College Station Update on WTAW

A Bryan man goes to jail for the second time in 26 days for possessing child pornography. A spokeswoman in the district attorney’s office says both arrests are part of the same investigation. The latest arrest report from the Brazos County sheriff’s office charges 34 year old James Carbajal with possessing more than 100 digital photos and videos from a cell phone, with the report pointing out that does not include all the files that were found on the phone. The arrest report also says Carbajal described himself as a “monster” and he knew he should not have been looking at what he loaded on his phone and laptop. Carbajal, who went to jail the first time on February 28th, was released three days later after posting a $25,000 dollar bond. He returned to jail Tuesday (March 25) and as of March 27 is held on a $50,000 dollar bond. Bryan police report during the noon hour on Tuesday (March 25) that motorists on Briarcrest between Bryan High School and the freeway had to avoid colliding with a reckless driver. BPD arrest reports say the driver of a pickup was being pursued by a school resource officer who wanted to talk to the driver after seeing a T-H-C vape pen while the truck was parked at the high school. The truck eventually stopped in the parking lot of a hotel near the Bryan Target store. The driver was identified as a Bryan High student that the arrest report said sold T-H-C on campus. The driver, who did not have a job, was carrying $427. Officers found vape pens along the route of the pursuit and later in a search of the driver’s home. 17 year old Homero Balderas Jr. of Bryan was taken to jail on charges of selling the T-H-C vape pens, evidence tampering by throwing out vape pens during the pursuit, reckless driving, and not having a drivers license. Balderas was released after posting bonds totaling $22,000 dollars. Texas A&M police arrest a College Station man on warrants charging him with thefts in Brazos, Waller, Harris, and Brazoria counties. UPD arrest reports say the thefts include items taken from multiple tailgate parties during last September’s Aggie football game against Notre Dame. Two victims who reported seeing their property for sale on Facebook Marketplace led to identifying the suspect. When 24 year old Brandon Eckle was arrested on Tuesday (March 25), he was in possession of a social security card, a check, and two credit cards belonging to other people. He is also charged with two counts of criminal trespassing on the flagship campus. Jail records show as of March 27, Eckle remains held in lieu of bonds totaling $46,600 dollars and a hold on a warrant issued by a justice of the peace where he owes $636 dollars.

Bryan ISD school board members spent more than one hour at Monday night’s meeting (March 24) dealing with state tests and state finances. Those conversations continued the long running belief by board members and administrators who believe that state lawmakers have created a false narrative of public schools in order to give state money to private schools. Board members reviewing the local results of the latest state assessment, which remains tied in in a lawsuit, noting the same of the test has stayed the same but the composition has changed multiple times and it is not required by private schools. There was also a review of proposed state funding for private school vouchers, also known as educational savings accounts, and how that would mean more money for BISD if the same formula was provided to public school districts. Board members were told if state lawmakers don’t through with additional funding by June, it will impact every building in BISD. Click HERE to read and download presentation materials from the March 24, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Click below to hear comments from the March 24, 2025 Bryan ISD school board meeting. Listen to “Bryan ISD school board members and administrators continue their criticism of state lawmakers” on Spreaker.

The cities of Bryan and College Station, Texas A&M, and the Texas department of Transportation are involved in a joint project north of the Northgate district. Bryan city councilwoman Marca Ewers-Shurtleff brought up during this month’s Bryan council workshop meeting (March 18) about the prospect of turning a ditch along Enloe Street into a shared use path connecting Hensel Park to the main campus. The ditch serves as the boundary between Bryan and College Station. Shurtleff’s comments followed her attendance at this month’s meeting of the Brazos County intergovernmental council. Click below to hear comments from Marca Ewers-Shurtleff during the March 18, 2025 Bryan city council workshop meeting.