law enforcement news

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD) will be moving to the cutting edge of technology in body cameras thanks to a donation from local citizen Robert Ruff.

At the meeting of the Marble Falls City Council Feb. 21, the formal approval of a $50,000 donation was passed with Mayor John Packer's thanks to Ruff. With the donation, budgeted money for the year and other funds designated for equipment, the MFPD should deploy the new $127,683 system before the year is out.

“We are no strangers to audio/video recording in Burnet County,” said Detective Sgt. Tom Dillard. “We have used in-car cameras since the mid-1990s.”

The City of Horseshoe Bay is cautioning residents to expect a large police and fire presence at city hall on Thursday, Feb. 23, during an "active shooter" exercise.

The drill will be conducted from 3-5 p.m. and city hall will be closed to the public during that time. Officials say residents should expect to hear loud noises, such as simulated gunshots and sirens, from numerous public safety vehicles.

"One of the primary concerns of any city council and city manager is employee safety," said City Manager Stan Farmer. That is why several months ago Farmer instructed the Horseshoe Bay Police Department (HSBPD) to spearhead a joint training exercise for city hall, and Horseshoe Bay Fire Department (HSBFD) employees, as well as Marble Falls Area Emergency Medical Service (MFAEMS) ambulance crews to better prepare for an active shooter event.

A San Saba woman is in the Burnet County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bond after she failed to appear in court for charges regarding injury and abandonment of her three children in Llano County and fled to Nevada. It was her second bond jump.

Mary Elizabeth Sewell, 23, originally was arrested in October 2015 and charged with abandoning and endangering a child through criminal negligence. She was released on bond, apparently fled the state.

“She took off and we had to send two deputies, a male and a female, to go pick her up from Reno, Nevada,” Llano County Sheriff Bill Blackburn said. “She bonded out when she was returned and when it appeared she was going to test hot for drugs, she went on the fly again. After we got warrants out on her, she came back and turned herself in at Lampasas.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Two people arrested with documents that point to identity theft in Texas and states beyond remained in Burnet County Jail Thursday, Feb. 2.

The Marble Falls Police Department (MFPD) have been investigating more than two weeks a case in which Shayne Thomas Negri, 27, of Burnet and Stella Marie Hernandez, 37, of Kingsland were arrested Friday, Jan. 27.

“The management of Hill Country Express contacted us Jan. 13, after people left without paying,” said MFPD Detective Sgt. Trisha Ratliff. “When they went to clean out the room they found what appeared to be drug paraphernalia and wanted it removed safely.

“We did locate paraphernalia along with information identifying multiple victims of identity theft such as ID and credit cards, other forms of ID, personal mail and any number of different documents. They ranged to multiple states.”

A Granite Shoals woman who gained notoriety by asking police to check her methamphetamine for Ebola is scheduled to appear in court next week.

Chasitiy Eugina Hopson, 29, appears on the plea docket for 424th District Judge Evan Stubbs at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 10.

Last March, Hopson had the misfortune of falling for a Facebook meme posted by the Granite Shoals Police Department indicating methamphetamine circulating around town had been tainted by Ebola, a virus which has killed thousands of people, especially in Africa, where the disease is thought to have originated.

The meme suggested that concerned individuals should take their meth to the police to have it tested to see if it contained Ebola.

By Amy Prayer

Highland Lakes Newspapers

Burnet residents rallied Saturday night, Jan. 28, in support of Burnet Officer Matt Imrie, with a benefit concert.

The community came together for one purpose: to support their fellow member of the Burnet community.

Imrie, who was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident while off duty Tuesday, Jan. 10, sustained a badly broken femur bone, which required surgery. Imrie remained in intensive care until Sunday, Jan. 14.

“He has since been moved out of ICU and is receiving the best of care in a rehabilitation center located in Round Rock” said Jenniifer Watlers, Imrie's mother.

Imrie was released from the rehabilitation center to enjoy the benefit concert at Haley Nelson Park and spoke with many of the community members who expressed their love and support for Imrie during his recovery.

“Thank you all, this means so much to me,” said Imrie, to the attending crowd.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Tips from Hill Country Crime Stoppers led to the arrest of three boys in Burnet for break-ins Jan. 9 and Jan. 21 that caused at least $10,000 in damage, repair and stolen property at the old Burnet Elementary School campus where Quest High School and new Texas AgriLife Extension facilities are located and at the Burnet High School.

Burnet police were able to catch up with the three suspects on Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, after Crime Stopper Tips started coming in,” said Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson, who said his department gathered evidence and located all of the stolen property that was taken during the burglaries.

“All three juveniles will be charged with Burglary of a Building and Criminal Mischief,” said Nelson. “They were taken to juvenile detention yesterday afternoon (Jan. 24) where they are under the supervision of juvenile probation. A 33rd Judicial District judge will decide where they go next.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Texas Rangers and other Texas Department of Public Safety and law enforcement officials swelled the crowd from Horseshoe Bay Saturday, Jan. 21, to memorialize Ranger Stanley Keith “Stan” Guffey.

The event marked the 30th Anniversary of the event Jan. 22, 1987, in which Ranger Guffey died in the line of duty, rescuing a two-year-old kidnap victim in Horseshoe Bay. The Texas Department of Public Safety and its Texas Ranger division, the Texas Ranger Association, retired Texas Ranger Association and the City of Horseshoe Bay and local businesses sponsored the event for the unveiling of a Texas Ranger monument from the People of the State of Texas.

“Texas Rangers are woven from a special fabric,” said Josefina Garza Guffey Jennings, Guffey's widow, when she addressed the crowd. “It is not that that Rangers are extraordinary men, it is that extraordinary men , and now women, join the Texas Rangers.”

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Burnet Police Officer Matthew “Matt” Imrie underwent a lengthy a delicate surgery Wednesday, Jan. 11, in the aftermath of a traffic accident north of Marble Falls late Tuesday afternoon.

Department of Public Safety troopers assigned to investigation of the accident have been unavailable with details, but reports from the scene described the accident as a two-car, head-on collision at the intersection of US 281 and Farm to Market Road 1855 (Fairland Road).

The Burnet County Sheriff's Department dispatcher received the first call on the collision at 5:30 p.m. Almost immediately, social media was busy with prayers and condolences for Imrie and his 10-year-old daughter, Carleigh, a passenger in his SUV, who was not seriously injured.