Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyHidalgo County property owner cited for illegal burning near Alton
Hidalgo County officials have cited a property owner for conducting an illegal burning operation near Alton. The site, located at 6 Mile Line and Iowa Road, was reported by neighbors who noticed smoke. Constables from Precinct 3 responded and found that the owner was charging people to dump trash for burning without a permit. Hidalgo County Constable Larry Gallardo stated that they are investigating the duration of this operation and advising the owner against it. The Alton Fire Department intervened to prevent the fire from spreading. Authorities remind the public that illegal dumping can lead to citations and penalties.
Public SafetyHarlingen preparing hazard mitigation plan with $100, 000 state grant
Harlingen city officials are developing a hazard mitigation plan to secure federal funding for future drainage improvements. They have one year to complete and adopt the plan after receiving a $100,000 grant from the Texas General Land Office. The plan aims to identify drainage priorities and enhance the city's resilience against hazards. It must be approved by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and FEMA. Public participation will be encouraged through meetings and surveys as the city emphasizes the importance of adopting the plan within the next 12 months to pursue additional funding for drainage projects.
Public SafetyDonna man accused of hacking dead person social media accounts to harass family members
A man from Donna, Jose Luis Lara Jr., has been arrested for allegedly hacking into the social media accounts of a deceased individual to harass their family over six years. He faces multiple charges, including computer security breach and online impersonation. The investigation started after family members reported receiving disturbing messages that seemed to come from the deceased's accounts, containing explicit content and false allegations. This caused significant emotional distress to the victims. Lara was booked on Wednesday and released on a $32,500 bond the following day, according to Hidalgo County jail records.
Public SafetyFBI suggests migrant van in fatal Houston shooting had meth. A lawyer says it was salt.
The FBI has sought a search warrant to seize plastic bags containing a "crystal-like substance" from the van of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was shot and killed by an immigration officer in Houston. While the FBI suspects methamphetamine, Araujo's lawyer claims the substance is actually granulated salt, used as a homemade electrolyte mix. Araujo, who lived in Houston for nearly 35 years and was in the process of obtaining legal status, was not the intended target of the ICE operation. Investigations are ongoing, and the FBI is expected to release test results soon.
Public SafetyCameron County cleaning out box culverts
Cameron County Drainage District No. 5 is currently cleaning box culverts located under the expressway in Harlingen to ensure proper stormwater flow before upcoming storms. The Stuart Place Main Channel, which channels stormwater from Harlingen, Primera, and Palm Valley, was found to have two to three feet of sediment in the culverts when work began two weeks ago, according to General Manager Rolando Vela. The culverts extend over 400 feet beneath the expressway, and crews are anticipated to continue their work for an additional two weeks.
Public SafetySoldier who smuggled migrants through South Texas sentenced to 1 year in prison
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Alabama National Guard sent Spc. Derrick Sankey to South Texas with a simple mission: Secure the border. When he arrived in McAllen, however, Sankey decided to work for smugglers instead. Sankey provided smugglers with codes that allowed them to pass through gates in the border wall. He told them about
Public SafetyCameron County detention officer accused of assaulting inmate
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Cameron County detention officer has been accused of assaulting an inmate at the Cameron County jail. Angel De La Garza was arrested on Thursday and faces charges of assault causing bodily injury and official oppression, according to a news release from the Cameron County Sheriff's Office. Both charges are classified
Public SafetyCameron County jail back in compliance: Sheriff
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Months after the Texas Commission on Jail Standards found that the Cameron County jail was out of compliance due to overcrowding, the Cameron County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that it's back in compliance. The sheriff's office said its detention facilities were reinspected last week. Following inspections in April, the state found
Public SafetySan Juan police investigating shooting at H-E-B parking lot
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — San Juan police are investigating a shooting that occurred inside a car at the H-E-B parking lot Thursday morning. Police say the shooting happened at about 11 a.m. and that the occupant of the vehicle drove to a McAllen hospital for treatment. Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and
Public SafetyHarlingen police seeking missing 12-year-old girl
The Harlingen Police Department is asking for assistance in locating 12-year-old Shelyn Kendra Flowers, who was last seen on July 4. Shelyn was spotted in Harlingen wearing Hello Kitty shorts and a black shirt. She has brown hair, brown eyes, weighs approximately 112 pounds, and stands 5 feet 2 inches tall. Authorities believe she may still be in the area. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Harlingen Police Department at 956-216-5516.
Public SafetyHarlingen police searching for missing 12-year-old girl
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Harlingen Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a missing 12-year-old girl who was last seen on the Fourth of July. Police say Shelyn Kendra Flowers, 12, was last seen in Harlingen wearing Hello Kitty shorts and a black shirt. Flowers is about 5 feet, 2 inches
Public SafetyDentist Faces Charges After Death of 4-Year-Old Hispanic Girl Following Dental Treatment
A dentist from Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with serious bodily injury to a minor who died in the hospital on April 1, 2026, after receiving dental treatment. She was released after posting bail. According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the Tarrant County Medical Examiner determined that the girl, identified as Aithana Rodriguez Arriaga, 4, died from meperidine (Demerol) intoxication, reporting a concentration of 793 nanograms per milliliter in her system. The document states that the medical examiner ruled the death accidental. Investigators reported that Hemphill administered meperidine, along with other sedative medications, prior to the procedure. The document also notes that medical experts consulted during the investigation concluded there were failures in monitoring the girl and in the emergency response after she stopped responding to stimuli. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, this medication is used to treat acute to moderate pain, as it is essentially a narcotic (opioid analgesic) and can cause severe respiratory problems and life-threatening risks if abused. Telemundo 39 attempted to reach out to Dr. Hemphill's attorney for comments but has not received a response. Incident Chronicle: The Fort Worth Police Department reported that on April 1, 2026, firefighters responded to a medical emergency at a dental office (Cuddle Kids Dental Care) located in the 5300 block of Sycamore School Road. Upon arrival, they found a four-year-old girl unresponsive to stimuli. The mother had taken the girl to the office that same morning for a dental procedure. After the procedure, the girl showed no signs of response to the present staff. The Fort Worth Fire Department transported the girl to a local hospital, where her death was confirmed. The Child Abuse Crimes Unit (CACU) initiated an investigation into the case and determined that a crime had been committed, and the doctor who performed the procedure on the victim would face charges. On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect, Dr. Chrishelle Hemphill, 48. She was arrested on the charge of injury to a minor resulting in serious bodily injury.
Public SafetyInvestigation Underway Following Shooting in H-E-B Parking Lot in San Juan
The San Juan Police Department, in collaboration with the McAllen Police Department, is actively investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday around 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the H-E-B supermarket in San Juan. According to the official report provided by authorities, the violent incident took place inside a parked vehicle at the commercial establishment, prompting a swift mobilization of emergency services and multiple patrols in the area. Police spokespersons emphasized that this is an entirely isolated incident and assured the community that the situation is under control, with no active threat to public safety at this time. Local authorities publicly expressed their gratitude to the McAllen Police for their support and assistance at the scene, noting that as the case remains under active investigation, no further details will be released immediately, although they committed to providing timely updates as inquiries progress.
Public SafetyAlamo Loan Office Employee Arrested for Faking Robbery
The Alamo Police Department arrested Israel Aguirre III, an employee at the Security Finance Office on Main Street, after discovering that he staged an armed robbery to steal money from the establishment. The incident occurred on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, when the suspect himself reported an emergency, claiming that an unknown man had threatened him with a knife. However, after a quick investigation, detectives determined that the robbery was fabricated by Aguirre III to cover up that he had taken the cash himself. Aguirre III appeared today at 2:00 p.m. before a magistrate judge for his arraignment. He faces charges of theft and filing a false report to induce an emergency response, while a third formal charge is pending from authorities.
Public SafetyInvestigation underway after body found in Donna
An investigation is currently in progress following the discovery of a body in Donna, Texas. Police Chief Gilbert Guerrero reported that the body was found on Wednesday in the 2400 block of Bonita Street after officers responded to a welfare check. The identity of the victim has not yet been confirmed. Authorities are treating this as an ongoing investigation, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Public SafetyValley Border Patrol agent faces new child sex assault charge in separate case
Derek James Dominguez, a Border Patrol agent from Mercedes, faces new charges of child sexual assault. According to Hidalgo County jail records, he was booked on July 2 after a victim reported incidents occurring in March and April 2016. The victim, who has known Dominguez since childhood, expressed feelings of guilt for not reporting sooner, partly due to his previous legal troubles. Dominguez was previously arrested in August 2025 for indecency with a child related to a separate case. He was released on July 3 after posting a $10,000 bond. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has not commented on the matter.
Public SafetyLa Grulla homicide investigation underway
The Texas Rangers are currently investigating a homicide case in La Grulla. The inquiry started on Tuesday when authorities discovered a man unresponsive on Migrant Street, who was subsequently declared dead. A spokesperson from the Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed that further details about the incident are not available at this moment.
Public SafetyICE use of unmarked cars and shooting into vehicles during Houston killing could violate policy, policing experts say
Experts are questioning the tactics used by ICE agents during the fatal pursuit of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston on July 7. Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old construction worker, was shot by agents who were in unmarked vehicles without emergency lights. Witnesses and video footage suggest that the aggressive driving tactics employed by ICE may violate established protocols. The Department of Homeland Security claims the shooting was in self-defense, alleging Salgado Araujo attempted to run over an agent. The incident has sparked protests and calls for an independent investigation, as concerns grow over the use of deadly force by federal agents during traffic stops.
Public SafetyAlton fire crews respond to call of illegal burning
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Hidalgo County Commissioner Everardo 'Ever' Villarreal is alerting residents about the consequences of illegal burning after fire crews responded to an illegal burn call on Wednesday. Crews with the Alton Fire Department responded to the fire near the 6-Mile Line and Iowa Road. "I want to remind everyone that illegal burning