Monthly Report for August 2016

Dear Citizens,

School is back in session and as you well know it is an important event for our entire community. Students are heading back to class, teachers have gotten their classrooms ready, implemented new lesson plans for the school year, administrators are working with budgets, school bus routes, staffing and school safety concerns. Parents are coordinating work and school schedules, car pools and support for their child's activities and studies. Businesses are equipping families, teachers and administrators with the supplies and services they need for a successful school year. Back to school is a very busy time for us and really affects us all. So please, during this busy time, please be extra cautious when driving and in traffic. Be mindful of all our school zones especially during the morning hours and early afternoons. Keep an extra look out for potential hazards around our schools and in neighborhoods where children play. Slow down and increase your stopping distances.

School buses are back on the road. Be aware of school bus routes in your neighborhood and throughout your daily travel. Leave plenty of time and space for buses. With school traffic, anticipate delays in your travel and leave early enough so you’re not in a rush. Also please remember when approaching a school zone or school bus on the road, be prepared to stop for bus and pedestrian traffic and by all means do not text and drive. Obey ALL "no cell phone" posted signs. I want to thank all of you who help make our education system an integral, positive force in our community. Our children are counting on us, let’s work together to make “Back to School” a rewarding, fun and safe time for all Navarro County residents.

Thank you to all our friends from Fannin Elementary for coming by and showing your appreciation and gratitude with kind words and gifts for our officers and department.

The Navarro County Sheriff’s Office received its newest piece of equipment this month to be used in crime fighting and rescue operations. The new Inspire One Pro Drone equipped with FLIR (night vision). Thanks to the generosity of District Attorney Lowell Thompson and the D.A. seizure fund, Don Parks/Chase Parks Foundation Fund and the Navarro County Sheriff’s Office Drug Seizure Fund, this new piece of technological equipment was purchased. I would like to thank each one of you for your assistance in us being able to make this purchase. I assure you, and our citizens, that it WILL be put to good use and will assist us in many future operations.

Less than one week after attending a class on K-9 encounters, Deputy J.D. Qualls was injured after being attacked by a dog while answering an animal cruelty call in Oak Valley. Deputy Qualls was sent to the hospital, received treatment for his injuries and later released. Deputy Qualls applied the valuable training that he had recently received in the K-9 Encounters Class and did not resort to lethal force in this encounter. It just reinforces how important continual training is for our officers.

Deputies of the NCSO were involved in a vehicle pursuit through Corsicana and into Navarro County that culminated with the arrest of the female driver on NW 1190 Corsicana. The incident began when Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a white 1995 Ford Explorer near H.E.B. grocery in Corsicana. The driver initially stopped but fled the scene in her vehicle as deputies approached on foot. The Deputies pursued the vehicle through several city streets in Corsicana and ultimately west onto Hwy 22 where they utilized spike strips to deflate a tire on the suspect vehicle. The vehicle traveled approximately one mile after being spiked and turned onto NW 1190 and stopped. The suspect was charged with evading arrest with a vehicle with previous conviction and tampering with physical evidence with intent to impair. Both charges are third degree felony offenses.

Thank you Sergeant Melanie Cagle, Pshaun Martin and Tammy Sloan of the NCSO for your representation and assistance at this year’s back to school rally which was held in Corsicana at the IOOF center.

Congratulations to CID Sergeant Jason Earles, Deputy Brandon Bates and CID Sergeant Ricky Ragan who were each independently recognized as Corsicana Daily Sun First Responders of the Week in August.

NCSO narcotics Sergeant Ricky Ragan arrested a Corsicana resident and seized approximately 21 grams of methamphetamine. A traffic stop was conducted on IH 45 at the 231 Exit in Corsicana and methamphetamine, digital scales and baggies were located. Deputy Kris Matthews and Sgt. Jeff Harbuck assisted with the investigation. The NCSO narcotics unit arrested one suspect, seized 4 pounds of marijuana, guns, baggies, scales and cash at a residence in Roane. The Narcotics Unit also seized approximately 600 to 650 marijuana plants at an outdoor marijuana grow near Frost in western Navarro County. Detectives found a grow site with a camp ground at the location near the intersection of NW 4170 and NW 4180 Frost. No suspects were present at the scene and the crop appeared to have been affected by recent flooding in the area. The case is under investigation.

NCSO deputies arrested a suspect who was found in possession of over 2 pounds of marijuana during a traffic stop on west highway 31 near Silver City.

Thank you Texas Senator Brian Birdwell for the gift of the Texas flag that was flown over the State Capitol and the framed certificate honoring the life and faithful service of former NCSO Deputy and later DART police officer Brent Thompson and Deputy James Murray.

The Sheriff's Office had 3,419 calls for service in August and our dispatch received 2,433 calls for assistance to 9-1-1. There were approximately 317 persons arrested and booked into the Navarro County Justice Center in August and the average daily jail population was 236 inmates. The Narcotics Unit arrested 15 suspects, filed 16 criminal cases and served 2 outstanding arrest warrants. Ten inmates were transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and 16 other inmates were transferred to State Jail and SAFP units to serve their sentences. 202 civil papers were also served during the month.

This month 6 head of horses were estrayed and transported to the county farm in Angus. Eleven horses were sold at Cleburne Horse sale for $2,113.25 and we also collected $165.00 in estray fees.

I would like to congratulate Jaron Bullock who on September, 1 became our newest detention officer. We are currently at full staffing in all divisions except patrol where we have one vacancy. As in the past, applications will continue to be taken for any vacancy until the position is filled.

I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character, not wealth or power or position, is of supreme worth. 
-John D. Rockefeller, Jr.

As always, God bless and be safe.

Sheriff Elmer Tanner