Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyDeputies find dog with severe facial injuries, no food, green water; Man arrested
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A 66-year-old man is facing animal cruelty charges after deputies discovered a German Shepherd with severe facial injuries, no food and dark green water, according to a news release from the Cameron County Sheriff's Office. Luis Aguilar was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals, a class A misdemeanor, according to the Cameron
Public SafetyHarlingen man charged with animal cruelty after injured German Shepherd seized from property
Luis Aguilar, a 66-year-old man from Harlingen, was arrested on an animal cruelty charge after a severely injured German Shepherd was discovered on his property. The incident began on May 21 when deputies responded to reports of neglected animals on Baker Potts Road. The dog, named Tasha, was found in a kennel with serious facial injuries and no food, only dirty water. Investigators noted the lack of shelter and medical care, leading to a warrant for the dog's seizure. Tasha has since been taken to a veterinary clinic and is awaiting adoption at a local shelter. Aguilar remains in custody.
Public SafetyCombes park restrooms shut down following latest vandalism incident
Combes Community Park has closed its restrooms due to recent vandalism, marking the fifth incident in a year. Over the weekend, walls were spray-painted, a mirror was broken, and stall doors were removed. Repairs costing $1,000 began on Thursday, with a stall door reinstalled and the broken mirror boarded up. The city plans to enhance security with two motion-activated cameras outside the restrooms. Local resident Jose Nino expressed disappointment over the vandalism, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public spaces for families and children. Repairs and camera installations are expected to be completed next week.
Public SafetyDriver charged in connection with Alamo hit-and-run crash
A 40-year-old man, Jose Fidencio Luna Ramirez, has been charged following a hit-and-run incident in Alamo that left a 5-year-old child in critical condition and injured five others. The crash occurred on Friday evening on the expressway near Tower Road, involving Ramirez's tractor-trailer and a silver Dodge Durango. He faces two counts of collision with serious bodily injury and four counts of collision with injury. His bond is set at $300,000. The child suffered severe head trauma after being ejected from the vehicle, while two adults and three other children were hospitalized but later released with minor injuries.
Public SafetyAccused driver in Alamo hit-and-run to appear in court
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The driver accused of leaving the scene of a crash in Alamo that left two adults and four children with injuries is scheduled to appear in court for a bond hearing on Saturday. Jose Fidencio Luna Ramirez, 40, was located shortly after the crash and taken into custody. Ramirez will be
Public SafetyMission Fire Department rescues six dogs from canal
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The Mission Fire Department rescued six dogs that were trapped in a canal filled with water on Friday evening. Photos of the rescue were uploaded to the Mission Fire Department's social media page showing first responders at the scene using rope to pull the dogs from the canal. Mission FD described
Public SafetyFire at Dominican Republic resort leaves tourists stranded; authorities assist them in returning home
A massive fire at the Viva Dominicus Beach by Wyndham resort in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic, led to the evacuation of nearly 1,700 tourists and resulted in the death of an Italian woman. Authorities are coordinating efforts to help affected tourists return home, as many lost their identification documents in the blaze. Hotel management is working with police to facilitate online reports for guests needing assistance. Tourists have been relocated to hotels in Punta Cana and Bayahibe. The cause of the fire, which spread quickly due to wind and thatched roofing, is under investigation, while tourist activities in the area continue normally.
Public SafetyMexico Working to Identify Bodies Found in Search for Missing Couple Living in the U.S.
Mexican authorities were working on Friday to identify four bodies located in a wooded area on the outskirts of Mexico City as part of the search efforts for a couple who went missing in May and lived between Chicago and Mexico City. At least one of the two men is a U.S. national. A spokesperson from the State of Mexico's prosecutor's office— the region surrounding the capital—told The Associated Press that the discovery of the bodies in La Marquesa National Park was made following a request for assistance from the Mexico City prosecutor's office, which initiated the investigation into the disappearance of Zafar Padamese Mawani and Guillermo Jafett Hidalgo Ortiz. The official, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to make public statements, added that the Mexico City prosecutor's office informed them that arrests related to the case had pointed to an area where the missing individuals should be searched. The official did not provide further details on how many people were detained.
Public SafetyTwo ejected from vehicle in Alamo hit-and-run: Police
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- A portion of the westbound lanes of Expressway 83 in Alamo will be shut down temporarily as authorities investigate a hit-and-run crash. The crash occurred Friday evening near the westbound exit ramp to Alamo Road. A spokesperson with Alamo Police Department said that two people were ejected from a vehicle. The
Public SafetySheriff: Drug raid leads to discovery of severely malnourished dogs
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Investigators found two malnourished dogs after a drug raid at a Brownsville home, according to a news release from the Cameron County Sheriff's Office. Julio Cesar Lara, 38, was charged with manufacture or delivery of controlled substance PG-2, manufacture or delivery of controlled substance PG-3 and two counts of cruelty to animals.
Public SafetyEdinburg police searching for burglary suspects
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Edinburg Police Department is searching for two suspects accused of burglarizing cars in a neighborhood on Friday morning. Police say at about 4:30 a.m., two male suspects targeted unlocked vehicles on the 5000 block of August Court. They drove away in a small, dark-colored SUV, possibly a Nissan Rogue. The
Public SafetyJudge orders alleged ‘port runner’ held without bond in ammunition smuggling case
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A man accused of smuggling ammunition across the border was held without bond last week. Esteban Padron Jr. allegedly sped across an international bridge to stop U.S. Customs and Border Protection from searching his truck. “The government believes that particular truck was loaded with ammunition at the time that it ran
Public SafetyNearly 1,700 Guests Evacuated Due to Fire at Hotel in Dominican Republic
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — Emergency authorities in the Dominican Republic had to evacuate nearly 1,700 guests on Friday after a fire broke out at a hotel in a tourist city on the eastern side of the Caribbean nation, official reports stated. The Emergency Operations Center (COE) said in a statement that the incident occurred at the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel in Bayahibe, La Altagracia province. Firefighters and emergency teams have been addressing the situation since early morning, it indicated. 'The causes of the fire remain under investigation, and the appropriate technical commission will be responsible for determining them once emergency and assessment operations at the site are concluded,' the statement noted. The COE did not immediately report any injuries or fatalities due to the fire. 'As part of the actions to protect the life and safety of individuals, approximately 1,690 guests from the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach hotel were evacuated and have been relocated to nearby hotels and other facilities set up to ensure their well-being,' it stated.
Public SafetyOne person dies and 89 are injured in train collision north of London
Emergency services responded on Friday to the scene of a collision between two trains north of London, resulting in at least one death and dozens of injuries. A passenger reported being thrown forward by the impact and then saw other travelers with broken bones and bleeding wounds. Both trains were traveling south towards St. Pancras station in central London when they collided on the outskirts of Bedford around 5:15 p.m., according to information from railway tracking websites. Emergency services deployed several resources to the scene, including an air ambulance and a hazardous incident team. 'We know that several people have been injured and that unfortunately one person has died,' the police said in a statement. 'A major incident has been declared, and officers continue to respond to the scene along with colleagues from Bedfordshire Police and local fire, rescue, and ambulance services.' The East of England Ambulance Service later reported that 11 people had very serious injuries, 22 had serious injuries, and 56 had minor injuries.
Public SafetyEdinburg firefighters save cat stuck in dog food can
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An Edinburg deputy fire chief, along with the Edinburg firefighters, saved a kitten from what could've been a cat-astrophe. Photos shared by the Edinburg Fire Department show a stray calico kitten with their head stuck in a can of H-E-B-brand wet dog food. According to the fire department, Deputy Chief Anthony Riojas
Public SafetySuspects Sought in Vehicle Thefts in Edinburg Neighborhood
The investigation indicates that the incidents occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Friday in the 5000 block of August Court. According to the Edinburg Police Department, the suspects were seen checking vehicles that were uninsured and allegedly stole belongings from some of them. They then fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV, possibly a Nissan Rogue, police reported. The suspects have not yet been identified, and the investigation remains active. Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes them to contact the Edinburg Police Department at 956-289-7700 or Edinburg Crime Stoppers at 956-383-TIPS (8477).
Public SafetyDrug Operation Also Helps Rescue Malnourished Dogs in Brownsville
The suspect has been identified as 38-year-old Julio César Lara, who was arrested following the execution of a search warrant on June 18 at a residence in the 2300 block of El Portal Street in Brownsville. According to the Cameron County Sheriff's Office, two dogs were found outside the home without access to food or water and showed signs of severe malnutrition. The dogs were turned over to Brownsville Animal Control for care. Additionally, investigators seized: 241 Xanax pills weighing approximately 63 grams, and 43 vape pens containing THC oil, equivalent to about 86 grams. Lara faces charges for manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in Penalty Group 2, manufacturing or delivering a controlled substance in Penalty Group 3, and two counts of animal cruelty.
Public SafetyWoman Accused of Fatally Hitting Her Partner; Her Two Children Were in the Car, According to Police
HOUSTON – A woman of Honduran descent is accused of causing the death of her partner by fatally hitting him and then dragging him with her vehicle, while her two children, aged 4 and 9, who she had with him, witnessed the tragic incident. The woman has been identified as Martha Alicia Oliva Padilla, who faces a charge of homicide in Harris County, in addition to fleeing the fatal scene. According to court documents, the accused was arrested on June 18, 2026, after authorities found probable cause in the death of Luis Adrián Zepeda López.
Public SafetyDonna Issues Alert About Phone Scam Impersonating the City Government
Several residents have reported receiving messages from unknown numbers, including +1 (844) 314-0498, falsely claiming that the city has approved or negotiated new municipal life insurance rates, according to the city. The municipal administration clarified that this is a phishing scam designed to illegally obtain personal and financial information. In light of this situation, authorities recommend that residents: do not respond to the messages, do not open links included in the texts, do not provide personal or financial information, report the message as spam, and block the sender.