Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyBrownsville police warn of rise in Jeep Gladiator and Wrangler thefts
The Brownsville Police Department has issued a warning regarding an increase in thefts of newer Jeep Gladiators and Wranglers. Authorities are advising vehicle owners to implement visible anti-theft measures, such as steering wheel locks or kill switches, to safeguard their cars. Additionally, residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious behavior to the police to help combat this trend.
Public SafetyKarmelo Anthony attorney asks judge for new trial in Texas track meet killing
Karmelo Anthony's attorney is seeking a new trial for the 19-year-old, who was convicted of fatally stabbing track athlete Austin Metcalf during a high school meet. The defense claims that procedural errors and an off-the-record agreement hindered Anthony's access to a fair trial. They argue that the original judge allowed a 'shadow docket' that excluded critical information. Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and his legal team has raised concerns about jury instructions and courtroom rules. The case has drawn national attention, particularly due to its racial implications, despite both sides asserting that race was not a factor in the incident.
Public SafetyCity of Brownsville begins search for new police chief following Sauceda promotion
Brownsville is in the process of finding a new police chief following the promotion of Felix Sauceda Jr. to deputy city manager in May. Sauceda will continue in his role as police chief until a successor is appointed. City spokesperson Manny Chacon confirmed that Sauceda will remain in Brownsville, taking on additional duties overseeing city departments. He will collaborate with Doroteo Garcia Jr., who has also been promoted to deputy city manager. In June, the city announced Alan Guard as the new city manager, while Marina Zolezzi will serve as interim assistant city manager during the search for the new police chief.
Public SafetyMan receives 15-year prison sentence in deadly McDonald parking lot shooting in Alamo
Jose Alberto Jimenez, a 28-year-old man, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder related to a shooting in a McDonald's parking lot in Alamo on August 20, 2024. Jimenez was identified as the driver of a vehicle that fled the scene. The Alamo Police Department suspects the shooting was linked to gang and drug activity. The victim, Raul Cantu Jr., was not publicly identified by police. Three other suspects face charges: Christina Montemayor, the other driver, turned herself in; Albert Medina, the shooter, received a 45-year sentence; and Carlos Alfredo Rivera Jasso was sentenced to 23 years after pleading guilty. Montemayor's trial is scheduled for September 21.
Public SafetyHusband of employee accused in $750K theft scheme turns himself in
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The husband of a former employee accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a Harlingen cancer treatment center turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, according to the Harlingen Police Department. Police say a bank account belonging to Eduardo Nava was used in his wife's years-long embezzlement scheme. Yuliana Perez was
Public SafetyDevoted Her Life to Helping Police Families; Now Suspected of Killing Her Husband, an Officer
Federal law enforcement agencies are searching for Karen Solomon, a Massachusetts woman known for her advocacy on police suicide prevention, who is now a suspect in the death of her husband, Kurt Solomon, a Worcester police officer. Authorities discovered Kurt's body at their home on Wildwood Avenue after responding to a report of a fallen person. Karen has been a prominent advocate for police mental health, co-founding First H.E.L.P. and testifying before federal commissions. Police have labeled the incident as domestic violence but have not disclosed Kurt's cause of death. Karen is considered armed and dangerous, and the search continues with multiple agencies involved.
Public SafetyCartel Cash Cleaner Sentenced to 4 Years for Multimillion-Dollar Peso Scheme
Gabriel Arturo Castillo, a 52-year-old Mexican national from Monterrey, has been sentenced to four years in federal prison for his involvement in a multimillion-dollar money laundering scheme that funneled drug trafficking profits from the U.S. to Mexico. Castillo pleaded guilty to the charges in April 2023. The scheme involved disguising drug proceeds through trade, allowing cartel members to receive payments in pesos while avoiding direct cash transport across the border. Following his prison term, Castillo faces deportation. The investigation was led by the DEA and IRS-Criminal Investigation, with assistance from international law enforcement agencies.
Public Safety8-year-old student brought gun to Brownsville elementary school, district says
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An 8-year-old student brought a gun to Aiken Elementary School on Wednesday, according to Isabel De La Cruz, a spokesperson for the Brownsville Independent School District. De La Cruz said a child reported to a teacher that the 8-year-old had a gun. After receiving the report, the teacher took immediate action
Public SafetyJeep owners warned of vehicle thefts in Brownsville
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Police Department is issuing an alert after seeing an increase in Jeep thefts. The department says thefts are increasing for newer-model Jeep Gladiators and Jeep Wranglers. Police advise Jeep owners to take extra precautions, such as using visible anti-theft devices like steering wheel clubs or installing kill switches. "Please
Public SafetySurvivors Found in a Cooler: Two Rescued in Mexico After Five Days at Sea
TAPACHULA – After spending five days at sea in the Pacific Ocean on a cooler, two Mexican fishermen were rescued by the Mexican Navy about 240 kilometers off the coast of Chiapas, in the southeastern part of the country. The men, from the community of Paredón in the municipality of Tonalá, Chiapas, were located near the Mexico-Guatemala border following a shipwreck. In an interview with local media on Wednesday in Puerto Chiapas, where they were taken for medical attention due to dehydration, the Mexican Navy reported that the search operation began after receiving a distress call from the fishing cooperative for which they work. The cooperative requested assistance in searching for two of their colleagues, who had set sail aboard a vessel named 'Camaronera' and had last communicated with them the previous Friday.
Public SafetyTractor-trailer driver in Alamo expressway crash cleared of charges: DA
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The tractor-trailer driver involved in an Alamo expressway crash in June has been cleared of charges after a Hidalgo County grand jury declined to indict him, according to District Attorney Toribio "Terry" Palacios. There wasn't enough evidence to charge 40-year-old Jose Fidencio Luna Ramirez of Mexico, Palacios said. Hidalgo County jail
Public SafetyBlow to Drug Trafficking: Mexico Seizes 120 Kilos of Fentanyl Linked to Criminal Group 'Los Rusos'
Mexican authorities seized 120 kilos of fentanyl pills, equivalent to more than four million doses, during a raid in Mexicali, Baja California, at a property linked to the criminal group Los Rusos, reported Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch on Thursday. The official stated on his X account that the operation resulted from information sharing with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and intelligence and investigative work conducted by Mexican authorities. The operation involved elements from the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR), the National Defense Secretariat, the Navy Secretariat, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), and state agencies, García Harfuch specified. A statement from the Security Cabinet detailed that the raid took place on Wednesday in the Hacienda del Bosque subdivision in Mexicali, where a firearm, a magazine, a motorcycle, and a vehicle were also seized. Authorities did not report any arrests during the intervention.
Public SafetyDrug Search Warrant Leads to Arrest and Seizure of Cocaine and Firearm
The Organized Crime Unit of the Harlingen Police Department, along with Harlingen detectives, executed search warrants related to narcotics at two residences located in the 1000 block of Buchanan Avenue. During the search, 14.59 grams of powdered cocaine, a.40 caliber firearm, a digital scale, and packaging materials allegedly used for drug distribution were seized. As a result of the investigation, Elizandro Martínez Jr. was arrested and faces charges for the alleged manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance, as well as for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. His bail has been set at $110,000.
Public SafetyDPS searches for driver accused in fatal hit-and-run near Elsa
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Department of Public Safety is searching for a driver accused of being involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash that occurred early Thursday morning north of Elsa. The crash occurred at approximately 4:57 a.m. on FM 88, south of Mile 20 and north of Elsa in Hidalgo County, according to
Public SafetyDPS Investigates Fatal Accident in Elsa
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a fatal accident involving a motorcyclist and a pickup truck. This occurred on Thursday, August 20, around 4:57 a.m. on FM 88, south of Mile 20, north of Elsa in Hidalgo County. Preliminary investigations indicate that a motorcyclist riding a Harley-Davidson northbound on FM 88 slowed down to turn into a private driveway. A gray Dodge Durango was traveling behind the motorcycle, and the driver was unable to control the speed of the vehicle, colliding with the motorcycle. The Harley-Davidson rider was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the Dodge Durango did not stop to assist the victim and fled the scene. The Dodge Durango was located by state agents at Mile 19, east of FM 88 and south of the crash site. This case remains under investigation. Anyone with information that could assist in the investigation is urged to contact the DPS at (956) 565-7600. Authorities stated that more information will be provided once the victim's family has been notified.
Public SafetyThis Young Man is Causing Panic with a Horror Mask: Believed to Have Fled to Another State
The masked individual who terrorized people in the early morning hours in Center City, Philadelphia, has been identified. Authorities have named him as 22-year-old Zymire Hughes, who remains at large after chasing and harassing around twenty individuals near City Hall and JFK Boulevard while filming the incidents on August 12, 2026. Police believe Hughes fled Pennsylvania to California or Nevada. An arrest warrant is out for him. Hughes faces charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, and other offenses. One woman reported that the suspect not only chased her while she was exercising but also asked if she was ready to die. If you recognize him, take a good look. Anyone with additional information can contact the Philadelphia Police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
Public SafetyBody Found in Bag at Texas Home; Victim's Son Charged
EL PASO, Texas – A 29-year-old man has been arrested and charged with killing his own father after authorities discovered the body of a 59-year-old man in a plastic bag inside a home in west El Paso. A second person was also detained for allegedly helping to conceal the body and clean the scene. The El Paso police identified the victim as David Edward De Coste, 59. According to police, the incident occurred on August 18 at a residence located in the 6800 block of Villa Hermosa. Arrest documents reveal that officers responded to the home around 3:00 p.m. after receiving a report of a strong odor coming from the residence and found a body wrapped in plastic in the garage. During an initial safety inspection, officers detected signs that there were other people inside the house, although they were not located immediately. The perimeter was secured, and support from the SWAT team and Crisis Management Team was requested. Later, John Michael De Coste, 29, and Idalia De La Torre, 28, were located and detained. De La Torre told investigators that she began living with the accused and the victim on August 2. During her interview, she claimed that on several occasions she and the victim kissed when the accused was not home. She recounted that on an unspecified date, the victim entered her room and began kissing her. Shortly after, the accused entered the room and observed the situation, leading to a discussion that escalated into a physical altercation between the two men. In an interview with detectives, the accused stated that he came out of the shower and found the victim kissing De La Torre. According to his account, the victim was intoxicated and said he would go get a firearm from his room. The accused claimed he followed him, pushed him, and the victim fell to the ground, hitting his head. He also admitted to slapping and kicking him while he was on the floor. The accused stated that he checked on the victim periodically throughout the night and found him the next day without signs of life. He acknowledged not calling authorities because he had an outstanding arrest warrant. Documents also indicate that the accused allegedly ordered a body bag through Amazon days after the death. According to statements obtained by investigators, De La Torre helped him place the body in the bag and move it to the garage, as well as clean the area where the body was found using various cleaning products. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma and a subdural hematoma in the skull. Preliminary results determined that the cause of death was homicide, according to the documents. Authorities reported that John Michael De Coste has been charged with murder and is being held without bail. De La Torre faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, with bail set at $150,000. The Crimes Against Persons Unit continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding this case.
Public SafetyJudge to Consider New Trial for Karmelo Anthony in Texas Homicide Case
A judge in McKinney, Texas, will decide on Thursday whether to grant a new trial for 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony, who was convicted of murder this summer for the stabbing death of 17-year-old athlete Austin Metcalf during a school track competition. The judge who oversaw Anthony's trial was removed from the case, and Judge Michael Chitty will review the defense's request for a retrial. Anthony was sentenced to 35 years in prison. His lawyers argue that the original trial was flawed due to strict courtroom rules and inadequate jury instructions. The case gained national attention partly due to racial dynamics, as Anthony is Black and Metcalf was White.
Public SafetyWATCH: Mission family responds to new details in deadly officer-involved shooting
A Mission family is set to respond publicly to new information regarding the officer-involved shooting that resulted in the death of 39-year-old Juan Osornio. The incident occurred on August 16 around 12:04 a.m. on Oblate Avenue when police responded to a report of a person in distress. Officers shot Osornio after he allegedly approached them while armed with a knife. Mission Police Chief Cesar Torres stated that all actions taken during the incident will be thoroughly reviewed. The family disputes the police account, claiming Osornio was tased without warning before the shooting. A press conference is scheduled for August 19 at 3:30 p.m.