at least twice and crashed her car at the main entrance of the complex.

The good samaritan found her at the entrance, put her in his car and drove her to a convenience store at the intersection of Beltway 8 at Old Humble Road to call 911.

The woman was taken by ambulance to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center in serious but stable condition.

Investigators have not revealed if they were able to find any witnesses to the shooting. Anyone with information is asked to call the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

Marijuana farm shut down.

PORTER – Members of the Precinct 4 Constable’s Office discovered and dismantled a large hydroponic marijuana operation and arrested two people Saturday night at a home in the 22000 block of Woodmoss Court off Cumberland Blvd., south of FM 1314.

Roger Sanchez Klein, 40 and Elizabeth Lucia Vallatos, 34, were arrested and charged with 3rd degree felony possession of marijuana, greater than 5 pounds but less than 20 pounds.

“Acting on a tip, Cpl. Art Looza and Deputy Eric Mchugh went to the residence where they discovered Miss Vallatos had an outstanding warrant for an unrelated violation,” Precinct 4 Constable Kenneth “Rowdy” Hayden stated in a media release. “Mr. Klein stated he had some marijuana upstairs. The officers were given consent to search the residence and found two second-story rooms used to grow, harvest and dry marijuana.”

Deputies Beau Boudreaux and Josh Bergland, investigator Buck Clendennen, Lt. Mark Seals and Hayden assisted in the investigation. From the adjoining rooms, officers removed 114 marijuana plants of various sizes, along with mason jars filled with cut and dried marijuana, grow lamps, water pipes, scales, cigarette papers and other items.

“The smell of marijuana was almost overwhelming inside the two rooms but was confined, thanks to an elaborate filtration system in the attic, which was also dismantled and removed,” Hayden said, adding he was proud of his night-shift deputies for taking the initiative and discovering the illegal operation.

“Our officers continue to prove that the war on drugs must be fought not only on the freeways but in our neighborhoods, in the areas where our children play and go to school,” he said. “One by one, we will find and arrest those responsible for illegal drug activity and the crimes that go along with that in East Montgomery County.”