Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyScheduled water interruptions along Texas Boulevard in Weslaco
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The city of Weslaco announced a portion of Texas Boulevard will experience a water interruption later this week. The scheduled water interruption will affect residents in Texas Boulevard to Iowa Avenue, and Frontage Road to Pike Boulevard. Interruptions will take place on 11 p.m., Wednesday, July 15 to 4 a.m., Thursday,
Public SafetyMission FD: Home damaged in morning fire, pet rescued
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A large portion of a Mission home sustained damage following a fire, according to the Mission Fire Department. At approximately 9:40 a.m. Mission fire crews responded to a structure fire in the Southwest area of Mission. According to Mission Fire Chief Mike Silva, when crews arrived, they found a large fire at
Public SafetyTexas to Receive Nearly $11M to Improve Crisis Intervention Programs
U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced that Texas will receive $10,973,066 in federal funding from the Department of Justice to enhance crisis intervention programs. This grant will support state and local initiatives, including expanding behavioral health crisis response and specialized court programs aimed at addressing factors that contribute to violence. The funding is part of the Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program, established by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Cornyn co-authored. Cornyn emphasized that these resources will improve law enforcement training for responding to mental health crises and ensure continued support for treatment courts in Texas.
Public SafetyJalisco Cartel Declares War on Rival Groups in Mexico City
Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, have declared war on rival criminal groups in Mexico City, specifically Unión Tepito and the Tláhuac Cartel, according to a video released on social media this Tuesday. The video shows several hooded individuals armed with firearms and wearing vests with the initials CJNG in an unidentified location, while one of them reads a manifesto attributed to the criminal group. 'Notice to the entire population of Mexico City and the State of Mexico. We are coming for all the extortionists and floor collectors of Unión Tepito and the Tláhuac Cartel. Those fakes who claim to be from the company. Their gold mine is over,' said the alleged CJNG member reading the statement. This conflict aims to target 'all those who are extorting in our name,' he stated. 'We come to restore order, not to cause discomfort. We are the Jalisco New Generation Cartel,' he concluded.
Public Safety‘The signs cannot be ignored’: she survived 34 stab wounds and now warns other women
Heydi Morales recalls the attack that she claims nearly cost her life at the hands of her ex-partner. 'Everything he did was to kill me,' the woman said in an interview with Telemundo 51. Morales received 34 stab wounds in various parts of her body and, nearly a month after the assault, she continues to recover physically and emotionally. She recounted that during the year-long relationship, she never imagined she would become a victim of an attempted murder. 'We had a pretty healthy relationship. We got along well,' she said. However, over time, controlling behaviors began. Morales claims her then-partner constantly checked her, installed a GPS on her phone to track her movements, and frequently showed up at her workplace.
Public SafetyCBP Officers Arrest Wanted Child Sexual Assault Suspect in Brownsville
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge arrested Bryan Eduardo Alcala, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, who was wanted by the Harlingen Police Department for child sexual assault. The arrest occurred on July 6 during a secondary inspection where biometric verification revealed an outstanding warrant against him. Port Director Tater Ortiz praised the vigilance of the officers, emphasizing their role in apprehending individuals with serious charges. Alcala has been handed over to the Harlingen Police Department for further action.
Public SafetyScared they might shoot u: Edinburg-area woman says nightclub gunfire is part of ongoing problem
A shooting outside El Antro Nightclub in Hidalgo County early Sunday has raised safety concerns among local residents. The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office received multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire near South Raul Longoria Road. A 20-year-old woman was hospitalized but is expected to recover; authorities confirmed she was not shot. Estela Campos, a nearby resident, expressed her fear of violence, stating that gunfire disrupts her family's peace and has previously damaged their mechanic shop. This incident follows a 2023 shooting at the same venue that injured seven people. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are seeking information from the public.
Public SafetyKitten as an Accomplice? Man Attempts Bank Robbery After Stealing Adoption Cat, Police Say
A man took a kitten from the adoption area of a pet store in Maryland and then allegedly tried to use it to rob a nearby bank. According to authorities, officers arrived at the scene within minutes, and the kitten, named Magnolia, emerged unscathed after the incident. Security footage shows a man wearing a light shirt and a black hat entering the Pet Supplies Plus store on Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville. Seconds later, he was seen running out with a black and white kitten in his arms. Witnesses reported that he ran straight toward the PNC bank located in the same shopping center. Stephanie Stullich, from the Beltsville Community Cats rescue group, was nearby when she received a call from a very alarmed store employee around 10:30 a.m. They informed her that someone had used a key hanging nearby to open the cat adoption area and take Magnolia, who is three months old.
Public SafetyA Kitten as an Accomplice? Man Attempts to Rob a Bank After Stealing a Kitten from Adoption
A man took a kitten from the adoption area of a pet store in Maryland and then allegedly tried to use it to rob a nearby bank. According to authorities, officers arrived at the scene within minutes, and the kitten, named Magnolia, emerged unscathed after the incident. Security footage shows a man in a light shirt and black hat entering the Pet Supplies Plus store on Baltimore Avenue in Beltsville. Seconds later, he ran out clutching a black and white kitten. Witnesses reported that he ran straight to the PNC bank located in the same shopping center. Stephanie Stullich, from the Beltsville Community Cats rescue group, was nearby when she received a call from a very alarmed store employee around 10:30 a.m. They informed her that someone had used a key hanging nearby to open the cat adoption area and take Magnolia, who is three months old. Stullich rushed to the scene. 'I immediately saw all those police cars and thought,
Public SafetyDHS: ICE Agent Who Shot Colombian in Maine 'Feared for Public Safety'
A federal immigration agent shot and killed a 26-year-old Colombian man in Maine on Monday, marking the second lethal force incident by ICE agents in a week. The Department of Homeland Security stated that the agent fired after the driver attempted to flee and posed a threat to public safety. The Colombian embassy is providing consular assistance to the victim's family. Witnesses reported hearing the man say, 'I tried to stop.' Protests erupted in Biddeford, with hundreds demanding the dissolution of ICE. The investigation is ongoing, with the Maine Attorney General's Office looking into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Public SafetyEdinburg city truck rolls over on I-69C, closing northbound lanes
A rollover accident involving an Edinburg city solid waste truck occurred on northbound Interstate-69C near the Russell Road overpass around 6:30 p.m. on Monday. The driver lost control, causing the truck to overturn onto its left side across the main lanes. The driver was taken to the hospital for evaluation, but no other vehicles were involved in the incident. Initially, the northbound lanes were closed due to the crash, but they have since been reopened, according to a city spokesperson.
Public SafetyEverything is gone: Coutino Burgers & More owners displaced by Rio Grande City house fire
A house fire in Rio Grande City last Friday devastated the Coutino family, destroying their home and claiming their pets. Rafael and Veronica Coutino, who have lived on Aust Street for 12 years, now face an uncertain future for their restaurant, Coutino's Burgers & More. The fire, believed to have started in the laundry room, occurred while the couple was two miles away at work. They are currently staying with a relative in Pharr and may need to relocate if they can't find a rental in Rio Grande City soon. A GoFundMe has been established to assist them during this difficult time.
Public SafetyCity truck rollover crash causes closure on Interstate-69C in Edinburg
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) -- The northbound lanes of I-69C are closed until further notice due to a rollover crash involving a city of Edinburg solid waste truck. The crash reportedly happened at 6:30 p.m. on Monday right before the Monte Cristo Road exit in Edinburg. Police said the truck was traveling northbound on the interstate
Public SafetyCouple arrested after teens drank tequila 'directly from bottles' at quinceañera: Docs
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A teen confessed to officers that she and the quinceañera drank tequila "directly from the bottles," which led to the arrest of a couple during their daughter's 15th birthday party, according to an offense report obtained by ValleyCentral. Jeanett Garza, 43, and Jose Garza, 44, were each charged with two counts
Public SafetyWoman hospitalized following nightclub shooting near Edinburg, Hidalgo County Sheriff Office investigating
The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting incident that took place early Sunday morning outside El Antro Nightclub on South Raul Longoria Road. At approximately 12:50 a.m., deputies responded to multiple 911 calls and found a woman with non-life-threatening injuries. Although she was hospitalized, authorities confirmed she was not shot, but the nature of her injuries has not been disclosed. The investigation is still ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office at 956-383-8114 or Crime Stoppers at 956-668-8477.
Public SafetyOil leak leads to expressway car fire near Donna
An oil leak caused a car fire on Expressway 83 near Donna on Saturday, July 11. The Donna Police Department responded to the incident in the 600 block of East Expressway 83, where they found a 2010 gray Chevrolet Traverse fully engulfed in flames. The driver, Raul Cepeda Jr., was en route to deliver the vehicle to its owner in Mercedes when he noticed significant oil dripping. He pulled over safely and exited the vehicle as flames erupted from the engine. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, and fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Public SafetyICE Harlingen office sets record with 238 arrests in a single day, agency says
The ICE office in Harlingen achieved a record with 238 arrests in one day on June 18, 2026, targeting individuals suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Among those detained were individuals with serious convictions, including attempted kidnapping, sexual battery, and drug offenses. Notable arrests included Manuel Morales-Geronimo, linked to the Paisas gang, and others with various criminal backgrounds. The operation involved collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement, and those arrested may face further charges for illegal reentry into the U.S. Details on the majority of the arrests remain undisclosed.
Public SafetyVehicle theft suspect at large following police chase in Hidalgo County
A police chase in Hidalgo County began Sunday morning when officers responded to a report of a stolen Chevy Colorado in Pharr. The pursuit, which started around 7:30 a.m., continued to Mercedes, where the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. Despite a search of the area by law enforcement, the suspect remains at large. The Texas Department of Public Safety assisted in the chase, and the stolen truck has been recovered without any reported injuries. The investigation into the incident is still ongoing.
Public SafetyMcAllen police officers killed in 2020 domestic disturbance call honored
On July 11, the McAllen Police Department commemorated the six-year anniversary of the deaths of Officers Edelmiro Garza Jr. and Ismael Chavez Jr., who were killed in an ambush while responding to a domestic disturbance in south McAllen. The officers were shot by a suspect who later took his own life. During a radio moment of silence lasting 38 seconds, Police Chief Victor Rodriguez emphasized the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel for community safety. This tribute serves as a reminder of the risks faced by officers in McAllen, Texas, and across the United States.