Texas Department of Public Safety

Lawsuit: Texas Rangers’ misconduct deliberately ignored

March 8, 2019 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A former Texas Department of Public Safety investigator is suing the agency, accusing it of turning a blind eye to misconduct by the Texas Rangers — the state's elite police force who the department oversees...

County official concerned over accuracy of list of ineligible voters

By Mark Reagan | Staff WriterJanuary 30, 2019 GMT

Cameron County Elections Administrator Remi Garza says officials are working to determine the accuracy of a list of voters released by the Texas Secretary of State's Office of nearly 100,000 registered voters who may not be U.S.

2 dead in vintage World War II fighter crash after flyover

November 18, 2018 GMT

FREDERICKSBURG, Texas (AP) — A privately-owned vintage World War II Mustang fighter airplane that had participated in a flyover for a museum event crashed into the parking lot of a Texas apartment complex Saturday, killing the pilot and a passenger, authorities said...

DPS investigating fatal auto-ped accident north of Palmview

STAFF REPORTSeptember 25, 2018 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal auto-pedestrian crash that occurred at approximately 10:59 p.m. on Sunday north of Palmview on La Homa Road south of 6 Mile Road.

The body of a male was found on the southbound lane of La Homa Road after being struck by an unknown vehicle, according to a DPS email.

Texas officer arrested on manslaughter charge in man’s death

By RYAN TARINELLI and KEN MILLERSeptember 10, 2018 GMT

DALLAS (AP) — A white Dallas police officer was arrested Sunday on a manslaughter charge in the off-duty shooting of a black neighbor whose apartment she says she mistook for her own...

LCSO to tackle overweight trucks

From community reportsJuly 25, 2018 GMT

Inundated with calls of overweight truck operations cutting through illegally on county roads has earned the attention of the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office.

Liberty County Sheriff Bobby Rader has announced their intentions to assume the role of weights and measures by establishing a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement group to tackle the issue.

Report: DPS troopers killed hostage during standoff

John TedescoApril 7, 2018 GMT

An 84-year-old hostage who died during a police standoff in Bexar County last month was accidentally killed by Texas Department of Public Safety SWAT officers who thought they were shooting at her captor, the agency reported.

DPS crash investigation results in child recovery

Staff ReportFebruary 7, 2018 GMT

LA FERIA — The arrest of a La Feria man last week led to the recovery of a missing La Feria teen.

Ivan Villarreal, 18, of La Feria was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault, a first-degree felony, indecency with a child, a second-degree felony, and abandoning or endangering a child, a second-degree felony.

DPS seizes over $300K in cash in Willacy County

Staff reportDecember 22, 2017 GMT

A traffic stop in Willacy County leads to the seizure of more than $300,000 in cash and the arrest of two Valley men.

The Texas Department of Public Safety says a trooper stopped the driver of a white Ford F-250 on Interstate 69 East north of Conley Road on Wednesday morning for a traffic violation.

Suspect charged in Texas trooper’s on-duty shooting death

Alyson Ward and Robert DownenNovember 25, 2017 GMT

The suspect in the first shooting death of a Texas trooper since 2008 was charged with capital murder Friday.

Trooper Damon Allen, 41, died after being shot on Thanksgiving Day near Fairfield in Freestone County by a man later identified by police as Dabrett Black, 32, of Lindale.

DPS identifies man killed in Midland County wreck

Odessa American oanews@oaoa.comNovember 21, 2017 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety has released the name of a man killed as a result of a two-vehicle wreck in Midland County on Saturday.

Eric A. Kiker, 43, of Big Spring was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at the intersection of State Highway 137 and Farm to Market Road 307.

The Latest: Evacuated residents can replace lost Texas IDs

August 29, 2017 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Tropical Storm Harvey (all times local):

9:10 a.m.

Texas residents can get free replacements for their legal identification if it was lost or left behind when rain and flooding from Harvey forced them from their homes.

New charge for forensic testing could hinder rural cases

Liz TeitzJuly 25, 2017 GMT

Local law enforcement agencies are planning to send fewer cases off for forensic analysis after the Texas Department of Public Safety announced last week that it will start charging for testing.

"We're a small department, we're not going to be able to submit cases as we normally have," Jasper Police Chief Gerald Hall said on Monday.

2 accidents result in 2 deaths Friday morning in Liberty County

Staff ReportsApril 23, 2017 GMT

Two early morning accidents in Liberty County Friday claimed the lives of two young men.

The first accident took place around 4:30 a.m. on SH 321 around 12 miles south of Cleveland. According to a report from the Texas Department of Public Safety, 20-year-old Zachary Kyle Needham, of Cleveland, was traveling southbound in a 1997 Ford Mustang when he crossed into the northbound lane and entered the east ditch.

Woman killed when car falls into canal

By Raul Garcia, Staff writerApril 21, 2017 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating an accident that killed a woman this afternoon southwest of La Feria.

The accident happened at 3 p.m. on FM 2556 south of Business 83.

DPS says the preliminary investigation revealed the driver of a tan colored car lost control of her vehicle, went off the road, spun once and then fell into a canal.

Release: Trooper helps save child’s life

By KAILA CONTRERAS | Staff WriterApril 15, 2017 GMT

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper was making his usual rounds Thursday when he pulled over a blue Nissan Versa.

It’s what he did afterward that was earning him credit for saving the life of a child, according to a DPS press release.

Witness account highlights dangers of texting while driving

By JUAN A. LOZANOApril 1, 2017 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — A witness says the driver of a pickup truck that collided with a church minibus in rural Texas, killing 13 people, acknowledged he had been texting while driving — highlighting the dangers of sending messages on smartphones while behind the wheel.

One woman dead after head-on crash in Los Fresnos

By PAMELA CODY Staff WriterMarch 31, 2017 GMT

A head-on crash Wednesday evening left one woman dead, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The two-vehicle collision occurred at approximately 10:43 p.m. on State Highway 100, about two miles east of Los Fresnos, according to DPS Lt.

Texas police chief arrested after chase, standoff at home

March 22, 2017 GMT

NORMANGEE, Texas (AP) — A Texas police chief has been arrested following a domestic disturbance and standoff at his home during which a shot was fired, a police chase and standoff...

Mission native reappointed to Public Safety Commission

STAFF REPORTMarch 10, 2017 GMT

Gov. Greg Abbott reappointed Mission native Cynthia Leon to the state’s Public Safety Commission, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

Leon was previously chair of the commission, which consists of five members who are appointed by the governor and then confirmed by the state senate, according to the department’s official website.

Brownsville man added to Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list

By Diana Eva Maldonado, Staff writerMarch 7, 2017 GMT

A Brownsville man has been added to the Texas Department of Public Safety Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Agapito Salinas, 45, is a member of the Texas Syndicate gang and is wanted for parole violation.

Houston task force receives law enforcement award

Staff reportMarch 7, 2017 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety was the lead agency in a multi-agency Methamphetamine Initiative Group task force in Houston that recently received the Outstanding Cooperative Effort award for its role in a long-term High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) investigation in the Harris and Montgomery counties area.

DPS agent had doubts Yzaguirre took bribes

By FRANK GARZA Staff WriterFebruary 1, 2017 GMT

CORPUS CHRISTI — In what lead defense attorney Eddie Lucio referred to as the “hot mic incident,” Texas Department of Public Safety agent Janie Alvarado expresses her doubts that Cameron County Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre Jr.

7 Yzaguirre charges dropped, 15 counts remain

By Frank Garza Staff WriterJanuary 31, 2017 GMT

CORPUS CHRISTI — Seven charges were dropped against Tax Assessor-Collector Tony Yzaguirre yesterday morning after the defense argued that dealership title transfers have different rules.

Prosecutors allege that Yzaguirre took $1,100 in bribes over the course of the Texas Department of Public Safety investigation, $100 for each vehicle illegally processed.

Edcouch homicide victim’s identity released

LORENZO ZAZUETA-CASTRO | STAFF WRITERJanuary 2, 2017 GMT

EDCOUCH — Authorities released the name Monday of the man at the center of a Texas Ranger-led homicide investigation.

Juan Manuel Belmarez died early Sunday evening, Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman Lt.

DPS seeks leads in 1973 murder case in Harlingen

FROM DPS REPORTSSeptember 20, 2016 GMT

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking the public’s help in solving the 1973 murder of Candyce Fletcher-Mora in Harlingen.

As part of a DPS public awareness program, one unsolved case is featured each month by the Texas Rangers Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team in an effort to generate new investigative leads and bring added attention to unresolved or “cold cases” across the state.

DPS enhances patrols for Labor Day enforcement period

Special to the TimesSeptember 3, 2016 GMT

The Texas Department of Public Safety is asking Texas drivers to use extra caution when driving during the Labor Day holiday weekend.

From now to Monday, DPS Troopers will join law enforcement from across the state in looking for drivers who disregard traffic laws, including impaired drivers, speeders and safety belt violators.