Crime Stoppers in Action – April 2016
April is recognized as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month and your Crime Stoppers of Houston joined community-wide efforts to raise awareness about this serious issue:
– Press Conference: Held on April 1st in partnership with The Children’s Assessment Center (CAC), the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, the Harris County Attorney’s Office and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. We announced the 12 most wanted child abuse fugitives in Harris Countyand encouraged Houstonians to actively engage in keeping our children safe from abuse and neglect.
– Fugitive Sweep: Facilitated with the Harris County Sheriffs’ Office Warrants Division: 25 felony warrants and 1 misdemeanor warrant arrested, 30 felony warrants, 5 misdemeanor warrants and 1 class C warrant cleared as well as 2 arrests on new felony warrants and 2 arrests on new misdemeanor warrants charged.
– 104.1 KRBE “Around H-Town” Interview about Child Abuse Prevention. (Click on photo to listen to interview) Thank you Freddy Cruz for your support of our mission!
– A Crime Stoppers tip solved the hit-and-run case involving a 3-year-old boy: The suspect was arrested and faces a felony charge of failure to stop and render aid after he struck the boy with his car and then fled the scene. After being hospitalized, the little boy is now recovering at home.
– Safe Community Seminar on Child Abuse: a panel of experts including Dr. Lawrence Thompson, Director of Therapy and Psychological Services at The CAC and The Harris County District Attorney’s Office Connie Spence, Assistant District Attorney, Chief of Child Abuse Division discussed: important prevention information, ways to report child abuse, prosecution of crimes against children cases and our impact as a community.
In addition to those highlights, April turned out to be another very busy month…
– we provided information about the various forms of child abuse and neglect and important prevention tips on our website and social media.
– Crime Stoppers’ ED Rania Mankarious also addressed Daycare and Youth Camp Safety in her weekly blog on The Buzz Magazines.
– Held our 2nd annual Mothers Against Crime “Prep for Prom” event on April 3rd at Tootsies where we met with moms and daughters to shop and learn. A group of women panelists including Harris County Assistant District Attorney Beth Exley, Miss Houston 2015 Thamer Kay Favor and Crime Stoppers Safe School Manager Michelle Sacks shared prom safety tips and true stories pointing to the importance of erring on the safe side while having an unforgettable night.
– Furthermore, Crime Stoppers’ Executive Director Rania Mankarious commented on the murder of Haruka Weiser at the University of Texas in Austin in her Sunday blog on The Buzz Magazines and shared important college safety tips.
– We also discussed cyber-bullying on KTSU’s A Closer Look responding to a Pew Research Center study that found that 26% of 18-24 year-old-women say they’ve been stalked online, while 25% say they were the target of repeated sexual harassment online.
– Beyond that, Crime Stoppers’ ED Rania Mankarious participated in Houston Business Journal’s Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, an event held around the country to connect aspiring professionals with strong, female, local leaders.
– She also talked about Houston’s crime situation on KTRH Newsradio (read article “Crime Down, Murders up in Houston” here) and shared public safety and crucial animal cruelty prevention information on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston (click on the picture on the right to listen to the interview).
– To further support Houston’s Anti-Animal Cruelty efforts we partnered with the Houston Humane Society, Harris County Constable Office – Precinct 5, and the Texas Humane Legislative Network for an “Animal Cruelty Information Class” which covered several topics including: what is animal cruelty, how to report animal cruelty, the investigation process, the court process, disposition process and partnership information.
– Honoring local crime victim organizations, law enforcement and criminal justice professionals acknowledging their commitment and dedication in working with victims’ rights, we joined Mayor of Houston Sylvester Turner and other agencies for a special National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Proclamation Ceremony.
– We also attended the Houston Apartment Association Apartment Safety Meeting at the Baker Ripley Neighborhood Center together with Crime Stoppers supporters State Representative Gene Wu, Council Member Mike Laster, District J and Houston City Council Member Mike Knox, At-Large 1 to discuss crime prevention information.
– Thank you to Miles David Atelier for selecting us as his beneficiary of his Miles David shop-to-give-back Happy Hour; as well as Spindletop Charities, one of our Safe School Program sponsors, for their support through the Spindletop’s Annual International Oilmen’s Golf Tournament.
– And last but not least… a HUGE Congratulations to Crime Stoppers Board Member Chuck Beckman, H-E-B and Deputy Director Nichole Christoph for completing the inaugural ATF Houston Field Division Citizens’ Academy, an annual event for local community, religious and civic leaders, and organizations to interact and talk directly with ATF special agents and participate in hands-on activities related to ATF’s areas of investigative responsibilities.
For detailed numbers on our Tip Line please read below!
We want you to know that your ongoing support and engagementcontinues to be the driving force behind the impact Crime Stoppers of Houston makes each month. The work we do is for YOU, your kids, your families… our neighbors and is only made possible through your and our media/community partners’ strenuous commitment to our mission to keep Houston safe. THANK YOU!
During the month of March, the Crime Stoppers of Houston Tip Line:
- Received 655 tips
- 8 tips – Solved felony cases
- 48 tips – Executed felony warrants
- Arrested 42 suspects
- Solved/executed 56 cases
- Cleared 34 offense reports
- Paid 46 anonymous tipsters
Below is one of the cases solved by Crime Stoppers in March:
In the evening of March 12, 2016, the suspect entered a Raceway Store and Service Station and attempted to rob it at gunpoint. The clerk ran to the back of the store with the suspect pursuing him. Once in the back, the clerk along with another male employee tried to close a door to deny the suspect entry. The suspect while attempting to force his way inside the door, managed to fire his weapon, striking the other male at least twice. In response to the suspect’s gunfire, the other male fired his own gun at the suspect, striking him once in the groin area. The suspect then fled the store wounded. The male struck by the suspect’s gunfire was later pronounced dead.
On March 14, 2016, a tipster called Crime Stoppers and provided the name and address of the suspect. This information was forwarded to HPD Homicide Sergeants, who later produced a photo spread to the witness with positive results. Charges were filed the next day and a warrant was issued for the suspect’s arrest. On March 22, 2016, the suspect and four other males were stopped in traffic in Midland, TX. During the traffic stop, an alert officer noticed the nervous actions of the suspect who was seated in the back seat of the vehicle. A check revealed that the suspect was wanted for Capital Murder. The suspect was later transported back to Harris County.
During the month of March, Crime Stoppers of Houston:
- Solved 1 school – based case
- Held 42 Safe School presentations
- Trained 2,272 students
- Reached 310 teachers/law enforcement members
- Reached 105 parents
Posted by on 31 May 2016