Adios Texas: Why I report so much ‘bad news’

By Matt Naber
Nov. 27, 2013

Jokes about my last name aside, I’m actually a fan of Mr. Rogers.
His advice for explaining the scary things in the news to children is golden:
“When I was a boy I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
Car wrecks, drug busts, human smuggling, explosions and more “bad news” were a common occurrence during my time as editor of The Progress. It was scary to think about, to write about and to witness.
But there were always people helping.
A car would wreck and a victim would be screaming in pain on the side of the road. But EMS crews were there. I usually wore sunglasses during these, even when it wasn’t sunny, so that nobody could see my reaction.
Radioactive toxic waste was spewing from waste haulers in violation of state law. But a multitude of local organizations could be found working to make this a nicer place to live.
A man was murdered in broad daylight, but the killer was caught the next day. A flood broke out on the same day, placing much of the area underwater. But word got out fast, emergency crews and locals were prepared, and everything turned out okay.
Housing is so expensive and impossible to find that people are living in tents year-round. But efforts are being made to bring more housing to the area.
The “helpers” are so good at what they do that the only way to know something happened is to either have been there, or to read about it in the news.
I didn’t like reporting on other people’s misery, but it was essential.
I hoped that getting the word out that wrecks have increased by astronomical amounts would encourage drivers to drive safely.
I wanted people to be disturbed by what they read in the news – the deaths, the crimes, and the drugs. There are bad things happening in our own back yard, but nothing can be done about it unless people know it’s happening.
But that doesn’t make the world a bad place nor does it make South Texas a bad place to live. There are helpers everywhere, and it’s not just local law enforcement working to make things better.
I don’t want to offend anyone by leaving someone out, but there are groups of people working to make the area a beautiful place to live, preserving the local history for future generations, donating massive amounts of money to improve education and quality of life, and so many more are just trying to do something, anything, to make a better tomorrow.
These were my “happy stories” for the week. They kept me sane on the weeks when my iPad was bursting with stories straight out of a grind-house horror movie. But most importantly, they gave me hope.
It’s easy to stay at home, turn on, tune in, and drop out – to be completely oblivious to the good, the bad, and the ugly happening right here.
And now for the ugly part – I’m leaving, but it wasn’t an easy decision to make.
My last day is Wednesday, then I’ll spend Thanksgiving with my friends in Seguin before moving back to Wyoming. I’m thankful to say goodbye to the heat and the scorpions, but the people and their stories were what kept me here and are what I’ll remember when I think about South Texas.
So while I’m back at my usual routine of running for my life from charging bull moose in the backcountry of the Rockies, I hope the next editor and his or her readers continue discussing the issues in the area and the helpers who are trying to make things better.

Three Rivers population up by 441 percent

By Matt Naber
Nov. 27, 2013

THREE RIVERS – Three Rivers population increased by an estimated 441 percent since the 2010 census according to local Realtor, Richard Dockery. Dockery estimates the total number of people in the Three Rivers area to be around 10,000 compared to the census total of 1,848.
Dockery worked alongside the Three Rivers Police Department in gathering the updated numbers for two reasons. First, for the city to better prepare for emergency situations. Secondly, for promoting economic development in the area.
“The whole reason we are doing it is because a lot of the data is old and just flat-out unknown,” Dockery said. “We are trying to help not only developers, but also users of services like a grocery store so they know there is a population of 10,000 ready, willing, and able to purchase. I don’t know what the average income here is now, but it’s higher than it was a few years ago.”
An indicator of the increased income could be found in the increased cost of living with average rental prices having increased by 300 percent since the Eagle Ford Shale developments started a couple of years ago.
Dockery said this kind of information could be used to attract businesses to the Three Rivers area such as a HEB or other large store.
“We think there is a rotating population of 10,000 in what people consider the Three Rivers market, not counting George West or Tilden,” Dockery said.
Dockery said when man-camps, RV parks, motels, campgrounds and regular residences were all taken into consideration when calculating the population north of the Nueces River. As for the south end of the county, he estimated George West’s population to be somewhere between 5-8,000 and thought there were more people living along Highway 72.
Because it’s a rotating population, finding out how many people are actually living in the area at any given time was a complicated process. Some may only be in the area for a few days, weeks, or months at a time.
Dockery said a similar study was conducted in Pleasanton where average household sizes were multiplied with the number of commercial and residential water meters under the city’s control.
But, things got complicated for man-camps and motels because one commercial water meter could service more than 150 people.
“It’s not an exact deal, but in case there is an emergency we will have a list of where the people are,” Dockery said. “You would be surprised how hard it is to get it all.”
Some of the local man-camps are completely full with up to 300 people in one facility. Others operate at about 50 percent capacity. Dockery said they contacted each man-camp for average occupancy numbers.
The population survey’s details were still a work in progress as of last week. But once the project is completed, Dockery said he plans on sharing the results with the city.

TxDOT funding for roads prove costly to counties

By Matt Naber
Nov. 20, 2013

LIVE OAK – Splitting a pot of money worth $225 million could be a complicated and expensive process for Texas counties seeking assistance for road repairs.
The Texas House approved Senate Bill 1747 in late May, authorizing $225 million to repair roads damaged by increased traffic and overweight vehicle use brought on by oil and gas development. But Texas counties are waiting to see what the regulations will be before making their first move according to attorney Charles Kimbrough of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP.
Kimbrough met with Live Oak County Commissioners on Friday, Nov. 15 to discuss how the funding can be obtained. The explanation for how the funds could be obtained took over two hours and exact numbers won’t even be officially available until substantial work is done across the state.
He said the law went into effect on Sept. 1, but the transportation commission will bring it up for final approval on Nov. 21.
“What is boils down to is it’s a funding vehicle for a county that can meet requirements to fix the roads, if it can prove the roads have been degraded by the oil and gas activity in the traffic,” Kimbrough said.
Although the state approved $225 million, the actual pot available is $500,000 less due to administrative expenses. The remaining $224,500,000 will be split four different ways but precisely how it’s split is impossible to determine until competing county totals are prepared according to Kimbrough:
• 20 percent will be allocated based on overweight permit activity.
• 20 percent will be allocated based on oil and gas production taxes accrued for the past year.
• 50 percent will be allocated based on the oil well completion statistics for the past year.
• 10 percent will be allocated based on the volume of oil or gas injections for the past year.
These four categories are each divided by the total number of applying counties and then added together to determine the maximum amount the county qualifies for out of the $224.5 million.
Live Oak County Judge Jim Huff said there are 20 counties impacted by the Eagle Ford Shale. But Kimbrough said the funds could be up against all 253 counties in the state.
But in order to obtain those funds each county must present a 20 percent match fund unless the county is designated as economically disadvantaged.
“I don’t think you’re on that list,” Kimbrough told the commissioners. “If they give you $10 million, you need to come up wit 20 percent to get it.”
Further complications arise in finding out if the county is even eligible for the allocated funds. In order for this to be determined, the county will need to designate heavily impacted regions as Energy Transportation Reinvestment Zones. Then each zone will need to be prioritized based on how badly the repairs are needed.
Kimbrough recommended doing multiple zones.
Creating these zones means the county will need to form an advisory committee, create a special account that can only be used for transportation projects within the designated zones, hire surveyors and seek legal council. Kimbrough said legal fees alone could cost up to $27,500.
“This bill was a fight,” Kimbrough said. “What sold legislative members on it was a component of this solution that requires counties to participate in the future with your own money on improving infrastructure inside of the zone.”
The lifespan of the zones is 10 years according to Kimbrough.
“If you have $100 million in projects you submit, you might only get $10 million,” Kimbrough said. “You will be competing with other counties.”
If a county is eligible and doesn’t ask for all that it’s entitled, the excess funds will automatically be allocated to counties that didn’t receive enough funding.
Commissioner Richard Lee estimated the cost per mile for road construction was about $250,000. Commissioner Donna Mills said Liska Road’s 1.6 miles cost $270,000 per mile and that cost varies depending on the width.
She also said her precinct, precinct two, has about 30 miles worth of paved roads out of its total 86 miles.

140 mph car chase travels 69 miles

By Matt Naber

Nov. 20, 2013

A 69-mile car chase at speeds up to 140 mph started in Three Rivers and ended near Corpus Christi, at a rest stop near mile marker 20 on Interstate 37 on Friday, Nov. 15.

“I’ve been doing this for 37 years in Harris, Beaumont and Live Oak counties, and this was one of the top five nasty pursuits I’ve been on,” Live Oak County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Calaway said. “I was driving 140 (mph), and he was walking away from me.”

A convicted felon with two guns, Edward Benjamin Bentley, 46, of San Antonio, allegedly stole a Mercedes C300 at gunpoint at a gas station in San Antonio on Friday morning, then drove south through Jourdanton before taking Highway 72 into Three Rivers.

“He said he got into an argument in San Antonio and got scared of the people he got into the argument with. He thought they were going to get him, so he stole a car to attempt to flee San Antonio,” Davis said. “He did not say where he was going.”

Three Rivers Police Department Officer Albert Carrion attempted to stop Bentley for an unsafe passing traffic violation near the Rialto Theater in Three Rivers, according to TRPD Sgt. Clint Davis.

A 70 mph chase through Three Rivers and out Highway 72 toward Interstate 37 followed. Carrion hit his lights in an attempt to pull the stolen vehicle over. Davis said that, once they hit the city limits, the chase had accelerated to 100 mph.

As the chase continued down the road, more responders followed behind including TRPD Chief Vance Roberts, Capt. JR Rodriguez, Live Oak County Sheriff Department’s Charlie Stroleny, Davis, Carrion and an “entourage of law enforcement,” according to Davis.

Once on the interstate, chase accelerated to 140 mph all the way to mile marker 20, according to Davis.

Calaway joined the chase at Haley Ranch Road on the south end of the county.

“He passed me at about 115-118 mph, and I came behind him, and the chase is on, and I’m basically calling out the pursuit, and we reached speeds of 140 mph or more,” Calaway said. “As we’re going through Mathis, he’s passing cars on the shoulder, the inside and outside shoulders and driving extremely erratic.”

Spikes were deployed at mile marker 26, and one of Bentley’s tires blew off about two-and-a-half miles later. The final five miles of the chase were at 115 mph on one of the rims.

“He just continued on; he was driving crazy, but he was able to maintain control of the vehicle,” Calaway said.

Bentley exited the interstate at mile marker 20, then went into a rest area at about 80 mph, according to Calaway.

Once inside the rest area, he pulled a U-turn and went straight toward the officers who were once behind him.

“He came head on with all of us,” Davis said.

Calaway said Deputy Sheriff Bill Ainsworth fired one shot from his car into the upper left hand corner of Bentley’s windshield as he drove past.

“Bill (Ainsworth) took evasive action and shot one round because we needed to get him off the interstate before he killed someone,” Calaway said.

About five seconds later, Bentley had a head-on collision with Texas State Trooper Sgt. Lorberau from the Sinton area, after swerving past Davis and Calaway at about 30 mph. Davis said the trooper was uninjured. Bentley was sent to Christus Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi.

Two firearms were found inside the car, a .40 Smith and Wesson pistol and a Glock 9 Ruger. Davis said Bentley is already a convicted felon with three previous arrests for manufactured delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle.

Davis said charges are pending, but Bentley is wanted for armed robbery in San Antonio, aggravated assault on a public servant from Live Oak County Sheriff’s Department, evading arrest or detention with a motor vehicle from TRPD and aggravated assault on a public servant from highway patrol.

$5,000 reward for Dairy Queen burglars

By Matt Naber
Nov. 13, 2013

Photo courtesy of GWPD
The security camera at the Orange Grove Dairy Queen caught this image of one of the two burglars who burglarized the restaurant on Oct. 24. The same men are believed to be responsible for the Dairy Queen burglaries in George West, Three Rivers and other nearby locations. Dairy Queen is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to their arrest.

Photo courtesy of GWPD
The security camera at the Orange Grove Dairy Queen caught this image of one of the two burglars who burglarized the restaurant on Oct. 24. The same men are believed to be responsible for the Dairy Queen burglaries in George West, Three Rivers and other nearby locations. Dairy Queen is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to their arrest.

GEORGE WEST – Two men are burglarizing Dairy Queens across South Texas and a $5,000 reward is being offered to anyone who provides information that leads to their arrest.
The George West Dairy Queen was the most recent target in what investigators believe to be a targeted series of burglaries. About $1,500 was stolen from the George West Dairy Queen’s safe on Oct. 31 at about 4 a.m.
“There have been numerous break-ins in the last few months,” George West Police Department Detective Samantha Gray said.
Other burglaries include Dairy Queens in San Diego, Portland, Three Rivers, and Orange Grove’s was burglarized three times. The most recent burglary for Orange Grove occurred on Oct. 24.
The Dairy Queen in George West sits right at the intersection of highways 59 and 281, one of the highest concentrations of traffic in the county. Because of the high traffic volume, it seems like an unlikely place to burglarize unless it was specifically targeted according to Gray.
All of the burglaries occurred between 3-4 a.m. and surveillance footage and witness reports all have similar descriptions.
The suspects are two Hispanic males in their mid 20s, often wearing welders’ clothing. One of the men is about 5’8” or 5’9” and 200 pounds with a goatee. The other man is about 5’6” and 150 pounds with a mustache.
Gray said investigators are trying to determine why Dairy Queen restaurants are being targeted. She suspects one reason could be that the men are familiar with the layout of each of the restaurants.
George West’s metal back door was pried open, Gray suspects it was done with a crow bar.
“They were in and out in just a few minutes,” Gray said.
Once inside the restaurant the men use a Red grinder, similar to what welders use, to cut open the safe and take the money.
Gray also suspects they are welders or welders’ assistants since they wear welders’ shirts and gloves.
“It’s the same thing every time,” Gray said. “In the smaller towns they don’t have 24-hour patrol.”
San Diego and Orange Grove do not have 24-hour patrol and Orange Grove has a gap in patrol from 1-6 a.m. according to Gray.
One of the Dairy Queens’ surveillance cameras showed one of the suspects wearing a Pason hat, a company that was once in Alice but shutdown. This leads Gray to suspect they are from Alice.
Surveillance equipment was not functioning during the George West burglary, but an employee caught them in the act and they fled. The employee did not see their faces, but she heard their voices and when she turned on the lights they left the scene.
“I’m just glad she (the employee) didn’t get hurt,” Gray said.
Gray said officers arrived within a minute-and-a-half of receiving the call but the men already left. Gray said they believe the men fled on foot to their vehicle and might be driving a new model four-door car, but the color is unknown at this time.
“This is only our third burglary of the year, it is about that time of year that people need money for Christmas,” Gray said. “It is that time of year, we will see an increase in property crime over the next two months, everyone will.”
Anyone with information pertaining to the the Dairy Queen burglaries is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 362-0206 or their local police department. GWPD’s phone number is 449-3800.

Alleged pharmacy burglar found napping 30 feet from scene

By Matt Naber
Nov. 13, 2013

THREE RIVERS – After putting in a hard day’s night of allegedly burglarizing Campbell’s pharmacy, Christopher Hollaway decided to take a nap in front of the neighboring movie theater’s front door.
Hollaway allegedly broke into Campbell’s drug store and stole 4,627 hydrocodone pills and over two gallons of promethazine with codeine, and then laid down for a nap approximately 30 feet from the scene of the crime between 3-5 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.
“I believe he chugged some pills inside and some codeine outside, so by the time he was done he was ready for bed,” Three Rivers Police Department Sergeant Clint Davis said.
A trail in the dirt on the sidewalk along with some leaked promethazine from when he allegedly dragged a garbage can holding dozens of promethazine bottles was visible from the entrance of the pharmacy to where Hollaway was sleeping.
Davis said as TRPD, county and state trooper processed the scene at Campbell’s, Hollaway, 31, of Baytown “came staggering” out of the Rialto Theater’s awning even though it wasn’t open for the day yet.
“He came limping out of the Rialto (theater), knowing it was closed we checked the front entrance and that is where he stock-piled them (the drugs),” Davis said.
Davis said they found Hollaway’s cellphone along with a box full of pills and the garbage can with the promethazine inside.
“I think it was because he was already high or took medication while inside the drug store,” Davis said. “Medication theft is on the rise. We had a couple of cases where people said someone broke in and the only object missing is medication.”
TRPD patrolman Monseis Robles Jr. estimated the street value for the hydrocodone to be $20-25 per pill, bringing their total value to $92,540-115,675.
“It’s basically purified cocaine,” Robles said.
Promethazine with codeine is a narcotic used as a pain reliever and cough suppressant and is the main ingredient in “Purple Drank.”
Hollaway did not steal any money from Campbell’s, but he allegedly took seven rings valued at about $60 each along with the drugs. Although the stolen drugs were returned, Hollaway’s alleged actions did cause some monetary damages when he caused $1,600 in damage to the TRPD cruiser’s interior by kicking at the door.
Hollaway was charged with burglary of a building, criminal mischief and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
Hollaway is currently in custody at the Live Oak County jail and isn’t likely to be out in time to see what’s currently playing at the Rialto.

Local vet awarded medal of honor in WWII

By Matt Naber

Nov. 6, 2013

Matt Naber photo
World War II veteran Staff Sergeant Carl Mattheijetz of Three Rivers was awarded several medals while serving in the US Air Force, including the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Contributed photo
World War II veteran Staff Sergeant Carl Mattheijetz of Three Rivers was awarded several medals while serving in the US Air Force, including the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Mattheijetz is pictured third from the right in Delart, Texas in 1943.

THREE RIVERS – World War II veteran Staff Sergeant Carl Matthiejetz of Three Rivers was awarded several medals while serving in the U.S. Air Force, including the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Medal of Honor is awarded for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty” and only 3,468 medals have been awarded. The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded for “heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.”

“I said I didn’t care about the medals; I just wanted to get through,” Matthiejetz said. “When I was asked to fly, I flew. I didn’t miss one mission.”

Matthiejetz said he couldn’t recall the circumstances for earning those particular awards, but he has plenty of memories left from the 50 missions he flew in 1943-44. His flights as an engineer gunner on B-17 bombers with the 444th squadron took him all over Europe.

While in flight it was his job to shoot, but shooting from a B-17 isn’t comparable to shooting at a shooting range. He said his seat was similar to a bicycle seat, but it was in a very cramped space.

“I don’t care how tight you had security on you, there was enough give that when the plane bounced I would hit the ceiling,” Matthiejetz said.

Close quarters also meant some close calls for Matthiejetz, with everything from engines catching on fire mid-flight to blockbusters not releasing.

The closest he came to getting hit in combat was when a piece of shrapnel the size of a baseball hit the rib cage of his plane, causing the steel to bend all the way up against him. Had the shrapnel impacted four inches in either direction it would have struck him from inside the plane.

“It was hectic,” Matthiejetz said. “I didn’t get a scratch, but I was so close that four of my crew never made it.”

Matthiejetz is now the last surviving member of his crew, but losing men isn’t something new for the 97-year-old veteran.

“Sometimes you left with a couple thousand planes and then came back with 60 missing,” Matthiejetz said. “The day I finished we had just got back from Berlin, and the next day four from my crew got shot down in France. That tore me up.”

His final flight was before the invasion of Normandy, and he flew over the English channel.

“You could see all of Normandy under there; the English Channel looked like it was on fire,” Matthiejetz said. “Most of the World War II guys are gone.”

Matthiejetz continued to serve his country after fighting overseas by repairing engines for about a year before ending his three-and-a-half years of active duty. Afterward, he worked at a filling station in Three Rivers for about 14 years, then farmed 150 acres about three miles north of Three Rivers with his brother, John, for about 44 years before retiring at 86 years old.

He attends every Veteran’s Day program held at Three Rivers High School and has handed out copies of the Constitution.

“That was 50 years ago. They ought to teach them what was going on then,” Matthiejetz said.

6,000 more cars travel through Three Rivers than Interstate 37 daily

By Matt Naber

Nov. 20, 2013

THREE RIVERS – Three Rivers has more traffic than Interstate 37 each day, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. With increased traffic comes an increase in traffic violations, but Three Rivers Police Chief Vance Roberts is confident that TRPD is equipped for the challenge.

Three Rivers sits at the intersection of highways 72 and 281, for a total of 23,000 vehicles passing through daily, compared to the interstate’s 17,000. Highway 72 contributes an average of 9,000 vehicles to the local traffic and the rest comes from Highway 281.

“We probably have five semi-trucks to every car,” Roberts said. “Our truck traffic is phenomenal.”

Roberts said there used to be one or two wrecks each month, but now there are one to three per week and sometimes more within the city limits.

“Our main concern is the dad-gum traffic (violations). They have quadrupled, I have no doubt in my mind,” Roberts said.

Prior to development within the Eagle Ford Shale a few years ago, TRPD issued about 150-200 citations per month, according to Roberts. That number is now between 500 and 600 citations. This includes everything from speeding violations and running red lights to exhibition accelerations, when a motorist rapidly accelerates from a stopped position.

“Honestly, I feel like there are 8,000 to 10,000 people in the area now,” Roberts said. “People don’t realize you police the through-traffic as well.”

Roberts said 98 percent of the wrecks that occur within Three Rivers’ city limits are because one driver will wave another through at an intersection, and the other driver will go despite being unable to see oncoming traffic.

“People wave them through, and, bam—they get hit,” Roberts said.

The deadliest intersections in Three Rivers are Tips Street and Highway 281, and Dibrell Avenue and Highway 72, according to Roberts. He advised drivers stick to the lighted intersections and take an extra 10-15 minutes when planning trips to Three Rivers because traffic is so congested.

Roberts says it’s not all negative in Three Rivers. As a business owner, he also sees the positive changes that have occurred, and he attributes that to the Eagle Ford Shale and to the Rio Grande Valley’s influence on Three Rivers.

“One thing that is a positive is we haven’t really seen an increase in burglaries and thefts,” Roberts said. “I think that is because the city council has been generous to allow me to add officers to deter criminal activity in Three Rivers.”

TRPD added four officers in the last three years for a total of 10 officers. Roberts said he likes to keep a minimum of three units on each shift, one as a supervisor and two to oversee calls.

Some crimes still slip through the radar.

Roberts said Three Rivers is seeing an increase in intoxicated driving, public intoxication and employee thefts.

TRPD used to have one or two instances of public intoxication per month, that number has escalated to six to 10 per month, according to Roberts.

Alcohol isn’t the only substance abuse issue the town is facing. Crystal ice and methamphetamine are the main drugs appearing in Three Rivers; previously, it was marijuana.

“Drugs were here before this hit, and they will be (here) after they are gone,” Roberts said. “They are contagious, and we do the best we can to curtail it. It’s sad, but it’s the truth.”

Roberts said he believes Three Rivers is due for more growth soon if natural gas prices increase. He also said more officers will be requested as the city grows.

“We will probably see another boom in the next year,” Roberts said. “I’m hoping and anticipating it will happen. And if it does, it’s going to be good for all of us.”

Human trafficking and traffic increase in Live Oak County

By Matt Naber
Nov. 13, 2013

LIVE OAK – Car chases, vehicle thefts, and calls requiring an officer response have doubled for Live Oak County Sheriff’s Department, the only dispatch source for all Live Oak and McMullen County law enforcement agencies..
Call volume
Calls where an officer responded have doubled since 2010 with a 14 percent increase in the last year for Live Oak County Sheriff’s Department.
It should be noted that multiple calls are received by dispatch for single events.
There were 9,230 calls for 2010, 10,170 for 2011, 12,583 for 2012 and the first eight months of 2013 had 12,662. At this rate, 2013 is projected to have nearly 19,000 calls.
911 calls increased 14 percent from 2011-13. January through August had 9,858 calls in 2011, then 11,086 calls for 2012, and 12,662 in 2013.
Criminal offense reports jumped from 308 to 400 for January through August of 2012 compared to 2013.
September’s totals were not available in time for press, and the year is not complete so call volumes are reported for the months of January through August.
The timing for the increase in calls couldn’t have been worse for the sheriff’s department. The county was in a rough financial situation in 2009 according to Live Oak County Sheriff Larry Busby. They lost 34 percent of their officers in 2010.
“In 2010 the Eagle Ford started and that is when we had to cut,” Busby said.
Since then the sheriff’s department has rebuilt to where it was prior to the oil boom in South Texas. They are currently at the same staff they had in 2009 with 10 dispatchers, up from seven in 2012, plus an additional investigator.
“All of these numbers for the Sheriff’s Department is just the tip of the ice berg,” Busby said.
Three years ago there were five city police officers in Three Rivers and George West, and McMullen County had three officers, but now there are 10 for each according to Busby.
“We dispatch for all of those agencies, so if you double the officers you’ve got double the people talking to our dispatch and double the people arresting and putting them into our jail,” Busby said. “We get them all. When you go fishing, you catch them you clean them, and we clean everyone else’s too.”
There are 69 people in Live Oak County Jail as of late October. Busby said the average occupancy is 30 and 15 years ago the average was 20. This includes some offenders from Duvall, Jim Wells, Karnes and Klaberg.
Offenses on the road
Busby said traffic related calls saw the biggest increase, 30 percent since last year. He credited the increase in calls with the increase in population and vehicles on the road.
“We got a lot more truck traffic and more traffic in general on FM (Farm-to-Market Roads) and highways that are not built for it,” Busby said. “They’re not wide enough or have proper turning lanes. It was an overnight explosion we weren’t prepared for.”
Human, drug, and money smuggling, stolen vehicles and pursuits have all increased.
There were 150 bailouts where suspects fled after a pursuit for all Live Oak and McMullen agencies in 2012. January through June of 2013 had 84 bailouts and is projected to be double last year’s total.
Prior to 2011, Live Oak County Sheriff’s Department vehicles were not equipped with radar, but the increase in traffic violations made them a necessity.
“We have a lot of it here because we are a funnel. To come from Laredo to Houston you have to go through Live Oak County, and to go north (to San Antonio) you have to go through Live Oak County,” Busby said. “They use the county roads and FM roads a lot and want to stay out of the cities.”
Stolen vehicles are also projected to increase, there were 49 cases in 2012 as a whole and January through June 11 of this year had 27.
There were 24 car chases in 2012 and just January through June of this year had 19.
“This is a meeting area because this is past border patrol,” Busby said. “People smuggling out of Mexico, they get them up to here and then Houston comes down and picks them up.”
Proximity is a major factor for Live Oak County, US Border Patrol activity is highest within 100 miles of the Mexican border and the intersection of highways 59 and 281 is 108 miles from Laredo.
But, Mexican influence isn’t the only contributor. Live Oak and McMullen counties are in the heat of an oil boom, which brought in an influx of residents both temporary and long-term.
Burglaries, violence and drug offenses
Thefts and burglaries are the most common criminal offenses in Live Oak County followed by domestic violence and then drug activity according to Busby. He said violent crime has not increased as much as other crimes for the county.
“Most burglaries and thefts are people that are on drugs,” Busby said. “If you have on set, they all fall under drugs, even family violence.”
Busby said the increased population brought in by the Eagle Ford Shale has also brought an increase in domestic violence cases across the county.
“More people means more family violence,” Busby said.
This increase also means an increased likelihood for rare crimes to occur.
“We had our first homicide in the last few years in Three Rivers and those don’t happen too often,” Busby said.
Busby urges locals who see suspicious activity or criminal activity to contact the Sheriff’s Department at 361-449-2271.

McMullen Sheriff’s Department bulks up staff 400 percent

By Matt Naber

Nov. 6, 2013

McMULLEN – Crime is on the rise across Live Oak and McMullen counties. The type of crimes and their frequencies vary depending on their location. The following is part of an ongoing series about how criminal activity has changed in our local communities.

Although crime has always been there, numbers are increasing with the population of McMullen County.

“To put it simply, there are a lot more people and a lot more stuff to steal,” Shelton said. “The increase in crimes involving narcotics can also be attributed to the increase in the population.”

Justice of the peace court cases went from about 700 filed in 2011 to 2,600 in 2012 and more than 5,000 so far for 2013, according to McMullen County Sheriff Emmett Shelton. He said there were only five indictments in McMullen in 2012, but the first six months of 2013 had 17 go through court with 24 more awaiting grand jury. County court cases increased from about 30 in 2012 to over 150 so far for 2013.

Traffic violations, narcotics arrests for marijuana, meth, cocaine, heroin and synthetics, domestic disturbances, breaches of the peace, alcohol-related violations, human trafficking and theft are the primary crimes in McMullen. Shelton said most theft cases are oil field related.

“This can probably be attributed to the influx of people who are following the oil field and who bring their habits and problems with them, creating a demand and subsequently a supply of these controlled substances in our community,” Shelton said.

He also attributed the increase in theft cases to the increase in population brought in by the oil field and the influx of oil field equipment.

Traditionally, McMullen dealt with primarily marijuana-related narcotics violations, human and drug trafficking, game violations and occasional domestic disturbances, Shelton said.

He said personal use narcotics found in McMullen have changed from marijuana to meth, cocaine, heroin and synthetic drugs.

“Many of these violations and crimes are not new; there’s just a lot more of them,” Shelton said.

Shelton said traffic violations continue to be the primary threat to public safety in McMullen County. He said this is likely a result of McMullen County Sheriff’s Department and DPS’ efforts on traffic enforcement.

“The same violators are being caught repeatedly for the same offenses,” Shelton said.

He urges McMullen drivers to stay vigilant when on the road and pay attention to other drivers.

With increased crime comes increased law enforcement presence in McMullen. Shelton said there are more violators caught and more cases filed due to the increase in officers on patrol.

McMullen County Sheriff’s Department is now fully staffed with 10 full-time deputies, four part-time deputies and one full-time investigator. The county’s district attorney, county attorney and justice of the peace have also increased personnel to handle the growing case load generated by the sheriff’s office.

“We also have a very proactive education and training program for our officers to keep them updated on laws and patrol techniques,” Shelton said.

Shelton said there has been a small increase in violent offenses in McMullen. Unlike George West, Shelton said there has not been an increase in reports involving children or violent crimes.

“We still deal with human traffickers on a weekly basis,” Shelton said. “Theft reports have increased substantially as have drug arrests.”

Although McMullen County Sheriff’s Department has grown by 400 percent in the last year, Shelton said the local residents are still an imperative part of the effort to lower crime in the area. Shelton said locals are “our eyes and ears,” and the information they receive from calls helps them to better serve the community.

“They just need to keep doing what they have been doing by reporting anything out of the ordinary, or what we now know as ‘the ordinary,’” Shelton said.