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Downtown Dallas Driverâ€™s License Office Disappears

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 02 Februari 2013 | 12.13

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The only driver's license office in Downtown Dallas has closed, potentially adding to long lines at other license offices. This comes after DPS told NBC 5 Investigates there were no plans to close any DFW offices.

There is more frustration for North Texans trying to renew their driver's licenses. The busy Department of Public Safety license office inside Dallas City Hall has shut down. Only an empty counter and some old computer wires remain after the DPS quietly moved out in mid-December.

Just last summer the top DPS official in charge of the Texas license offices told NBC 5 Investigates there were no plans to close any locations in the DFW area, as the DPS tries to reduce long lines and wait times that can last three hours or more especially during the busy summer months.

"We're not closing any offices. We are opening brand new. We are expanding our capacity to be able to serve that demand," said Rebecca Davio, director of the DPS License Division in an interview in July, 2012.

Davio was describing a multi-million-dollar DPS plan to open two new Dallas-Ft. Worth license Megacenters, one in Garland and one in Fort Worth. The agency said the two giant facilities would only add to the current locations in an effort to cut wait times at all of the exiting offices.

So what changed? Why would DPS close a busy license office when it's already struggling to keep up with demand?

DPS tells us it had no plans to leave Dallas City Hall. Instead, the City of Dallas kicked them out.

"The decision was not a mutual one. The city expressly asked DPS to leave the premises in October. DPS had no plans to vacate the facility," said DPS spokesperson Tom Vinger.

City of Dallas spokesman Frank Librio responded saying, "We really never had adequate space for them to conduct their operations." He described the office as "inadequate and overcrowded."

Because of new security measures in the works at City Hall, Librio said the city wanted to clear out the space. He points out DPS is free to lease another office anywhere in downtown Dallas.

So far DPS has not done that.

But in an interview Thursday, DPS Director Steve McCraw said the agency will pull together money to open a new downtown Dallas location.

"Because of some of the savings we achieved in some other areas, we are going to prioritize a Dallas office in the downtown area and a Houston office in the downtown area because we've demonstrated the numbers need it", McCraw said.

DPS had plans to ask the legislature for millions of dollars to create new downtown offices in Dallas and Houston. However, McCraw said the agency has decided to move ahead using existing funds instead.

Until DPS can find a new location, Downtown Dallas does not have a single driver's license office.

The office at City Hall used to serve an average of 180 customers a day, or about 45,000 customers last year alone, according to DPS records.

When NBC 5 Investigates visited that office over the summer we found it was so crowded people were sitting on the floor, some waiting for hours.

Since the City Hall location closed, a steady stream of customers continues to stop by during the day, surprised to find it's gone.

To get to the next closest DPS office they have to get on Interstate 35 and drive 10 miles south to Red Bird Lane, a trip that takes about 14 minutes each way if there's no traffic.

"It is an inconvenience, you know. It's a waste of time and waste of bus fare," said Tobi Hicks who travelled to the City Hall office only to find it closed.

"You have to come down here waste gas and then go somewhere else I guess," said customer Emmanuel Dotson.

DPS hopes many customers will go to the new Garland Mega Center – which opened in December and is designed to handle 900 transactions every day above and beyond what the existing offices can handle. Now some of that new capacity will be taken up by thousands of customers who used to go to City Hall.

DPS is banking on the Mega Centers to reduce the long lines at all of the license offices. But the DFW population is growing fast and now the agency has lost an office in Dallas. The Investigative Team will be watching over the spring and summer to see how well the Mega Centers really help improve wait times.

The new Mega Center in Fort Worth on Brentwood Stair Road opened Feb. 1.

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Pet Store Accused of Selling Puppies With Parvo

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Mansfield Chief of Police Gary L. Fowler is opening an investigation into a local pet store after the NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit was alerted to claims by several families that they purchased puppies that were sick with parvovirus.

Three families who all said they bought their puppies at PetOrama in Mansfield told NBC 5 that their animals were diagnosed with parvovirus, a very contagious, aggressive virus that attacks a dog's intestinal track.

According to the families, two of the puppies had to be euthanized while one survived after an aggressive veterinary treatment that cost them more than $1,000.

While Fowler, who oversees animal control for the city, originally told NBC 5 he had no records of complaints against the store, he said he now plans to open an investigation.

In an unrelated move, PetOrama said it will stop adopting out puppies, but is holding one last adoption event this weekend to sell the remaining dogs at the store.

Families Claim Store Sold Them Sick Puppies

"Truly, I never thought that when you go into a pet store like that you would purchase a sick dog," said Penny Rivera, a Mansfield resident.

Rivera bought a shepherd-mix puppy named Leo as a Christmas present for 13-year-old Andrew Caraveo and his 21-year-old sister Jenny who had lost their beloved dog only a few months before.

"I picked Leo because he just looked really cute," said Jenny, who said she knew her brother would be delighted by the holiday surprise.

And he was. Andrew immediately fell in love with the dog and made little Leo a doghouse out of a cardboard box. He doted on him like any 13-year-old with a new puppy would.

But a few days later, Leo was vomiting, had diarrhea and was lethargic.

"He looked very sick," Andrew said.

A trip to the vet revealed Leo had a severe case of parvo. Andrew and Jenny then made the gut-wrenching decision to put Leo to sleep.

"I knew how he looked and how tired he was, he wasn't going to make it," Andrew said.

"We just said, 'Goodbye.' I mean, it was just really hard. There was nothing we could really say to him," said Jenny, as tears streamed down her face.

Joanna McCoy and Phillip Kriesman know that pain. The couple bought a long-haired dachshund named Hudson at the same Mansfield PetOrama and it was love at first sight.

"As soon as I picked him up I knew he was my dog," said McCoy. "I loved him. I was so happy."

They paraded Hudson to McCoy's mother's house and showed him off to other relatives. But that evening they rushed Hudson, who was throwing up, to an emergency veterinary hospital. The veterinarian told the couple that little Hudson had parvo.

They too made the decision to put Hudson to sleep.

"I just couldn't feel myself afterwards. It was just so weird and upsetting," Kreisman said.

PetOrama to Stop Puppy Adoptions Due to Complaints

NBC 5 called PetOrama and spoke to Rochelle Browning, the daughter of the owner who said she manages the store for her father.

She insisted she takes good care of the puppies and that her dogs are checked by a veterinarian.

"My veterinary bills are outrageous," Browning said.

Browning admitted that Hudson, who died shortly after leaving her store, had parvo when she sold him. PetOrama's owner did refund McCoy and Kreisman for Hudson and she paid their vet bill, but they said it's little consolation.

"It's a heartache that no one should have to go through," said McCoy, who thinks about Hudson every day.

As for the other dogs, she believed they may have gotten sick after they left her store. Browning said her staff sanitizes cages daily but does not dispute the fact that parvo has up to a two-week incubation period.

The families said Leo and Hudson were visibly sick within days of being purchased.

Browning then became emotional, telling NBC 5 she's under extreme stress because so many puppies have gotten sick with parvo and customers have been very upset.

"I've never seen this before in my life. Emotionally, I'm spent," Browning said. "I can't listen to people cry over the phone anymore."

On the company's Facebook page she told customers that PetOrama has decided to "stop adopting out puppies." But there will be one last adoption event this weekend to sell the remaining dogs.

"It's hard when you love pets like we do and have taken all the measures possible trying to prevent illness, but then get treated badly by customers when they do get ill," she wrote.

Parvo is extremely contagious because a dog can shed the virus before it ever shows signs of the illness.

"It's really hard to kill the virus. It's resistant to common disinfectants," said Dr. Nancy Turner, the Dallas District Director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association. "It's resistant to heat. It's resistant to sunlight. So, really, it's a tough bug essentially."

Turner, who practices at Bent Tree Animal Hospital in Dallas, said that by the time one puppy shows the signs there is a good chance other dogs could be infected.

State Offers No Legal Remedy for Purchase of Sick Dogs

Unlike some other states, Texas does not have a Lemon Law for dogs.

"There's no regulation of pet stores of any shape, form or fashion at the state level," said Skip Trimble, a Texas Humane Legislation Network board member.

Trimble's organization advocates for state animal welfare legislation. While there are rules and regulations for larger breeders at the state level, as of now, individual cities and towns may or may not have ordinances that can help pet owners.

"You're just totally at risk and virtually there is no warranty on these dogs," Trimble said.

The City of Mansfield does have an ordinance that gives animal control the authority to inspect pet stores. It also mandates that anyone with care and control of an animal "maintain the animal in good health."

Fowler said that if a pet store fails to maintain the health of their animals they can impose a fine.

Fowler originally insisted he had no record of any complaints against PetOrama. But McCoy said she called animal control and spoke with an officer several weeks ago.

"He said that unfortunately it's not in their jurisdiction and there's nothing that they could do for me," McCoy said.

However, after speaking with NBC 5, Fowler said he is now opening an investigation.

Rivera said Browning did not give her a refund for Leo or help with the vet bills.

Craig Haemker said he also received no help from the store after a puppy he purchased, Sophie, was diagnosed with parvo and required a $1,000 aggressive medical treatment to be rid of the virus.

Today, Sophie is a happy, healthy dog, but Jenny and Andrew are still reeling from losing Leo.

"That dog just meant the world to us," said Jenny.

They want to make sure other families don't suffer like they have. That, they said, is Leo's legacy.

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Friend of Slain Asst. DA Speaks Out

Written By Unknown on Jumat, 01 Februari 2013 | 12.13

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Mark Hasse, the Kaufman County prosecutor gunned down Thursday, was a hard-working lawyer who "loved to tell stories" and often put dangerous criminals behind bars, a longtime friend says.

Kaufman defense attorney Eric Smenner said he first met Hasse when the two worked in Dallas in the 1990's.

He said Hasse as a pilot who loved to fly and that he had survived a plane crash in the mid-1990s.

"He had some pretty serious head injuries. It took him a while to get back. He had noticeable mark on his head, some scarring from the accident. He recovered from it," said Smenner.

Smenner added that while it was too soon to say what may have led to the shooting, Hasse had dealt with cases involving methamphetamine in the county, gangs and white supremacist groups.

"Any prosecutor will make enemies. When you stand up at trial and point your finger at them, sometimes they take that personally," Smenner said.

Smenner said Hasse was not married and rarely talked about his family, but "was a story teller. He would talk to you for hours."

Former colleagues of Hasse's say the news of his death spread through the Frank Crowley Courts Building and is sending "shockwaves" through the legal community in Dallas.

Hasse worked for the Dallas County DA's office from 1982 to 1988, having earned his law degree from SMU in 1981 according to the State Bar of Texas' website.

Former Dallas County assistant district attorney Toby Shook said that Hasse was a felony prosecutor when he joined the DA's office.

"When I was a young prosecutor we use to watch because he was that talented," Shook said. "You'd learn a lot from him, he would talk about his cases, didn't mind sharing information and that kind of deal. Very friendly guy, talkative with everyone that kind of thing."

Shook says Hasse was one of the most talented prosecutors and targeted major drug dealers. Shook says he put "a lot of folks in prison" and was at one point the head of the DA's office Organized Crime Division.

Shook echoed Smenner's thoughts that prosecutors often deal with unpleasant individuals who may wish to do them harm.

"It's always in the back of your mind that something like that could happen because you're dealing with prosecuting very violent people who know violent people," Shook said. "And sometimes you hear of threats but it rarely, rarely happens."

Former Kaufman County District Attorney Rick Harrison, who is now a criminal defense attorney, said it was stressful and shocking news when he emerged from a murder trial at lunch.

"He was a, you know, very experienced prosecutor," Harrison said, "and enjoyed being a prosecutor, you know, enjoyed the job."

Shook says prosecuting was Hasse's life.

"Mark Hasse loved prosecuting more than anything," Shook said. "It was a job that he loved getting up in the morning and going to, he truly loved it you can tell that when talking to him. It was his life and he died doing it."

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Kaufman Co. Asst. DA Gunned Down Near Courthouse

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Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was gunned down Thursday morning in what appears to be a targeted attack, police say.

Hasse was shot multiple times while walking from the parking lot toward the county courthouse at about 8 a.m., officials said. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

When asked if Hasse appeared to have been targeted by his attacker, Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes said: "I would say from all appearances it is, but we have no concrete information on that. We're pursuing every avenue right now."

Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Mike McLelland said the county suffered a "devastating loss."

Shooting of Mark Hasse Shakes Community

The shooting of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse shocked the quiet community of Kaufman.

Kaufman D.A. to Shooter: "We're Gonna Find You"

Criminal District Attorney Mike McLelland address the media about the shooting of Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse Thursday morning.

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"We lost a really, really good man. He was an excellent friend and a spectacular prosecutor," he said. "He will not be easily replaced. He will be sorely missed by everybody in the office. I hope that the people that did this are watching, because we are very confident that we are going to find you, pull you out of whatever hole you're in, bring you back and let the people of Kaufman County prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."

Chris Aulbaugh, the Kaufman chief of police, said no official arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Police are following up on several leads, including multiple witness reports from various angles around the crime scene, he said.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, the Texas Rangers and state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety are at the scene assisting local and county law enforcement with the investigation.

Police said witnesses have reported two shooters wearing all black, one or both of them possibly wearing a tactical-type vest, and driving an older, silver Ford Taurus. Aulbaugh said they have not yet confirmed that there were two people involved in the shooting and if the shooter(s) were wearing a tactical jacket as described.

Police taped off the parking lot near the Tax Assessor/Collectors office, which is near the courthouse and is commonly used by judges and prosecutors. Officers later expanded the taped-off area to include two city blocks. Several streets around the courthouse and parking lot are closed as the shooting is investigated.

Investigators said they were not aware of any threats made toward Hasse and that they didn't know of any cases that might explain the shooting, but that Hasse was aware of the dangers associated with his profession.

"Mark was fully aware of the dangers of this job. He accepted them readily and was, as I said before, an absolutely stellar prosecutor and good friend," said McLelland. "Tell the people that they have lost an outstanding man who will not be easily replaced."

Eric Smenner, a friend of Hasse's, told NBC 5's Scott Gordon that while it was too soon to say what may have led to the shooting, Hasse had dealt with cases involving methamphetamine in the county, gangs and white supremacist groups. He described Hasse as a hard-working lawyer who "loved to tell stories" and often put dangerous criminals behind bars.

Tonya Radcliffe, a board member on the Kaufman County Appraisal District whose office is adjacent to the scene of the shooting, said a staff member heard the gunshots and called police. Radcliffe said she and her staff of about 25 are in the building and under lockdown.

During the early stages of the investigation, a hospital, several schools and county buildings, including the Tax Assessor/Collector's office, were locked down as a precaution. With Thursday being the last day for people to pay property taxes without a penalty, officials advised Kaufman County residents that they could still pay taxes using the county's pay by phone option or make payments in person at sub-courthouses and drop boxes.

A reward of at least $34,000 from Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and other sources is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman. The reward is expected to increase as other donations come in.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-TIPS-KCC. As always, tipsters may remain anonymous.

We will continue to update this story with more information as soon as it's available. As this story is developing, elements may change.

Editor's Note: Greenville ISD was locked down because of a search for robbery suspects. The lockdown was not related to the Kaufman County shooting.

NBC 5's Randy McIlwain, Scott Gordon, Ken Kalthoff, Keaton Fox and Deborah Ferguson contributed to this report.

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Official Calls on Tarrant DA to Resign Over Sex Scandal

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 31 Januari 2013 | 12.13

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Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Ron Wright on Tuesday called on District Attorney Joe Shannon to resign over a sexual harassment scandal.

"As a fellow Republican elected official, I take no joy in this," Wright said in a statement. "In fact, it pains me to do it, but I believe it is the right thing to do."

On Friday, the county released documents in a sexual harassment complaint brought by former assistant district attorney Sabrina Sabin. She claimed Shannon touched her inappropriately, constantly commented on her breasts and harassed her in other ways over a period of about four years.

Tarrant County commissioners agreed to settle the complaint in September for $375,000. Shannon said he did not agree to the payment and denied the allegations.

The county also paid legal fees and hired a human resources company to investigate the complaint, bringing the total cost of the settlement to more than $500,000.

"To suggest that this leaves the district attorney and his office in a bad light would be a gross understatement," Wright said. "The optics (how this is seen by the average voter) are terrible: the top law enforcement official in the county embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal that costs county taxpayers a half million dollars. Politically, the optics could scarcely get much worse."

In a statement, Shannon said he has no intention of resigning.

"The Tarrant County District Attorney's office is widely regarded as the best in the state," he said.

The statement did not directly address the sexual harassment accusations. Shannon has said he signed a confidentiality agreement that does not allow him to comment on specifics.

Wright said he cannot judge whether the allegations are true but added the settlement, "leaves the matter in a perpetual state of he said/she said."

"Joe Shannon should step down as Tarrant County District Attorney, and he should do so immediately," Wright said.

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Bond Set for Teacher Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run

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A judge on Wednesday set bond for the woman charged in the hit-and-run death of a 6-year-old Grand Prairie boy.

Tammy Lowe, 53, turned herself in to police on Tuesday in connection with the Jan. 24 hit-and-run crash that killed John Paul Raidy.

Her bond has been set at $100,000 for the felony manslaughter charge and an additional $100,000 for the charge of accident causing injury/death.

Lowe's attorney, Cameron Gray, said a judge ignored requests to reduce her $200,000 bond.

He said he met with his client two different times Wednesday. She will likely be transported from the Grand Prairie Jail to the Dallas County Jail by Friday at the latest.

Lowe's husband Gray had a meeting at Grand Prairie police headquarters on Wednesday. Gray would not say what the meeting was about, saying it was "just tying loose ends up."

Family to Honor Boy Killed in Hit-and-Run

The family of John Paul Raidy is planning to honor the life of their 6-year-old son, just days after he was killed in a hit-and-run crash.

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Police are not questioning Lowe's husband about the hit-and-run, Gray said.

He said his client is thinking about the crash.

"She's very sad about what happened," Gray said. "She feels a great deal of pain for the family of the child."

NBC 5 has obtained seven different calls made to 911 after the hit-and-run crash.

Heidy Cano, one of the callers, said she is still haunted by what she saw.

"It's like a video recorded in my mind, because it's hard to see that happen," she said.

Cano returned to the intersection Wednesday night for the first time since the crash.

"Right now, I'm standing here, and I can see it like it's happening again," she said.

Lowe, a teacher of 22 years who taught seventh-grade social studies at Adams Middle School, resigned before before surrendering to police on Tuesday.

Family members of Raidy said later that day that they never expected a teacher to be behind the wheel of the car that hit their son.

"You become a teacher because you want to spend your life teaching children, and to think that a teacher was so heartless to do this, it's unbearable," said Christina Raidy, the boy's great-aunt.

But Raidy's family said it was focusing on honoring his life, not on the woman charged in his death. His funeral was held Wednesday morning.

"It's about John; it isn't about her," said family friend Sean Martin.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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Trooper to Be Terminated Over Roadside Cavity Search

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 30 Januari 2013 | 12.13

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The female Texas trooper who performed a roadside cavity search on two Irving women will be terminated according to the Department of Public Safety.

The two women from Irving are suing Trooper David Farrell, Trooper Kelley Helleson and the director of the Department of Public Safety for what they call an unconstitutional search without probable cause.

On Tuesday DPS spokesman Tom Vinger released the following statement: "The Director of DPS has made a preliminary determination to terminate Kelly Helleson. By policy, she will be given the opportunity to meet with the Director before the decision is finalized."

Helleson was suspended with pay on Dec. 19. Farrell was suspended with pay effective Dec. 21 pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.

On July 13, while driving along State Highway 161, Angel Dobbs and her niece Ashley Dobbs were stopped for littering by Farrell. In the dashcam video released by the women and their attorney, Farrell can be heard telling the women they would both be cited for littering for throwing cigarette butts out of the car.

Farrell then returned to his cruiser and, in the video, can be heard calling female Trooper Helleson to the scene to search both women whom he said were acting weird.

While waiting for Helleson to arrive, Farrell asked Angel Dobbs to step out of the vehicle and began questioning her about marijuana use. In the video, the trooper is heard telling Dobbs he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle while asking her several times how much pot was in the car.

After Helleson arrived, she can be seen in the dashcam video putting on blue latex gloves to conduct a search of both women. According to the lawsuit, when Angel Dobbs asked about the gloves, Helleson "told her not to worry about that."

In the lawsuit, Dobbs said the trooper conducted the cavity search on the roadside, illuminated by the police car's headlights, in full view of any passing motorists.

"This has been an eye-opening experience for me. I've never been pulled over, never searched like this. I was totally violated over there a few minutes ago... this is so embarrassing to me," Angel Dobbs said on the video.

"I've never been so humiliated or so violated or felt so molested in my entire life," Angel Dobbs told NBC 5.

Dobbs said she never gave consent for the trooper to "frisk, pat-down, search or otherwise touch her" and that she never gave consent for Farrell to search her vehicle -- which he can be seen doing in the dashcam video while the cavity search was under way.

Dobbs said she was powerless to stop it. "What are you going to say? What's going to happen to you if you challenge that authority?" she said.

With the cavity search concluded, Farrell then asked Dobbs about prescription medications found in the car. Dobbs said they were for her thyroid and for migraines. According to the lawsuit, Dobbs also suffers from a medical condition that was irritated by the search.

Meanwhile, Helleson can then be seen performing the same cavity search on Dobbs' niece, Ashley.

"It's because somebody is a daily smoker in that car. OK, you can attribute it to that," Farrell can be heard saying on the recording.

The lawsuit further alleges that Helleson performed searches on both women, touching both their anus and vaginas, without changing the latex gloves between searches.

"I don't think anybody needs to have to feel, or go through what we went through," Ashley Dobbs said. "It crosses my mind every day. It's humiliating," she said.

After searching the entire car and finding no narcotics, Farrell then administered a DWI test that Dobbs passed, the lawsuit said. The women were then issued warnings for littering and released at the scene.

The lawsuit goes on to say that a bottle of prescribed hydrocodone was missing from Dobbs' car and purse after the search. The women returned to the scene of the traffic stop the next day to search for the medication, but it was nowhere to be found.

Their lawyers say the search was illegal and a complaint about it was filed in August but that DPS Texas Rangers who investigated the incident took no action.

"This is outside the constitutional grounds by a mile. It's not even close," attorney Scott Palmer said. "This has to stop. These two need to be stopped. There's no telling how many other people they've done this to and we hope that others come forward."

Attorney Charles Soechting Jr. said his father was a DPS trooper and he has great respect for the agency. "But in this instance they have completely failed the citizens of Texas," Soechting said.

Soechting said a records request to DPS produced no policy that allows for cavity search of any suspect in public.

"What we're dealing with is a Class C misdemeanor. It does not justify any type of pat-down, let alone an invasive search of cavities of women,"" he said.

DPS has not commented on the case.

The women are requesting a trial by jury and are asking for unspecified, compensatory and exemplary damages and interest as well as recovery of attorney's fees and court costs.

The Dallas County District Attorney's office told NBC 5 it has received the case and will refer it to a grand jury this month.

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Sources: Heroin Use Probed in Death of Pickens' Grandson

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Police are investigating the death of Thomas "Ty" Boone Pickens IV, the 21-year-old grandson of billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens, as a possible drug overdose, two sources familiar with the investigation told NBC 5.

At least one witness told investigators that Pickens, a student at Texas Christian University, took the prescription drug Xanax and later injected heroin in the hours before he died, the sources said.

Pickens was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at Baylor All Saints Medical Center, where a friend brought him after saying he wouldn't wake up. He already may have been dead for several hours, the sources added.

Pickens had been staying at off-campus condos located in the 1800 block of Rogers Road, Fort Worth police Cpl. Tracey Knight said. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death, she added.

A young man who answered the door at the condo did not want to give his name, but said that he and his cousin -- also TCU students -- were with Pickens Monday night.

The man, who was visibly shaking, said Pickens told them he had taken Xanax earlier Monday and later used heroin inside their condo when the two had gone to the store and left Pickens alone.

When they returned from the store, Pickens appeared to be sleeping, he said.

Tuesday morning, when Pickens did not wake up, he and his cousin carried his body to a car, he said. His cousin drove Pickens to the hospital while he went to class, he said.

The man said police searched the condo for drugs later Tuesday morning, but he could not say what officers found.

Police had not yet decided late Tuesday whether or not to arrest anyone who may have been involved in the drug use.

Knight said homicide detectives were notified of the death but it wasn't known if they would lead the investigation.

News of the death and the possible drug connection was certain to spread fast across the TCU campus following a well-publicized drug raid just last year.

A spokesman for Pickens' grandfather issued a written statement.

"Ty's loss at such a young age is an unspeakable family tragedy for the entire Pickens family and his many friends. We mourn his passing and respectfully request that the family be allowed to grieve in private in this time of sorrow," said Jay Rosser, spokesperson for T. Boone Pickens.

The university also emailed a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of this member of our community and our hearts and thoughts are with Ty's family at this time," said Cavins Tull, TCU vice chancellor for student affairs. "Staff members are available if students need to speak with someone about this sad news."

TCU360.com reports Pickens was a junior majoring in strategic communication.

A spokeswoman for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner did not immediately return a call for comment.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra and Meredith Land contributed to this report.

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Boy Scouts Close to Ending Gay Ban

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 29 Januari 2013 | 12.13

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The Boy Scouts of America is actively considering an end to its decades-long policy of banning gay scouts or scout leaders, NBC News is reporting.

According to Pete Williams' report, the Irving-based organization is going to remove the ban from their national rules and leave the decision about whether to admit homosexuals to local organizations.

"The chartered organizations that oversee and deliver scouting would accept membership and select leaders consistent with their organization's mission, principles or religious beliefs," Deron Smith, a spokesman for the Boy Scouts' national organization, told NBC News.

Last year, after a two-year review of the rule, the Scouts reaffirmed their longstanding policy as it has been a continual target of numerous protest campaigns.

In recent months, some corporate sponsors, including pharmaceutical giant Merck, had pulled funding from the organization due to the exclusionary rule. Even President Barack Obama said he opposed the policy of exluding gays as members and scout leaders last summer.

James Turley, the chairman of Ernst & Young, and Randall Stephenson, CEO of AT&T, vowed in 2012 to work together to change the Boy Scout's policy after a den leader in Ohio was ousted from her position due to her sexual orientation.

If approved during a meeting with the board of a directors, the change could be announced as early as next week, NBC News reported.

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Baby Found Dead at Irving Day Care

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Workers at Kay's Lil Angels day care in Irving called 911 Monday after the 4-month-old boy was found unresponsive after he was put down for a nap.

Baby Boy Found Dead at Irving Day Care

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Police are investigating the death of a baby at an Irving day care.

Irving police said day care workers called 911 after finding the 4-month-old boy unresponsive at Kay's Lil Angels in the 1400 block of West Shady Grove shortly before 4 p.m. Monday.

The child, who had been put down for a nap at about 2:30 p.m., was in a room with other napping children, police spokesman Sgt. John Argumaniz said.

The employee found the baby unconscious and unresponsive during a routine check on the napping children, police said. The day care staff initiated CPR until paramedics arrived.

The baby was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

There were no signs of trauma, police said. The cause of death is not yet known.

NBC 5's Ben Russell contributed to this report.

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Memorial Grows For Young Hit & Run Victim

Written By Unknown on Senin, 28 Januari 2013 | 12.13

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

Memorial growing for 6-year-old John Paul Raidy, who was hit by a car and killed in Grand Prairie. Neighbors are also remembering the victim.

Memorial Grows For Young Hit &...

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Hit and Run Driver Kills 6-Year-Old Boy

Grand Prairie police hope the public can help track down a dark hatchback car responsible for hitting and killing 6-year-old John Raidy Thursday night.

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John Paul Raidy's parents, neighbors and friends are still in shock after a hit and run driver killed the six-year old boy.

Ten-year olds Melanie and Vanessa will not have their best friend to play with anymore.

"I can't imagine that we were playing with him and he just died. I can't believe a good friend died in the middle of a good day," they said.

The two girls rode scooters and joked around with Raidy.

At around 7:30 Thursday night, Raidy, his mother and one-year old sister, Lily were walking home, when police say a car ran the red light at North Carrier Parkway and Holiday Hills.

The car hit Raidy and carried him on the hood for nearly an entire block.

Next-door neighbor, Glenn Grubbs saw first responders take him to the hospital, where Raidy died.

"When I looked over they were picking him and putting him on the back board," Grubbs said. "When I saw his long blond hair, I knew it was John."

On Saturday, a memorial grew near the crash scene for Raidy, who would have turned 7-years old next month.

His mother, Lauren, made an emotional plea Friday to find the car's driver.

"He loved school, he loved all his friends and you took him from us," his mother said.

Using traffic cameras within the vicinity where the crash happened, police describe the car that hit

Raidy as a black or a very dark colored 4-door hatch-back.

If you do recognize the vehicle or know anything about the driver, please call police.

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Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

Catherine Ross, NBC 5 News

A man who had to be extracted from his vehicle early Friday morning after driving into Bachman Lake says he believes his rescue was partly "divine intervention". Doctors say Jason McClellan suffered a seizure and lost control of his SUV.

Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

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Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

NBC 5's Catherine Ross talks with Jason McClellan about being pulled from his sinking SUV at Bachman Lake. His message for the strangers and 3 police officers who saved him.

Citizens and Officers Hailed as Heroes After Lake Rescue

Dallas Police officers and citizens were recognized after they helped rescue a man from his car as it went underwater in Bachman Lake Friday morning.

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The man pulled from his sinking SUV in Bachman Lake on Friday morning says he remembers nothing about the accident that landed him in Parkland Hospital's intensive care unit.

"I remember getting on Northwest Highway and ten minutes later, I'm waking up in an ambulance," said 31-year-old Jason McClellan of Dallas.

McClellan says he was on his way to work in Las Colinas just after 6:00 a.m. on Friday, when doctors believe he suffered a slight seizure and lost control of his vehicle.

Two joggers saw the car plunge into the water, and after trying to free McClellan, called 911.

Three Dallas police officers managed to free McClellan, who by then, was unconscious, by breaking his sunroof window.

"I think there was some kind of divine intervention that happened there," McClellan said.

"I have a new appreciation for strangers now."

McClellan says he has no memory of the accident itself, adding that he watched video of the rescue while being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

"I was just laying up there watching the news, trying to figure out if that was really me or not," he said.

While he's yet to meet the Dallas [olice officers and two citizens who helped in his rescue face-to-face, McClellan says the joggers did call to check up on him in the hospital.

While he says he appreciated the gesture, he added a heartfelt message of thanks to the Good Samaritans.

"Thanks for giving me my life," he said.

"Because without that, I'd be dead, I guess."

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Memorial Grows For Young Hit & Run Victim

Written By Unknown on Minggu, 27 Januari 2013 | 12.13

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

Memorial growing for 6-year-old John Paul Raidy, who was hit by a car and killed in Grand Prairie. Neighbors are also remembering the victim.

Memorial Grows For Young Hit &...

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