Sandy Farris of the Downtown Bryan Association visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver about September’s First Friday, the Texas Reds Festival, and other activities through the rest of 2015.
Downtown Bryan Update
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Property Crime Arrests By College Station And Bryan Police
College Station police get help from a crime victim to locate and arrest a man on charges of stealing packages placed outside of at least four homes between March 13th and April 9th. CSPD arrest reports quote 39 year old Jonathan Dorsey telling an officer he knew “what he was doing was wrong and felt silly for doing it because he had a job.” Detectives used video from homes to identify Dorsey through what he was wearing, his tattoos, and the car he was driving. Some of the stolen packages were found in his car. Dorsey also told officers he took other packages to Arlington where he would use a fence to sell those items. Dorsey, who was arrested April 10th for mail theft, evidence tampering, and possession of a controlled substance, was released April 15th after posting bonds totaling $27,000 dollars. Bryan police responding to someone trespassing at a local motel April 9th found a man in a room who refused to identify himself and refused to leave the property. The BPD arrest report says the officer confirmed the man was wanted on warrants for burglary of vehicles that took place on February 13th and a theft of under $100 dollars where jail records did not record a date. 52 year old Joe Almaraz of Bryan was arrested on those warrants along with possessing a THC vape pen and possessing six credit or debit cards belonging to other people. Almanza was released from jail April 10th after posting bonds totaling $14,000 dollars.
Newest Addition At The Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Will Be Dedicated May 21st
Two years in the making, the date has been set to dedicate the newest addition at the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial. The site commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be dedicated May 21st at Veterans Park in College Station. One of the spokespeople for the project, Sherry Frisk, told College Station city council members at their April 11th meeting that wet grounds has delayed setting the memorial’s granite monument. Earlier in the week, Brazos County judge Duane Peters read a proclamation that will also be presented at future city council meetings. Click HERE to read and download the proclamation that was read at the April 9, 2024 Brazos County commission meeting. The site also includes a memorial garden, a plaque, and a park bench. Click below to hear comments from Sherry Frisk and Duane Peters.
DPS Identifies A Customer Who Died After A Semi Crashed Into The Brenham Driver’s License Office
The Texas department of public safety (DPS) has released the identity of the person who died after a stolen semi crashed into the Brenham driver’s license office last Friday. 78 year old Bobby Huff, whose hometown was not released by DPS, was among 14 people and one of the undisclosed number of customers who were inside the building. Two others remain hospitalized in critical condition. DPS has not disclosed the number of employees and customers who were inside. The driver of the semi is in the Washington County jail in lieu of bonds totaling $2 million dollars. 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was booked on charges of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. A DPS spokesman says the Brenham Driver License Office will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. Alternative offices are Bryan, Hempstead, and Caldwell. Customers with scheduled appointments at the Brenham Office will be contacted by the DPS Driver License Division. Update, April 13, 2024: The Texas department of public safety (DPS) reports three of the five inside the Brenham driver’s license office who were taken to hospitals after a semi entered the building were treated and released. As of Saturday morning (April 13), DPS has not released the identify of the person who died or the number of the people inside the building who are customers and how many are employees. The driver of the stolen semi is jailed in lieu of bonds totaling $2 million dollars. Online records at the Washington County sheriff’s office say 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill was booked on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest causing serious bodily injury, and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Original story: One person was killed and 13 were injured after a man in a stolen semi drove into the Brenham driver’s license office building Friday morning (April 12). Texas department of public safety Sgt. Justin Ruiz says five people were taken to hospitals in Houston, Bryan, and Brenham. Eight others were treated at the scene. Ruiz said no one inside the building escaped injury, and investigators were determining how many of the 15 people were customers and how many were employees. The name of the person who died will be released after family members are notified. The man driving the stolen semi was identified as 42 year old Clenard Parker of Chappell Hill. He was removed from the semi and taken to the Washington County jail. Ruiz said a Washington County sheriff’s deputy spotted the stolen semi and started a pursuit that was joined by other law enforcement officers. The semi jumped the Highway 290 feeder road and entered the building through the door leading into the driver’s license waiting area. Ruiz said Parker on Thursday (April 11) had been denied a renewal of his commercial driver’s license. The reason was not disclosed. The Texas Rangers is the lead investigating agency. Click below to hear comments during the first news conference. Speakers are DPS regional director Gerald Brown, DPS Sgt. Justin Ruiz, state senator Lois Kolkhorst of Brenham, and Brenham mayor Atwood Kenjura. Listen to “First DPS news conference after the Brenham driver’s license office is struck by a stolen semi driven by a Chappell Hill man” on Spreaker.