Crime Time

Grandmother accused of making 'cheese' heroin is back in jail

A grandmother from Rowlett is back in federal custody following her indictment on a charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin.

Barbara Ann Sims, 60, (right) had been free on bond following her arrest in February.

She was originally brought into custody after tactical officers and federal agents got a tip that she was making "cheese" heroin at her home.

They raided the residence and found what they said was 9 ounces of Mexican black tar heroin.

They also got cheese heroin and materials to make more of it with an estimated street value of more than $33,000, a warrant stated.

Other confiscated items included three vehicles; $1,000 in counterfeit money; and eight guns, including a semiautomatic AK-47 rifle.

A detention hearing will be held Thursday for Sims, according to acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.

If convicted, Sims faces a prison term of five to 40 years and a $2 million fine.

She may also have to  forfeit her home to the government, if convicted, Jacks said.

-- Bill Miller

Your blotter: Another toddler beaten to death; innocent bystanders slain

To read more about these latest incidents, follow the links from Dallas-Fort Worth Crime (bottom right corner of the page.)

Another toddler beaten to death 

Police say the 2-year-old boy, the son of the man's girlfriend, suffered severe injuries to his head and internal organs. Kimball Douglass Hailey II (right) was arrested in the case.

 

Uninvited guests: Gang colors lit violent fuse in Fort Worth

Witnesses told police that three party crashers arrived Friday night at a birthday party; there was trouble, which later resulted in gunfire. Michelle Chavez, 18, an innocent bystander, died in the crossfire.

Reward offered: Pier 1 employee killed in Dallas shooting 

Jessica Chanè Waldron, 24, was waiting for a valet to return her car when someone began firing into the crowd, police say. Schepps Dairy is offering a reward to catch her killer.

On the lighter side ....

Plaid in springtime?

Police say the robber of a Grapevine credit union wore a plaid suit and possibly a fake beard.

Can you hold? I'm robbing a bank
Gunman gabs on cell during heist

Police are looking for a multi-tasker with a gun in one hand a cellphone in the other who may have robbed banks in Monday in Dallas and Irving.

Unusual deal: Guilty plea goes away if victim is resurrected

I've heard of some unusual plea deals before, but nothing like this.

A former member of a Baltimore religious cult pleaded guilty to starving her 1-year-old son to death. She's agreed to testify against four other member of the now-defunct religious group who are charged with murder, but she had a special condition added that's been approved.

If her son is resurrected, her plea will be withdrawn.

She pleaded to the death of her son, Javon Thompson, who died after cult members denied him food when the child refused to say "amen" after a meal.

-- Lance Murray

Photos released from 'Cat Man's' lair

Jonnie England, of the Metroplex Animal Coalition, went to the Plano hotel room of Ronald Teague Monday and took photos.

Police had found 21 cats living there.

Teague (right), also known as the "Cat Man" made news in 2007 when Dallas animal control workers found 25 dead cats wrapped and frozen in his freezer. They also found 45 live cats and 11 dogs at this home in east Dallas. A day earlier, Teague led Dallas police on a high-speed chase with a dead cat in his vehicle.

The discovery in Plano revealed similar conditions, but in a smaller space.

 “As you might expect, the stench was terrible,” said England, the coalition's director of animal advocacy. “Litter boxes lined the walls, and there were plates of food all over the floor. 

"Many of the cats appeared to be in fairly good condition, but several had obvious signs of illness. Three cats, including the mother of four young kittens, were confined to the small bathroom. One cat has a severe mouth infection, at least one has ringworm, and another was thin and had hair loss.” 

Teague has said in earlier interviews with the Dallas media that he was rescuer, not a collector.

-- Bill Miller

 

   

 

Police arrest cat hoarder again after 21 felines found in motel room

In July 2007, police said that Ronald Teague led them on a high speed chase through Dallas with a dead cat in his car. He told them he was trying to get his sick cat to the vet.

The next day, animal control workers found 25 dead cats wrapped and frozen in his freezer. They also found 45 live cats and 11 dogs at this home in east Dallas, Channel 5 reported.

Earlier this month, Teague was indicted by a grand jury on animal cruelty charges in that case.

Now, Channel 5 reports, Teague was arrested again on Sunday after police pulled him over and realized he had outstanding warrants in the 2007 animal cruelty case.

But there's more, on Monday police found 21 cats living inside Teague's Plano motel room.

-- Lance Murray

Man charged with DWI after he crashes motorized bar stool

OK, some might say that if you're gonna get drunk, it should be on your favorite bar stool -- but not while you're driving!

Police in Ohio have charged a man with drunken driving after he crashed his motorized bar stool. Kile Wygle, 28, was injured in the crash. He told police that he'd had 15 beers and that the bar stool can go up to 38 mph.

Want to see this contraption? Click here.

-- Lance Murray

In interview, Dallas officer admits he erred in detaining NFL player

Dallas police officer Robert Powell agrees he acted inappropriately when he detained NFL running back Ryan Moats and his family outside a Plano hospital as they were rushing to the bedside of a dying relative.

In an interview with KVTV Channel 11, Powell said he's seen the videotape of the incident and wishes he could rewind the whole incident.

"I made a mistake that night," he told the station. "I used poor judgment."

Powell, who is on paid suspension, says he's afraid he'll lose his job with the Dallas Police Department and that he fears for his wife and two daughters. The family has received death threats, he told the station.

He says he disagrees with the allegation that he pointed his weapon at Moats and his family members. He said he re-holstered the gun the minute he realized there was no threat, and said he only pulled the gun out when the family members exited their vehicle and did not heed his orders.

You can read Channel 11's full report here.

-- Lance Murray

Man made teen a prostitute; paid her with chicken nuggets

Police in Australia say that a man pimped a 16-year-old girl into prostitution and then paid her with chicken nuggets. Yes, chicken nuggets.

The Australian Associated Press reports that the 27-year-old man did it so that he and his girlfriend could pay for their apartment, so they enticed the teen into having sex with five middle-age men.  They made $4,500. The girl, got chicken feed ... er ... food made of chicken.

"The girl was used as if she was a piece of meat ... and your conduct can properly be described as that of a sleaze merchant," Judge Marshall Irwin told Ronald Vikash Gander, who pleaded guilty in the case.

-- Lance Murray

Police: Man fatally stabs one sister, beheads another

What a scene of horror it must have been.

A police officer in Milton, Mass., watched helplessly as a 23-year-old man beheaded his 5-year-old sister. The man had already fatally stabbed his 17-year-old sister to death in their family home and decapitated the younger sister as the officer entered the house trying to help, police said.

The officer was responding to the 911 call for help from another sister, 9, who called police when her brother turned on her.

Police say that 9-year-old, Sarafina Revelus, was hospitalized with defensive hand wounds and stab wounds to her abdomen and one of her legs.

Police have arrested her brother, Kerby Revelus, in connection with the killings of Samantha Revelus and her 5-year-old sister, Bianca.

-- Lance Murray

Texans RB says he feared for wife's life

Houston Texas running back Ryan Moats, who went to high school in Dallas, told Good Morning America today that he feared for his wife's life during that controversial traffic stop, The Dallas Morning News reports.