Monthly Report for February 2016

Dear Citizens,

The annual Navarro County Sheriff’s Office departmental meeting was held in February at the Cowboy Church of Corsicana. Deputies and staff were recognized for their individual and departmental accomplishments during 2015. Congratulations to Sergeant Melanie Cagle-Communications Officer of the Year, Sergeant Robin Woodall-Detention Officer of the Year, Shane Richards-Deputy of the Year and Sergeant Gail Hurley-Employee of the Year. Also we recognized Sergeant Johnny Lake as the most tenured officer of the NCSO who has been with the N.C.S.O. for 37 years and Jim Johnson who has been in the law enforcement profession for 54 years. Congratulations to these officers as well as all members of the N.C.S.O. on a job well done in 2015.

I am very pleased to announce an arrest was finally able to be made in the case of a bomb threat against the Navarro County Justice Center. The threat was called in to our dispatch center on October 29, 2015. As you may recall, we had activated our Emergency Operations Center and were operating under a County Emergency Declaration because of severe flooding in the County. Our dispatch was inundated with calls for the Sheriff’s Office and the Emergency Operations Center at the time of the threat. The threat was not specific enough to determine if it was made solely against the Justice Center or if it also included the Emergency Operations Center adjacent to the Justice Center. Regardless, this was a stressful and trying time for the citizens and especially the officials trying to perform rescues and insure the safety of the citizens. Various State and local law enforcement officers along with State Representative Byron Cook, U.S. Congressman Joe Barton, and various other local elected or appointed officials, had already been or were currently inside the Emergency Operations Center at the time of the threat. Detective Sergeant Jason Earles immediately began working the case as the lead investigator and was assisted by Detective Sergeant Randy Clay. After many man hours of investigation, multiple search warrants executed, numerous interviews and conferring with the Navarro County District Attorney, Detective Sergeant Earles obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect on a State Jail Felony charge of False Alarm or Report. The suspect resides in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Sergeant Earles forwarded the wanted person information to Deputy U.S. Marshall Simmons of the North Texas Fugitive Task Force for assistance in serving the outstanding warrant. The suspect was arrested in Michigan by the U.S. Marshalls service and later extradited to the Justice Center where they posted bond and were released. I am extremely proud of our detectives who worked diligently on this investigation but I specifically would like to thank Sergeant Jason Earles for his unwavering dedication and willingness to go the extra mile in solving this case. I thank the U.S. Marshalls service and especially Deputy U.S. Marshall Simmons who has always assisted the N.C.S.O. anytime that we have requested her assistance. It is my hope that the suspects who would consider committing these types of threats or spoofing calls will now fully understand that we can and will find you no matter what state or area you commit such an offense.

This month we welcomed our two newest deputies to the patrol division, Deputies J.D. Qualls and William Grigsby. Congratulations to them as well as the following officers on their recent promotions or inner agency transfers: Juan Cura promoted from Detention to Courthouse Security, Rosa Ella Ward transferred from Detention to Administration and Donald Maples promoted to Detention Corporal.

Deputy Matt Swindall was dispatched to a minor accident in the 600 block of South Throckmorton in Kerens and during the course of the investigation, Deputy Swindall seized approximately 8 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales and a used methamphetamine pipe. Deputy Swindall also located some suspicious checks from a business in Smith County that were suspected to be forged. The checks were signed but no payee information was located. One suspect was arrested at the scene and booked into the Justice Center for on first degree felony drug charges.

We proudly assisted the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office with an investigation that led to two suspects being arrested for burglary and numerous stolen items recovered at Dresden. Crime knows no boundaries and that is why I am proud our agencies share a close working relationship. Good job by the Henderson County investigators who arrested one suspect in Navarro County for a cattle theft that occurred in Cross Roads.

NCSO and numerous other emergency responders were at the scene of a motor vehicle accident two miles east of Kerens. The accident involved a pickup and a Kerens ISD bus. Minor injuries reported at the scene.

N.C.S.O. deputies responded to a residence in the 200 block of SW 5th in Kerens to arrest an individual wanted for a parole violation. The suspect fled on foot from Deputies Richards, Loftis and Qualls. Deputies chased the suspect to a building in the 100 block of SW 4th on the north side of baseball field and was arrested at the location. While enroute to the jail, the suspect attempted, but was unsuccessful, in kicking out the window of the patrol car. The suspect was charged with possession of controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and fail to ID. The parole warrant was also served.

On behalf of myself and the N.C.S.O., I would like to thank Don Parks and the Chase Parks Foundation for the donation of $3,023.00 to the N.C.S.O. Narcotics Unit. The donated funds were from the net proceeds of the First Annual Chase Parks Golf Classic. We will use the funds for technology or to purchase equipment to directly support our narcotics unit.

Deputies of the N.C.S.O. along with a D.P.S. Trooper responded to a wanted person at the North I-45 rest area in Navarro County. The suspect was wanted out of Florida for aggravated stalking, fleeing, or eluding LEO. Additional information furnished from Florida was the suspect may be in possession of an unknown caliber firearm. As the officers approached the suspect vehicle the suspect drove toward the officers and shots were fired. The suspects vehicle tires were deflated and he drove away Northbound with officers in vehicle pursuit. The suspect hit a guard rail and fled on foot across the Interstate and was quickly captured by a deputy. I am very proud to report that none of the officers or suspect were injured in this situation. The incident is currently being investigated by the Texas Rangers. Additional charges could be filed.

The N.C.S.O. assisted Dallas P.D. with the apprehension of a suspect wanted out of Dallas for aggravated robbery. The suspect is considered to be a person of interest in numerous DFW metroplex robberies. The suspect was arrested at an address in the 400 block of SE 3100 in the Eureka community.

Detectives of the NCSO coupled with members of the Tri County Auto Theft task force, executed a search warrant in the 12000 block of NE 1110 Rice. The officers busted a "chop shop" seizing parts from twelve separate vehicles and four complete stolen vehicles were recovered.

The NCSO responded to a sexual assault on SW 0025 Angus where a female reported being victimized by a known offender. The NCSO quickly arrested the suspect into custody in the 600 block of North 24th Corsicana.

Narcotics Sergeant Ricky Ragan, assisted by Deputy Shane Richards, arrested one suspect and seized approximately 16 grams of methamphetamine (Ice) during the course of a traffic investigation on IH 45 near the 243 North milepost in Rice.
Narcotics detectives executed a narcotics search warrant in the 500 block of FM 1126 Rice. One suspect was arrested for Manufacture/Delivery of controlled substance PG 1 > 4g< 200g and Tampering with Physical Evidence. Approximately 6.7 grams of methamphetamine was seized at the location.

The Sheriff's Office had 1,438 calls for service in February and our dispatch received 1,797 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 299 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center in February and the average daily jail population was 192 inmates. The Narcotics unit arrested six suspects, filed five criminal cases and served three outstanding arrest warrants.
Eleven inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and fifteen other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences.

In February, we estrayed one donkey and transported him to the county farm at Petty’s Chapel, and sold one horse and one donkey at Hubbard Livestock Auction for $262.38.

We had two officers resign this month and we hired two new officers for detention.

We currently have three detention positions open, three patrol vacancies and one communications position as of March 1st. Applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.

Moral fortitude is not only having the courage to stand for what you believe in, but having the conviction to believe in what you will stand for. - Michael Springer

As always, God bless and be safe.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner