Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public Safety3 men hospitalized after ATV rolls into canal in Elsa: Sheriff
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Three men were hospitalized Monday night after the ATV they were riding rolled into a canal in Elsa, according to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office. At approximately 8:40 p.m., deputies responded to the 11400 block of Mile 17 Road North in Elsa regarding an ATV crash. Deputies arrived to find the
Public SafetyMcAllen man accused of killing his dog with a hammer: Records
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Police arrested a McAllen man accused of killing a dog with a hammer, according to an offense report obtained by ValleyCentral. Daniel Alberto Martinez, 36, of McAllen was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals and tampering/fabricate physical evidence with intent to impair, according to Hidalgo County jail records. Both charges are third-degree
Public SafetyMore than 20 firearms and suspected drugs found in a truck in McAllen
An inspection conducted by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) resulted in the discovery of a total of 23 firearms, THC substance, and over 11,000 rounds of ammunition, authorities confirmed. The stop was made on a Chevrolet Silverado at the intersection of Savannah Avenue and 10th Street. DPS reported that after the traffic stop, the officer observed a box labeled 'ammunition' inside the vehicle and requested permission from the driver, identified as Elfego Salvador Benavides, to conduct a search. According to the report, Benavides stated he was traveling from Houston to Monterrey, Mexico, but refused to allow the inspection. Ultimately, after a positive alert from a K-9 officer, the patrol officer found the firearms and drugs inside the vehicle. Among the charges facing Salvador Benavides are: possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, four counts of possession of a stolen firearm, and 23 counts related to the illegal carrying of firearms.
Public SafetyAnother Key Member of the Network Trafficking and Sedating Minors with THC Gummies Arrested
EL PASO, Texas – One of the most shocking child trafficking cases revealed at the border between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso took a judicial turn after 33-year-old Dianne Guadian pleaded guilty to charges related to a smuggling network that allegedly transported undocumented children into the United States. According to a federal criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Texas, the organization was reportedly led by Susana Guadian, who coordinated the recruitment of drivers to transport migrant minors from Ciudad Juárez to various locations across the country. Authorities indicated that Daniel Guadian assisted in the logistics of the transfer, while Dianne Guadian and Manuel Valenzuela were involved in receiving the minors and paying drivers once they crossed the border. The federal investigation claims that the network specialized in trafficking minors aged between 5 and 13 years, using documents belonging to other children to facilitate their crossing at international entry points. One of the most notable incidents occurred in October 2024, when border agents detected several minors attempting to enter the country using documents that did not belong to them. During the investigation, authorities determined that some of the children had received THC gummies, allegedly to keep them sedated during the journey. Two minors were taken to a hospital, where they were evaluated for possible marijuana intoxication. According to the complaint, one minor told emergency personnel that they avoided consuming the gummies and threw them on the ground during a secondary inspection. Agents later recovered the candies and tested them, which yielded positive results for cannabis. Court documents also describe conversations and evidence gathered during the investigation that, according to prosecutors, link the defendants to multiple attempts to traffic minors across the border. Additionally, Manuel Valenzuela, another individual implicated in the federal investigation, was recently sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in the operation.
Public SafetyInvestigation Underway After ATV Accident in Elsa Canal
An ATV accident in Elsa has led to the hospitalization of three men after their vehicle overturned and fell into a canal. The incident occurred on July 27, shortly before 9 PM, on Mile 17 Road North. According to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office, all three occupants were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident. The severity of their injuries has not yet been disclosed. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Public SafetyFederal agents raid ropa usada warehouse in Pharr, owner charged
McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Federal agents raided a ropa usada warehouse, arrested the owner and detained two workers on Friday. Agents charged the owner — Fernando Mireles, 32, of Pharr — with smuggling, laundering money and hiring people who lacked permission to work in the United States. “The criminal complaint looks really similar to other
Public SafetyHonduran man living in Donna attempts to meet with minor for sex in undercover operation: DOJ
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An undocumented Honduran national living in Donna pleaded guilty on Monday to attempting to meet with a minor for sex, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas, 35, was arrested after a three-day undercover online chat investigation initiated by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations. According to a
Public Safety2 pastors with religious visas arrested by ICE at airport
Two married pastors who were here in the U.S. on religious visas were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the McAllen airport last week as they were trying to fly to a Billy Graham marriage conference.
Public SafetyUndocumented migrant living in Donna pleads guilty to attempting to meet minor for sex
A 35-year-old undocumented migrant from Honduras, Anael Jossue Rodriguez-Rodas, living in Donna, has pleaded guilty to attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor. Over three days, he communicated with someone he believed to be a 16-year-old girl, expressing his intentions and sending explicit images. Rodriguez-Rodas arranged to meet the minor at a local park, but was arrested by law enforcement upon arrival. He is set to be sentenced on October 6, facing a minimum of 10 years and potentially life in federal prison, along with a maximum fine of $250,000. He will remain in custody until transferred to a federal facility.
Public Safety18-year-old arrested in connection with Edinburg nightclub shooting
An 18-year-old man, Rodrigo Castillo, was arrested on July 24 in connection with a shooting at a nightclub in rural Edinburg. He faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with a bond set at $100,000. The incident occurred on July 12 at approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 5100 block of South Raul Longoria Road. A woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the shooting; however, authorities clarified that she was not shot but did not disclose the nature of her injuries. The investigation by the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is ongoing.
Public SafetyBrownsville suspect made a burger run before abandoning stolen car, police say
The Brownsville Police Department is investigating a vehicle theft involving a suspect who stole a Kia Optima. After breaking into the car, the individual made a brief stop to buy burgers before abandoning the vehicle. Authorities are seeking assistance from the public and encourage anyone with information to reach out to Brownsville Crime Stoppers at 956-546-8477.
Public SafetyWere glad no one was seriously hurt: Mission hair salon to close for 2 weeks after vehicle crash
EZ Cuts, a hair salon in Mission, will close for two weeks after a suspected drunk driver crashed into the building on July 24. Owner Martin Briseño expressed relief that no one was seriously injured, although both the driver and an employee were hospitalized. The crash, captured on security cameras, showed a black SUV driving onto the sidewalk and crashing into the salon, causing significant damage. Briseño is working on repairs, which include replacing plumbing and flooring, and has arranged for employees to work at another location during the closure. The driver faces DWI charges, but their identity remains undisclosed.
Public SafetyJoint Operation in Northwest Austin Ends in Arrest of Four Suspects
On July 8, 2026, a joint operation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of four suspects in Northwest Austin related to a San Antonio home invasion. The operation began with the Texas Rangers tracking Rodney Robinson III, 21, wanted for a June 15 incident. After a brief vehicle chase, Robinson was apprehended, along with passenger Devion Sommers, 23, who had an outstanding murder charge. Two additional suspects, Nehemiah Pratt, 21, and Kentrell Guillory, 19, were arrested later during a search warrant execution. A total of 11 firearms and illegal drugs were seized. Robinson remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous.
Public SafetyLeader Linked to Los Chapitos, Powerful Faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, Arrested
On Monday, military personnel and security agents arrested Ricardo Ozuna Tirado, alias 'El Tío', in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Authorities identified him as a financial operator and leader of a criminal group linked to Los Chapitos, one of the most powerful factions of the Sinaloa Cartel, led by the sons of drug lord Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán, who is currently imprisoned in the U.S. According to federal sources, the 49-year-old Ozuna Tirado is recognized as a key leader and financial operator of a Los Chapitos cell in the municipality of La Cruz de Elota, Sinaloa. The Security Cabinet reported that he was a 'priority target' and was arrested along with five others from the same criminal group in the coastal and tourist municipality of Mazatlán, where authorities seized firearms, magazines, cartridges, various drug doses, foreign currency, communication and computing equipment, and two vehicles. In a coordinated action in Mazatlán, elements from SEMAR, SSPC, FGR, and the National Intelligence Center detained six individuals, including Ricardo 'N', alias 'El Tío', a financial operator and one of the main leaders of a criminal cell.
Public SafetyFamilies displaced, dog rescued in McAllen apartment fire
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Families were displaced and a dog was rescued from a McAllen apartment building fire on Sunday, according to a news release from the McAllen Fire Department. No injuries were reported. At approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday, McAllen firefighters responded to an apartment on the 1600 block of W. Tamarack, where they encountered
Public Safety'Unimaginable loss': 6 year-old boy electrocuted, death ruled accidental
A tragic incident occurred in Harlingen, Texas, where 6-year-old Jordan Aure Buitron was electrocuted after stakes from a water slide punctured an underground electrical wire. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to a call about an unresponsive child on Viesha Avenue around 9:36 p.m. on Saturday. Buitron was taken to a local hospital but was pronounced dead despite lifesaving efforts. A preliminary autopsy confirmed electrocution as the cause of death, and the Medical Examiner’s Office ruled it accidental. The sheriff expressed condolences to the family during this difficult time.
Public SafetyPolice identify body found in Brownsville
The Brownsville Police Department has identified the body of a man discovered by a pedestrian last week as 54-year-old Felipe Ramirez. The body was found in a decomposed state on July 21 in the 2100 block of Central Boulevard. An autopsy showed no signs of trauma, but a toxicology report is still pending. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body.
Public SafetyEdinburg man charged in connection with shooting outside nightclub
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — An Edinburg man has been charged in connection with a shooting that occurred at a parking lot outside a nightclub in rural Edinburg earlier this month, the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office announced Monday morning. Rodrigo Castillo, 18, of Edinburg, was arrested Friday on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly
Public SafetySuspect in Seattle Shooting is a 15-Year-Old Boy, City Mayor Says
The suspect arrested after the shooting that killed three people and injured at least four others at a food festival near Seattle's Space Needle is 15 years old, the city's mayor reported on Monday. The teenager is in a juvenile detention center while being investigated for assault and possession of firearms and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday afternoon, Mayor Katie Wilson said at a press conference. Authorities are still searching for a second suspect. Investigators believe the two suspects were shooting at each other on Sunday, and although one remains at large, Seattle Police Deputy Chief Tyrone Davis stated at a press conference Sunday night that there is no ongoing threat to the public. The police do not have a description of the suspect who is still at large, the officer indicated. "We are still trying to piece this together," Davis expressed. The police did not respond to phone and email inquiries. Two people died at the scene and a third died in a hospital. They were described as two men, ages 19 and 44, and a 56-year-old woman. The four injured, including a 2-year-old child, were hospitalized. The child was in satisfactory condition on Monday. The others—a 23-year-old man, a 27-year-old man, and a 39-year-old woman—were discharged, a hospital spokesperson said. Davis could not say if any of the victims were involved in the confrontation. Vendors who fled, abandoning their food stands, were cleaning up on Monday. A candlelight vigil was planned for Monday night at the International Fountain in downtown. The shooting occurred around 6 p.m. on Sunday, during the final hours of Bite of Seattle, an annual three-day festival that attracts hundreds of food vendors and retailers, as well as artists. Dozens of officers were providing security at the event, and some witnessed one of the suspects firing, Davis noted. One suspect surrendered at the scene, but the other fled. A large number of police and emergency teams arrived and began evacuating the area around the expansive Seattle Center complex. Faith Adia Hunter recounted that she and her friends had just bought food from a crepe stand when the gunfire erupted. "We were about to start eating, then we heard someone shout something, and then we saw people starting to run," Hunter said. "So we ran too." "We were right next to it when it started, so we ran out," Hunter added. Hunter described how, in the rush to find a safe place, she and others ran toward the nearby Seattle Children's Museum. Amid the chaos, many vendors rushed to the exits, leaving their food stands behind. Hours later, some were wandering outside the police cordon, wondering when they would be allowed to return to collect their tents, food, and cooking equipment. Roberto Ramírez, a vendor at the event, said he heard something that sounded like firecrackers before people started shouting "shooter" and running frantically. "Suddenly everything was empty," he said. "People were terrified." After the initial panic, new attendees continued to arrive unaware of what had happened, and police directed them to leave, he added. Estan Wakonabo shared that he and his girlfriend were at the festival, waiting in line for a photo booth, when someone pushed him from behind and, turning around, he saw a stampede of people fleeing. "People were hiding, pushing, people were falling to the ground, strollers were falling over," Wakonabo said, adding that it was then he heard the gunshots. "When I heard 'pop, pop, pop,' that’s when I knew it was a shooter," he expressed. Wakonabo noted that after escorting his girlfriend to safety, he returned to the scene to take photos and saw several victims on the ground. The festival began in 1982 and attracts 350,000 attendees, according to its website. This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool. A Telemundo Digital editor reviewed the translation.