Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
Public SafetyResponding to report of unconscious man: found dead inside a vehicle
A report to the Edinburg Police on Friday alerted them to the presence of an unconscious man inside a black Hyundai vehicle. Officers responded to the call and arrived at the Love’s Travel Stop located at 8420 N. 281, where they discovered that the man had died. The causes of the man's death and his identity are currently unknown. The investigation is ongoing. This is a breaking news story. We will have more information shortly. Thank you for choosing TELEMUNDO 40.
Public SafetyCameron County jail given non-compliance notice for overcrowding
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Texas Commission on Jail Standards found the Cameron County jail to be in non-compliance due to overcrowding. Documentation revealed that from March 30 to April 6, the jail was over their approved capacity by 47 inmates. In a statement on Friday, the Cameron County Sheriff's Office said the department was
Public SafetyFeds Disrupt Cocaine Pipeline: Key Player Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison
Luis Manuel Castillo Garcia, a 52-year-old undocumented immigrant from Mexico residing in Laredo, has been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute over $1 million in cocaine. He pleaded guilty on November 3, 2025, admitting to organizing cocaine shipments from Laredo to various U.S. locations. U.S. District Judge Diana Saldana imposed a 135-month sentence for drug conspiracy and an additional 120 months for illegal reentry. Garcia's criminal history includes previous drug convictions. Authorities seized over 65 kilograms of cocaine during the investigation, which was conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies.
Public SafetyWoman Faces Charges in Hit-and-Run Case in Brownsville
Briana Camila Rodríguez, a 20-year-old woman, was taken into custody in Brownsville after turning herself in to authorities due to her alleged involvement in a hit-and-run accident that occurred on May 4 on State Highway 48, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Rodríguez, a Brownsville resident, is facing two charges for failing to stop and render aid in an accident that resulted in serious bodily injury. According to the state agency, Rodríguez voluntarily presented herself at the Cameron County Jail, where she is now in custody.
Public SafetyCity Proclaims May 10-16, 2026, as “Pharr Police Memorial Week”
The Pharr City Commission has declared May 10-16, 2026, as Pharr Police Memorial Week, coinciding with National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15. This proclamation was presented to Police Chief Juan F. Gonzalez and members of the Pharr Police Department, honoring officers who lost their lives in the line of duty and acknowledging the ongoing dedication of current officers. Commissioners expressed gratitude for the department's commitment to community safety and emphasized the importance of this week to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Public SafetyDeadline Set for Cameron County Jail to Reduce Overcrowding
Cameron County Jail has been declared non-compliant due to overcrowding issues, following a notification from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards on April 8. Sheriff Manuel Treviño announced a deadline of May 15, 2026, to address this situation. Since then, the sheriff's office has collaborated with local prosecutors and judges to implement measures aimed at reducing the inmate population. The primary goal is to resolve the overcrowding without transferring inmates to facilities outside the county, which could impose additional financial burdens on families. Authorities are committed to finding solutions that meet standards while ensuring the safety of the facility.
Public SafetyVehicle Rollover Causes Partial Closure Near La Villa
A single-vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of FM 491 and Mile 15 1/2 near La Villa, prompting a partial road closure. The Edcouch Volunteer Fire Department is on the scene managing the situation. Authorities advise drivers to avoid the area while response and cleanup efforts are underway. They also warned that roads may be slippery, urging caution and the use of alternate routes. As of now, there are no reports of injuries related to the incident.
Public SafetyShe left me her four treasures: Edinburg father of four reacts after wife killed by suspected DUI driver
Victor Sepulveda, an Edinburg father, is coping with the loss of his wife, Martha Luna Miranda, who was killed in a suspected DUI crash on May 2. The accident occurred at the intersection of Salinas Street and West Monte Cristo Road, when another driver, Miguel Angel Suarez, allegedly ran a red light. Sepulveda is focused on caring for their four children, Charly, Bryan, Axel, and Luna, as he navigates this tragedy. Two of his sons were injured and hospitalized, while he himself is recovering from broken ribs and a shoulder injury. Suarez is currently held on a bond exceeding $1 million.
Public SafetyUpdated Alamo ordinance sets new speed limit hours near two schools
Alamo has updated its city ordinance to enforce new speed limit hours near PSJA Memorial High School and McKeever Elementary. The designated school zone hours are now from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., aimed at improving safety in a high-traffic area near Ridge and Alamo roads. Drivers caught speeding during these hours will face fines. Mayor J.R. Garza emphasized the importance of adhering to speed limits for community safety and noted that the city is committed to updating its regulations as it grows. Additionally, more police presence will be established at both schools to ensure compliance.
Public SafetyMan killed in Edinburg officer-involved shooting identified
An 81-year-old man named Steven Orth was identified as the suspect killed in an officer-involved shooting in Edinburg on Wednesday. According to city officials, Orth was shot after he pointed a firearm at police officers. The incident began when Orth confronted irrigation workers on Sprague Street, demanding they leave. He threatened to retrieve a gun if the workers did not comply. When police arrived, Orth displayed a pistol, leading to the officers firing at him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the Texas Rangers are currently investigating the incident.
Public SafetyA note a former cellmate says he found after Epstein suspected suicide attempt is released
A note allegedly found by Jeffrey Epstein's former cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, after Epstein's suspected suicide attempt in July 2019 has been released by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The note, which was sealed for years, includes cryptic messages expressing despair and frustration. Tartaglione, serving a life sentence for murder, mentioned the note on a podcast last year. Epstein was discovered unresponsive in their cell, leading to a suicide watch that lasted 31 hours before he ultimately took his life. The note's authorship remains unclear, and it was not included in previous investigations into Epstein's death.
Public SafetyMultiple Injuries and Bruises: Young Man Reports Brutal Assault by Alleged ICE Agents
NEW YORK — An ICE operation that was captured on video in the Bronx left a 19-year-old bleeding and with injuries that required stitches on his head. The agents later realized they had detained the wrong person, according to authorities. A cellphone video shows the young man being tackled and arrested by agents on Wednesday afternoon at the intersection of Gun Hill Road and Hull Avenue. Once the agents recognized their mistake, they left him in a park, bloodied and bruised. Jeury Concepción told Telemundo 47 that he also suffered a concussion as a result of his encounter with the federal immigration agents. The incident was recorded by several videos obtained by T47. In one of them, a federal agent is seen running with his weapon drawn towards Concepción, who was standing in front of a barbershop on Hull Avenue.
Public SafetyEscape Dreams: How 'El Chapo' Tries to Leave Supermax and Remain at the Helm of His Cartel
No one has escaped from the Supermax prison in Colorado since it opened in 1994. The incarcerated drug trafficker known as 'El Chapo' had an escape plan, but it was not the bold type he previously used in Mexico to break out of prison: riding a motorcycle through a secret tunnel. 'El Chapo's' new plan to leave the most secure prison in the United States was simply to ask authorities to keep the door open for him. Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán became a billionaire leading the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, which, according to federal agents, remains responsible for the majority of illegal drug sales on the streets of Chicago and across the United States. A decade ago, 'El Chapo' was captured in a shootout in Mexico; extradited to the United States, he was sentenced to life in prison at the Supermax facility in Colorado, from which no one has managed to escape in over 30 years of operation.
Public SafetyJuvenile in custody in connection with multiple burglaries: Weslaco police
HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Weslaco Police Department has taken a juvenile into custody in connection with multiple burglaries, police announced Thursday. Police said the juvenile is connected to thefts reported at King Estates, Largo St., and the surrounding areas. Police added that the department is committed to protecting the community and that every criminal
Public SafetyPolice identify Edinburg homeowner killed in officer-involved shooting
EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Edinburg Police Department has identified the homeowner who was killed on Wednesday in an officer-involved shooting. Steven Orth, 81, of Edinburg was fatally shot by police who were responding to a call near his home by the canal bank on the 2500 block of W. Sprague Rd. Edinburg police Chief
Public SafetyWanted Fugitives Arrested at Laredo Port of Entry for Sex Crimes
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Laredo ports of entry apprehended three men wanted for sex crimes within a 24-hour period. On April 30, Allan Josue Cabrera Maradiaga, a 49-year-old Honduran citizen, was arrested at the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge for an active felony warrant for sexual assault from Louisiana. Pedro Garcia Martinez, a 44-year-old Mexican citizen, was also detained at the same location for multiple felony warrants related to sexual offenses from New York. Additionally, U.S. citizen Jesus Hernandez Resendez, 53, was arrested at the Anzalduas International Bridge for aggravated sexual assault of a child. All three are now facing legal proceedings.
Public SafetyFBI Update on March 1 Austin Shooting
The FBI San Antonio Division is investigating a mass shooting that occurred on March 1, 2026, outside Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden in Austin, Texas, resulting in three deaths and 15 injuries. The shooter, Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Senegal, died during an exchange of gunfire with police. The investigation suggests Diagne acted alone and had no prior FBI investigations or connections to terrorist organizations. His motivations appear linked to personal grievances and admiration for Iranian leadership. The FBI continues to seek answers for the victims' families and prevent future violence.
Public SafetyTexas Rangers, Law Enforcement Partners Extradite 1986 Cold Case Killer Hiding in Mexico
Law enforcement has apprehended Bobby Charles Taylor Sr., 60, in Mexico City, believed to be the killer of 16-year-old Deanna Ogg, who was raped and murdered in Montgomery County in 1986. After decades of investigation, modern forensic techniques identified Taylor as the suspect. He was arrested on an unrelated felony charge and extradited to Texas on May 5, 2026, where he faces capital murder charges. Ogg's case remained cold until it was revisited in 2020 under the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, leading to advanced DNA testing that linked Taylor to the crime. He is currently held at the Montgomery County Jail.
Public SafetyMan dies after being electrocuted while digging holes in rural Edinburg
A 30-year-old man, Efren Morones, died after being electrocuted while digging holes in rural Edinburg on May 1. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies found him unresponsive outside a home on the 1600 block of Indigo Street shortly before 10:30 a.m. Preliminary investigations suggest Morones was assisting with handyman work when the incident occurred. An autopsy confirmed electrocution as the cause of death. Authorities are working with a local power utility to identify the source of the electrical hazard, and the investigation is still ongoing.