Jose G. Landa

Staff writer

  The Maverick County Sheriff Department reported one of the most tragic cases of animal cruelty in Maverick County was recently discovered, resulting in the arrest of the dog owners, on Sunday, October 4. 

The death of an undocumented immigrant near El Indio, Texas on Friday, September 22, has been ruled an accident according information provided by Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber.

A man was arrested on Monday after he was found attempting to smuggle marijuana into the Tom Bowles Detention Center.

  The Maverick County Sheriff Department recovered a stolen vehicle Friday afternoon.

Jaclyn Guzmán

Staff writer

The sheriff’s department has reached 90 percent accuracy on closed cases throughout Maverick County.

   The Winchester rifle among other items that had been reported missing from a home, including the resident’s 2011 Chevrolet Malibu, has been found.

The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department is hoping to acquire new equipment in the upcoming fiscal year.

Sheriff Tom Schmerber said the department needs six new patrol vehicles for deputies. The patrol units are approximately $60,000 each, and will come fully equipped with everything necessary for a deputy on patrol. The department is also working on purchasing body armor through a grant in November. 

Schmerber said the body cameras that were purchased earlier in the year are serving their purpose, and that the department has not yet had any complaints about deputies, which he says is one sign the devices are working well. 

“Deputies are human, they make mistakes, but they are professionals and if there is an error the camera is there to catch it,” said Schmerber who further explained that deputies must go through training and receive certification to use the cameras.

The body cameras have allowed deputies to capture footage at important incidents, including the accident that occurred on July 4 in which one person was killed and four were severely injured before the vehicle burst into flames. 

Sheriff planea adquirir nuevas patrullas

  El Departamento del Sheriff espera adquirir nuevas patrullas  en el próximo año fiscal.

Sheriff Tom Schmerber dijo que el departamento necesita seis nuevos vehículos de patrulla para los diputados. Las unidades de la patrulla son de  aproximadamente $60.000 cada uno, y vendrán equipados totalmente con todo lo  necesario para un diputado en patrulla. El departamento también está trabajando en la compra  de camaras corporales a través de una subvención en noviembre.

Schmerber dijo que las cámaras del cuerpo que fueron compradas a principios de año están cumpliendo su propósito, y que el departamento aún no ha tenido ninguna queja sobre los diputados, lo que él dice es una señal de que los dispositivos están funcionando bien.

"Los diputados son humanos, cometen errores, pero son profesionales y si hay un error la cámara está allí para  grabarlo", dijo Schmerber quien explicó además que los diputados deben pasar por el entrenamiento y recibir la certificación para usar las cámaras.

Las cámaras corporales han permitido a los diputados capturar imágenes en incidentes importantes, incluido el accidente ocurrido el 4 de julio en el que una persona murió y cuatro resultaron gravemente heridas antes de que el vehículo se incendiara.

A call to the sheriff’s department about a possible burglary ended with the arrests of the home’s residents earlier this week.

The Maverick County Sheriff’s Department will begin using body cameras on Monday, May 22.

•Hit and Run: A complainant on Frances Gates Loop reported her 2010 Dodge Charger had sustained damages to its left front quarter panel.

•Fraud: A resident on Juanita Drive made contact with deputies to report someone attempted to open up an account with Chase Bank using his identify without consent. The complainant was advised to make contact with Criminal Investigations Division.

• Wanted Person: Roberto Antonio Vargas was arrested at the international port of entry #2 this evening after initially being detained by CBP agents when a check revealed an active warrant out of Dallas County. The warrant was confirmed and Vargas was transported to the Tom Bowles Detention Center for processing.

• Burglary of building: A complainant on the 800 block of Maple reported unknown subjects entered her shed and took several lawn care products without consent.