THE COP SHOP
Information sparse on crime reports
This was one of those days when reporting officers did not write enough information on the reports made available to the press to actually figure out what happened. I hate to complain about the hard-working officers who do this tough job, but I don't want you to think that I am just being lazy.
Here is what I was able to tell from the reports:
An officer responded to a hospital emergency room about 9 p.m. Tuesday and took a report about a 2-year-old boy who was being treated for some sort of injuries, allegedly inflicted by a babysitter.
An officer responded about 9 p.m. Tuesday to the 300 block of Ruth Street where a woman was pushed from a moving car. She was taken to a hospital emergency room.
An officer responded to a bar in the 1700 block of Teasley Lane about 4 p.m. Tuesday where a woman made a report. The report alleged, in different places, attempted sexual assault and aggravated assault.
THE COP SHOP
Lug nuts removed from car
A 35-year-old woman reported to police about 4 a.m. Monday that someone apparently removed the lug nuts from all the wheels of her car. She said she began driving the car and one of the wheels rolled completely away, disabling the car. She discovered that all the lug nuts were missing. She found them on the pavement near where her car had been parked in the 700 block of Frame Street.
Other reports
2400 block of West University Drive - Police are investigating a report Monday morning that someone in Jamaica has been defrauding an 86-year-old woman. The officers learned that the woman had received several telephone calls from Jamaica informing her that she had won a car. She had been instructed to send money to pay various fees. So far, the woman had lost $975 in the scam.
THE COP SHOP
Suspect confronts cop, complies at sight of Taser
An officer who was sent to a family violence call in the 700 block of Fort Worth Drive Sunday night was greeted by a number of upset people who shouted at him, "He's trying to kill her!" The witnesses directed the officer to the third floor of an apartment building where he saw a man who had two women cornered. The suspect balled his fists, screamed obscenities and challenged the officer to fight. The officer pointed his Taser at the man and told him to turn around, put his hands behind his back and drop to his knees. The suspect did as he was told. After an investigation, the suspect was charged with assault causes injury/family violence, assault and burglary.
Other reports
2400 block of Tahoe - A man called police about 1 p.m. Sunday to report that his wife and 6-year-old daughter were being held hostage by the wife's employer. The employer believes the wife stole $30,000 from him, the husband said. He refuses to release the wife until her parents give him the money.
9100 block of Teasley Lane - Police responded to a call for help about 10:30 p.m. Friday and found a bruised and upset 68-year-old woman. The woman said that she and her husband were in a car with him at the wheel. He was highly intoxicated and they were arguing. He stopped the car in the street and pulled her out of the car, she said. Then he drove away leaving her lying in the street. She wants to press charges.
County Judge Mary Horn sent a letter to Constable Precinct 4 Tim Burch on September 4 regarding his use of county vehicles to perform off duty jobs in other counties.
This letter is subject to open records laws and I made an open records request. The following is the letter in its entirety:
Dear Constable Burch:
Article III, 52(e) of the Texas Constitution prohibits a county from granting things of value for private use. Officers who perform off-duty work receive a private benefit. Thus, when a county patrol vehicle is used in the performance of off-duty work, it is put to a private use. Such private use is permissible so long as the predominant purpose of the work is to accomplish an authorized public purpose.
Reports have been received that you have been using your county patrol vehicle to perform off-duty work outside of Denton County. This letter is to inform you that I consider this to be a misuse of Denton County property.
The Attorney General has specifically held that county patrol vehicles may be used for off-duty work only if the predominant purpose is to conserve the peace within the county, the elected official retains control over the vehicles in a manner that ensures the peace will be conserved, and the county actually receives this public benefit. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. No. GA-0480 (2006).
Off-duty work performed outside of Denton County does not conserve the peace within Denton County or serve any other legally authorized county purpose. Therefore, I consider your use of a county patrol vehicle for this purpose to be a misuse of county property for your own private benefit. I request that you discontinue this practice immediately, and inform your deputies that you lack the authority to grant them the use of their county vehicles while working off-duty in other counties.
In using county property for your sole private benefit, you place the taxpayers of Denton County at risk for personal loss. Please understand that any officer who engages in this practice could be held personally responsible.
Sincerely
Mary Horn
County Judge
This letter was written after a traffic accident Burch was involved in earlier this year that destroyed a county-owned patrol car. He was in Tarrant County working an off-duty job with TXDOT. So far the insurance company has not paid off on the car or the $9,000 worth of special police add-ons.
Burch told the commissioners court on Tuesday that an individual was donating a fully-police-equipped Tahoe to his department.
Burch has called this blog "Moments of Stupidity" and accused this writer of being a "creative journalist." This stuff is not my creativity at work, folks.
I will report further facts as I find them.
Donna
THE COP SHOP
Man exposes himself to woman and child
Denton police are looking for a man who exposed himself to a 24-year-old woman and her 2-year-old girl Wednesday night in the parking lot of a big-box store in the 1800 block of South Loop 288. The woman was able to give a good description of the suspect and she also remembered the license number of the car he left in. Police are seeking surveillance video from the store to further aid in their investigation.
Other reports
3900 block of East McKinney Street - A female clerk in a convenience store reported about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday that a man came into the store, told her he had a gun and demanded cash and cigarettes. No further information was provided in the report.
3500 block of Hudsonwood - A woman called for help about 3:25 a.m. Wednesday, saying two men were trying to remove a wheel and tire from her car in front of her house. She described the men. Officers chased and caught one man running away and found the second suspect nearby. They were charged with attempted theft. One of the men also was being held on outstanding warrants.
THE COP SHOP
Woman assaults jailer
A Denton police officer reported Tuesday that he was looking for a woman with outstanding warrants on Saturday and the female he questioned denied being that woman and gave another name and date of birth. He checked on her information and found it to be a lie. He returned Tuesday about 12:45 a.m. and took her into custody. She admitted she had given him false information during his first visit. But once they got to the jail, she became violent. She began banging her head on a wall and hitting a brick wall with her fist. A female jailer tried to restrain her for her own safety and the prisoner attacked the jailer. She hit her in the face with her fist, according to the police report, opening a three-inch cut under the jailer's eye. The 30-year-old woman was charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, giving false information to a police officer and was also being held on two outstanding warrants.
Other reports
1800 block of West University Drive - A man came into a pawn shop about 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and reached over the counter, taking about $7,500 worth of rings. Later the man was arrested after trying to sell the rings. No further information was available.
North Loop 288 at Elm Street - A 14-year-old girl jumped from a moving car about 4:15 p.m. and was taken by CareFlight emergency helicopter to a Metroplex hospital for treatment. No further information was available.
THE COP SHOP
Stranger steals rings from elderly man
A 71-year-old man told police Saturday that he allowed a stranger into his house in the 800 block of Mack Drive about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday. He only realized on Saturday that while he was distracted the stranger entered his bedroom, went through a closet and took four gold rings. No further information was available about the incident.
Other reports
3000 block of North Elm Street - A man reported Saturday that he was driving when someone in another vehicle threw something out the window that struck his car. He gave chase and the two cars pulled over in a parking lot. The other driver threw an aerosol can at him, hitting him in the head, he said, and then left the scene.
800 block of West University Drive - A woman reported Sunday about 9:30 a.m. that someone broke into her office and took an electronic tablet and the keys to her car. Then the suspect left in the car, according to the report.
900 block of Dixon Street - Officers contacted a woman being treated in a hospital emergency room about 3 p.m. Sunday. She had a concussion and reported that her stepson shoved a door at her, striking her in the head.
