Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyLaredo man sentenced to 12 years in prison for trying to meet minor on Kik app
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Laredo man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for trying to meet a minor on a Kik chatroom, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. On March 6, 41 year old Robert Steven Lanier pleaded guilty to coercion and enticement of a
Public SafetyI am going to make the best out of it: Nikki Rowe senior stays positive after losing home in Alton fire
A fire devastated the Mendoza family's home in Alton on August 1, leaving high school senior Kaylee Mendoza with significant losses just before her final year. The family was playing loteria when the fire broke out, causing extensive damage and destroying nearly all their possessions. Kaylee lost her cheerleading uniform and a memory box filled with high school photos. Despite the tragedy, she remains optimistic about her senior year, stating she will make the best of the situation. A GoFundMe has been established to assist the family in their recovery efforts, with more details pending from the Alton Fire Department regarding the cause of the fire.
Public SafetyPolice seek help finding missing Edcouch woman
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Edcouch Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in searching for a missing woman. Adela Davila was last seen at approximately 3 p.m. on Friday at 900 West Adkins Avenue, wearing a gray shirt and black shorts. According to Edcouch police, Davila is diagnosed with dementia, which may cause her
Public SafetyBrownsville police warn of scam call surge
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Brownsville Police Department is advising the public to watch out for scam calls. According to a public service announcement from Brownsville police, the department has been made aware of yet another surge of scam calls. Authorities say the public has reported calls from scammers "pretending" to be officers from the department
Public SafetyWoman had invalid license at time of Brownsville fatal collision: Docs
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Authorities discovered a woman had three holds over her license and her vehicle was uninsured at the time of a deadly Brownsville crash in June, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by ValleyCentral. Pamela Ruth Taylor, 31, has been charged with driving with an invalid license without motor vehicle financial responsibility, causing serious bodily
Public SafetyHarlingen cancer treatment center employee accused of stealing $750K from company
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Authorities arrested a Brownsville woman accused of stealing thousands from her employer in a nearly year-long scheme. Yuliana Perez of Brownsville is facing charges after police say she stole $750,000 from Valley Cancer Associates in Harlingen, according to a news release from the Harlingen Police Department. On May 19, police received a
Public SafetyEdinburg Resident Receives 11-Year Prison Sentence After Assaulting Officers During Arrest
Alvaro Salinas Jr., a 45-year-old resident of Edinburg, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for drug-related offenses and illegal possession of a firearm. He pleaded guilty on April 27 to charges of intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon with a firearm. His criminal history includes previous convictions for drug trafficking and aggravated assault. The incident leading to his arrest occurred on December 7, 2025, when police found him unconscious in his vehicle. Upon waking him, he resisted arrest and was found with a firearm and 127 grams of meth in his car. Salinas will remain in custody until his transfer to a federal prison.
Public SafetyHelp Locate Adela Davila in Edcouch, Texas
The Edcouch Police Department has officially issued a Silver Alert to urgently request public assistance in locating Adela Davila, who has been reported missing. According to the official report, Mrs. Davila was last seen at 900 West Santa Rosa Avenue. Authorities warn that Mrs. Davila suffers from medical conditions that may cause disorientation or confusion, increasing the urgency of locating her to ensure her safety. Regarding the search, the police stated, 'If you have seen Adela Davila or have any information about her whereabouts, please call 911 immediately or contact the Edcouch Police Department directly.' The police are asking all neighbors and citizens to share this information through their digital channels and social media to broaden the search and help her return home safely.
Public SafetyPolice find migrants inside truck at Donna Love's Travel Stop
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Donna police officers found migrants inside a truck parked at Love's Travel Stop on Friday morning. According to Donna Police Chief Gilbert Guerrero, at approximately 9 a.m., authorities received a welfare check from a truck owner regarding one of his drivers who was parked at the Love's Travel Stop in Donna. When
Public Safety'Voices in his head told him to do it': Man told teller he had a gun during Brownsville bank robbery
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man accused of robbing a bank in Brownsville told police that "voices in his head had told him to do it", according to a criminal complaint obtained by ValleyCentral. Deion George James, 32, was charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, and failure to identify, a Class B misdemeanor, on
Public SafetyArrest Made in Alleged $750,000 Fraud Against Valley Cancer Associates
The Harlingen Police Department has released details regarding the arrest of Yuliana Pérez, accused of executing an alleged embezzlement scheme against Valley Cancer Associates, resulting in estimated losses of $750,000. The investigation began on May 19, 2026, when the company filed a report after detecting suspicions of financial fraud. Following this, detectives conducted a thorough review of the finances and discovered that, between May 2025 and April 2026, the suspect allegedly diverted corporate funds into four personal bank accounts. To conceal the crime, the fraudulent transactions were disguised as legitimate operating expenses using names of regular vendors. While the initial investigation identified around $588,000 in unauthorized transactions, subsequent analysis of the accounting records revealed additional alleged illicit activities that raised the total embezzlement amount to $750,000. Finally, on August 4, 2026, Harlingen agents, in coordination with the Brownsville Police, executed the arrest warrant and apprehended the suspect without incident. Authorities reiterated their commitment to rigorously investigate financial crimes and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law.
Public SafetyDPS Announces Featured Fugitive for August
Ramon Alberto Artola Jr., a 43-year-old sex offender from Groves, has been named the Featured Fugitive for August by the Texas Department of Public Safety. A reward of $3,000 is offered for information leading to his arrest if received this month. Artola has been wanted since June 2026 for failing to register as a sex offender, reckless driving, and DWI. He was previously convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child in 2001. Artola is 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs approximately 160 pounds, and has connections to Port Arthur. Tips can be submitted anonymously through various methods.
Public SafetyAuthorities Seek New Tips in 1996 Brown Co. Cold Case
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is requesting information regarding the 1996 murder of 30-year-old Juan Leon Laureles in Brown County. A reward of $6,000 is now offered for tips leading to an arrest, provided they are submitted before the next cold case is highlighted. Laureles was found dead next to his burning 1988 Ford Thunderbird, having been shot in the back of the head. Investigators are particularly interested in details about the vehicle and transactions made with Laureles' stolen credit card. Tips can be submitted via the Crime Stoppers hotline or online.
Public Safety15 Immigrants Found in Abandoned Truck in Donna
The chief of police in Donna reported that around 9 a.m. they received a call about an abandoned truck at the Love’s gas station located on Expressway 83. Upon arrival, officers found between 10 and 15 immigrants in the truck parking area. Authorities then notified the Border Patrol, which is now in charge of the investigation. According to the official report, the immigrants were in good health. The driver of the truck was not located at the scene. This is a developing story.
Public SafetyTexas Ex-Officer Charged with Murdering Three People in Mexico
A former Texas officer who worked for Bexar County has been taken to a prison in Mexico after being accused of murdering three people and seriously injuring a fourth. According to authorities, the crime occurred on August 4 in Saltillo, Coahuila. The suspect, identified as Chad Eberle, allegedly shot at his ex-partner, who survived the attack, as well as three other individuals who lost their lives. The state attorney general's office reported that a minor related to the case is now in the custody of the Child Protection Agency in Saltillo. Eberle was arrested the same day at the Piedras Negras border while allegedly attempting to leave the area with his son, according to the state prosecutor. The deceased victims were identified as Ana Laura de León Morín, 44; Emanuel Montero, 54; and Laura Jaquelín Mora de León, 22. The injured person was identified as Litzy Anahí Mora de León, 26, who remains hospitalized in serious and critical condition.
Public SafetyRio Hondo bridge temporarily closes for maintenance
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Rio Hondo lift bridge is closed for a few hours on Friday for maintenance. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, the bridge on FM 106 will be closed from 9 a.m to 3 p.m. TxDOT advises drivers to plan ahead and seek alternate routes. Drivers can use FM 1846,
Public SafetyLawyer Accused of Allegedly Charging for Legal Services Not Rendered
McALLEN, Texas – A woman identified as Karina Michelle Cerda is facing a theft charge after a client reported paying her $700 for legal services that were allegedly not performed, according to court documents. The probable cause statement indicates that the complaint was filed with the McAllen Police Department on April 28, 2026. The complainant informed authorities that she hired Cerda in December 2025 after finding her through social media to represent her in a child custody matter. According to the document, the woman paid $700 via Cash App for the legal services. The complainant claims that Cerda did not inform her about a scheduled hearing, repeatedly delayed her responses, and refused to issue a refund. The documents state that the woman later hired another attorney who informed her that no legal work had been done on her case. As part of the investigation, a McAllen Police detective reviewed text messages provided by the complainant and records related to the case. The statement also indicates that the investigator found social media posts from others making similar allegations about allegedly paid but unrendered legal services. What happened with the case in Cameron County Court? According to the probable cause statement, after paying $700 for legal services, the complainant checked the Cameron County Court records on December 29, 2025. The document states that upon reviewing the records, she discovered that no attorney was registered to represent her and that no work had been done on her case. The complainant told investigators that she subsequently attempted to contact Karina Michelle Cerda multiple times but received little communication and, according to the complaint, never gained access to the client portal despite requesting it several times. The documents indicate that she later hired another attorney, who also allegedly informed her that Cerda had not completed legal services in the case, as no records of such work were found. Investigator Requested Arrest Warrant According to the court document, Detective Benjamin Ramírez attempted to obtain a statement from Cerda over the phone, but she refused to provide one and indicated that she would hire an attorney. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, the detective requested that an arrest warrant be issued for Cerda on a Class B theft charge. The complaint alleges that Cerda obtained and exercised control over the $700 without the effective consent of the owner and with the intent to deprive her of that money. The allegations contained in the complaint are just that—allegations—and do not constitute a determination of guilt.
Public SafetySmuggler who sold cocaine to FBI informant sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A drug smuggler who sold cocaine to an FBI informant was sentenced to nearly five years in prison Thursday. Arjenis Baltazar Garcia, 30, of Valle Hermoso, Tamaulipas, sold a kilogram — about 2.2 pounds — of cocaine to an FBI informant during October 2023. “We’re asking for mercy,” attorney Sergio J.
Public Safety15-Year-Old Accused of Killing Stranger: 'He Was Dressed as a Clown,' Police Say
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of 78-year-old John Wesley Allen in East St. Louis, Illinois. The incident occurred while Allen was waiting at a bus stop when he was randomly attacked by the suspect, who was dressed as a clown. Authorities report that the teenager intended to kill or cause serious bodily harm to Allen, stabbing him multiple times with a knife. The prosecution is seeking to try the minor as an adult for first-degree murder. Police are investigating video footage of the incident, which shows a figure in a clown costume approaching homes with a knife.