Public Safety
Public Safety news from McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley.
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 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 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 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.
Public SafetyTexas Is Paying Up to $50,000 to Catch Illegal Crash Solicitors
The State of Texas has increased the reward for reporting illegal crash solicitors from $10,000 to $50,000. This initiative aims to combat barratry, which occurs when individuals contact accident victims without their consent. Such practices are illegal in Texas. Residents are encouraged to report any unsolicited contact after a car crash to help curb this issue. For more information, individuals can visit stopbarratryrgv.com.
Public Safety$1.7M Brownsville Mansion Seized
A mansion in Brownsville, Texas, valued at approximately $1.7 million, has been seized by the U.S. government due to its acquisition with drug trafficking proceeds. The property, which features six bedrooms and four bathrooms, was reportedly used for money laundering activities linked to a major cocaine supplier associated with multiple cartels. Improvements made to the mansion included a pool and extensive renovations. U.S. District Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr. approved the forfeiture after determining that the property was obtained through illegal activities. The mansion will be sold at a government auction, with no claims against it reported.
Public SafetyYoung Man Arrested for Multiple Thefts in Weslaco Residential Areas
The ongoing investigation indicates that the suspect is a minor. Police link him to multiple thefts and a reported burglary in residential neighborhoods in the King Estates area, Largo Street, and nearby zones. The police reiterated their commitment to community safety and warned that anyone involved in criminal activities will be held accountable. They emphasized that 'all criminal activity is taken seriously' and that they will continue to work to protect residents. Additionally, anyone with information can contact the Weslaco Police Department directly or anonymously through the Crime Stoppers line at (956) 968-TIPS (8477) or via the P3 mobile app.
Public SafetyWorker dies by electrocution outside rural Edinburg home: Sheriff
EDINBURG, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of a man who was electrocuted while working outside a home in rural Edinburg. Authorities identified the man as 30-year-old Efren Morones. Morones was found unresponsive at approximately 10:25 a.m. on Friday, May 1, on the 1600 block of Indigo Street. Morones
Public SafetyFort Brown Border Patrol Agents Apprehend Paisas Gang Member with Ties to Gulf Cartel
Border Patrol agents at the Fort Brown Station in Brownsville, Texas, apprehended a Mexican national linked to the Paisas gang, which collaborates with the Gulf Cartel. The individual was caught attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. After his arrest, agents confirmed his connections to the Paisas, a gang known for its prison operations. He has been handed over to the Department of Justice for prosecution related to his illegal entry and gang affiliations. Following his sentence, he will be transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to Mexico.
Public SafetyInvestigation Underway into Electrocution Death of Man in Edinburg
The Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office reported the death of Efrén Morones, who was electrocuted on Friday, April 30, around 10:25 a.m. on the 1600 block of Indigo Street. Preliminary investigations revealed that Morones was digging holes for maintenance work when he was found unconscious by the homeowner. Authorities determined that he likely suffered electrocution. Emergency services confirmed the cause of death as electrocution. A local electrical company is assisting in identifying the source of the electrical hazard that led to the incident. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the Hidalgo County Sheriff's Office at 956-383-8114 or the Crime Stoppers line at 956-668-TIPS (8477).