Downtown Dallas Driver’s License Office Disappears

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The only driver's license office in Downtown Dallas has closed, potentially adding to long lines at other license offices. This comes after DPS told NBC 5 Investigates there were no plans to close any DFW offices.

There is more frustration for North Texans trying to renew their driver's licenses.  The busy Department of Public Safety license office inside Dallas City Hall has shut down. Only an empty counter and some old computer wires remain after the DPS quietly moved out in mid-December.

Just last summer the top DPS official in charge of the Texas license offices told NBC 5 Investigates there were no plans to close any locations in the DFW area, as the DPS tries to reduce long lines and wait times that can last three hours or more especially during the busy summer months.

"We're not closing any offices.  We are opening brand new.  We are expanding our capacity to be able to serve that demand," said Rebecca Davio, director of the DPS License Division in an interview in July, 2012.

Davio was describing a multi-million-dollar DPS plan to open two new Dallas-Ft. Worth license Megacenters, one in Garland and one in Fort Worth.  The agency said the two giant facilities would only add to the current locations in an effort to cut wait times at all of the exiting offices.

So what changed?  Why would DPS close a busy license office when it's already struggling to keep up with demand?

DPS tells us it had no plans to leave Dallas City Hall.  Instead, the City of Dallas kicked them out.

"The decision was not a mutual one.  The city expressly asked DPS to leave the premises in October.  DPS had no plans to vacate the facility," said DPS spokesperson Tom Vinger.

City of Dallas spokesman Frank Librio responded saying, "We really never had adequate space for them to conduct their operations."  He described the office as "inadequate and overcrowded."

Because of new security measures in the works at City Hall, Librio said the city wanted to clear out the space. He points out DPS is free to lease another office anywhere in downtown Dallas. 

So far DPS has not done that.

But in an interview Thursday, DPS Director Steve McCraw said the agency will pull together money to open a new downtown Dallas location.

"Because of some of the savings we achieved in some other areas, we are going to prioritize a Dallas office in the downtown area and a Houston office in the downtown area because we've demonstrated the numbers need it", McCraw said.

DPS had plans to ask the legislature for millions of dollars to create new downtown offices in Dallas and Houston.  However, McCraw said the agency has decided to move ahead using existing funds instead.

Until DPS can find a new location, Downtown Dallas does not have a single driver's license office. 

The office at City Hall used to serve an average of 180 customers a day, or about 45,000 customers last year alone, according to DPS records.

When NBC 5 Investigates visited that office over the summer we found it was so crowded people were sitting on the floor, some waiting for hours. 

Since the City Hall location closed, a steady stream of customers continues to stop by during the day, surprised to find it's gone.

To get to the next closest DPS office they have to get on Interstate 35 and drive 10 miles south to Red Bird Lane, a trip that takes about 14 minutes each way if there's no traffic.

"It is an inconvenience, you know.  It's a waste of time and waste of bus fare," said Tobi Hicks who travelled to the City Hall office only to find it closed.

"You have to come down here waste gas and then go somewhere else I guess," said customer Emmanuel Dotson.

DPS hopes many customers will go to the new Garland Mega Center – which opened in December and is designed to handle 900 transactions every day above and beyond what the existing offices can handle. Now some of that new capacity will be taken up by thousands of customers who used to go to City Hall.

DPS is banking on the Mega Centers to reduce the long lines at all of the license offices. But the DFW population is growing fast and now the agency has lost an office in Dallas.  The Investigative Team will be watching over the spring and summer to see how well the Mega Centers really help improve wait times. 

The new Mega Center in Fort Worth on Brentwood Stair Road opened Feb. 1.

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Fake Energy Workers Tell Residents to Pay "Delinquent" Bills

NBC 5

Workers in the field will always carry identification, and people can ask for it if they are unsure if the worker is legitimate, Oncor says.

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Dallas police are warning residents about schemers posing as energy workers.

Investigators said people posing as energy workers are going door-to-door and ask residents to pay bills that they say are unpaid. The bogus workers tell residents that their power will be shut off if they don't pay.

But Oncor Electric Delivery says that workers who go to homes will never ask for payment on the spot.

Representatives in the field will always carry identification, and people can ask for it if they are unsure if the worker is legitimate, Oncor says.

Police and Oncor say the scheme can also happen over the phone. Dallas police say people should never give out personal information to anyone over the phone.

People should also verify the credentials of anyone who contacts them and claims they need to pay a delinquent bill, police say.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra contributed to this report.

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Pet Store Accused of Selling Puppies With Parvo

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Mansfield Chief of Police Gary L. Fowler is opening an investigation into a local pet store after the NBC 5 Investigates Consumer Unit was alerted to claims by several families that they purchased puppies that were sick with parvovirus.

Three families who all said they bought their puppies at PetOrama in Mansfield told NBC 5 that their animals were diagnosed with parvovirus, a very contagious, aggressive virus that attacks a dog's intestinal track.

According to the families, two of the puppies had to be euthanized while one survived after an aggressive veterinary treatment that cost them more than $1,000.

While Fowler, who oversees animal control for the city, originally told NBC 5 he had no records of complaints against the store, he said he now plans to open an investigation.

In an unrelated move, PetOrama said it will stop adopting out puppies, but is holding one last adoption event this weekend to sell the remaining dogs at the store.

Families Claim Store Sold Them Sick Puppies

"Truly, I never thought that when you go into a pet store like that you would purchase a sick dog," said Penny Rivera, a Mansfield resident.

Rivera bought a shepherd-mix puppy named Leo as a Christmas present for 13-year-old Andrew Caraveo and his 21-year-old sister Jenny who had lost their beloved dog only a few months before.

"I picked Leo because he just looked really cute," said Jenny, who said she knew her brother would be delighted by the holiday surprise.

And he was.  Andrew immediately fell in love with the dog and made little Leo a doghouse out of a cardboard box.  He doted on him like any 13-year-old with a new puppy would.

But a few days later, Leo was vomiting, had diarrhea and was lethargic.

"He looked very sick," Andrew said.

A trip to the vet revealed Leo had a severe case of parvo.  Andrew and Jenny then made the gut-wrenching decision to put Leo to sleep.

"I knew how he looked and how tired he was, he wasn't going to make it," Andrew said.

 "We just said, 'Goodbye.' I mean, it was just really hard.  There was nothing we could really say to him," said Jenny, as tears streamed down her face.

Joanna McCoy and Phillip Kriesman know that pain. The couple bought a long-haired dachshund named Hudson at the same Mansfield PetOrama and it was love at first sight. 

"As soon as I picked him up I knew he was my dog," said McCoy. "I loved him. I was so happy."

They paraded Hudson to McCoy's mother's house and showed him off to other relatives. But that evening they rushed Hudson, who was throwing up, to an emergency veterinary hospital.  The veterinarian told the couple that little Hudson had parvo.

They too made the decision to put Hudson to sleep.

"I just couldn't feel myself afterwards. It was just so weird and upsetting," Kreisman said.

PetOrama to Stop Puppy Adoptions Due to Complaints

NBC 5 called PetOrama and spoke to Rochelle Browning, the daughter of the owner who said she manages the store for her father.

 She insisted she takes good care of the puppies and that her dogs are checked by a veterinarian.

"My veterinary bills are outrageous," Browning said. 

Browning admitted that Hudson, who died shortly after leaving her store, had parvo when she sold him. PetOrama's owner did refund McCoy and Kreisman for Hudson and she paid their vet bill, but they said it's little consolation.

"It's a heartache that no one should have to go through," said McCoy, who thinks about Hudson every day.

As for the other dogs, she believed they may have gotten sick after they left her store. Browning said her staff sanitizes cages daily but does not dispute the fact that parvo has up to a two-week incubation period.

The families said Leo and Hudson were visibly sick within days of being purchased.

Browning then became emotional, telling NBC 5 she's under extreme stress because so many puppies have gotten sick with parvo and customers have been very upset.

"I've never seen this before in my life.  Emotionally, I'm spent," Browning said. "I can't listen to people cry over the phone anymore."

On the company's Facebook page she told customers that PetOrama has decided to "stop adopting out puppies." But there will be one last adoption event this weekend to sell the remaining dogs.

"It's hard when you love pets like we do and have taken all the measures possible trying to prevent illness, but then get treated badly by customers when they do get ill," she wrote.

Parvo is extremely contagious because a dog can shed the virus before it ever shows signs of the illness.

"It's really hard to kill the virus. It's resistant to common disinfectants," said Dr. Nancy Turner, the Dallas District Director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association.  "It's resistant to heat. It's resistant to sunlight. So, really, it's a tough bug essentially."

Turner, who practices at Bent Tree Animal Hospital in Dallas, said that by the time one puppy shows the signs there is a good chance other dogs could be infected.

State Offers No Legal Remedy for Purchase of Sick Dogs

Unlike some other states, Texas does not have a Lemon Law for dogs.

"There's no regulation of pet stores of any shape, form or fashion at the state level," said Skip Trimble, a Texas Humane Legislation Network board member.

Trimble's organization advocates for state animal welfare legislation. While there are rules and regulations for larger breeders at the state level, as of now, individual cities and towns may or may not have ordinances that can help pet owners.

"You're just totally at risk and virtually there is no warranty on these dogs," Trimble said.

The City of Mansfield does have an ordinance that gives animal control the authority to inspect pet stores.  It also mandates that anyone with care and control of an animal "maintain the animal in good health."

Fowler said that if a pet store fails to maintain the health of their animals they can impose a fine.

Fowler originally insisted he had no record of any complaints against PetOrama.  But McCoy said she called animal control and spoke with an officer several weeks ago.

"He said that unfortunately it's not in their jurisdiction and there's nothing that they could do for me,"  McCoy said.

However, after speaking with NBC 5, Fowler said he is now opening an investigation.

Rivera said Browning did not give her a refund for Leo or help with the vet bills.

Craig Haemker said he also received no help from the store after a puppy he purchased, Sophie, was diagnosed with parvo and required a $1,000 aggressive medical treatment to be rid of the virus.

Today, Sophie is a happy, healthy dog, but Jenny and Andrew are still reeling from losing Leo.

"That dog just meant the world to us," said Jenny.

They want to make sure other families don't suffer like they have.  That, they said, is Leo's legacy.

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Friend of Slain Asst. DA Speaks Out

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Mark Hasse, the Kaufman County prosecutor gunned down Thursday, was a hard-working lawyer who "loved to tell stories" and often put dangerous criminals behind bars, a longtime friend says.

Kaufman defense attorney Eric Smenner said he first met Hasse when the two worked in Dallas in the 1990's.

He said Hasse as a pilot who loved to fly and that he had survived a plane crash in the mid-1990s.

"He had some pretty serious head injuries. It took him a while to get back. He had noticeable mark on his head, some scarring from the accident. He recovered from it," said Smenner.

Smenner added that while it was too soon to say what may have led to the shooting, Hasse had dealt with cases involving methamphetamine in the county, gangs and white supremacist groups.

"Any prosecutor will make enemies. When you stand up at trial and point your finger at them, sometimes they take that personally," Smenner said.

Smenner said Hasse was not married and rarely talked about his family, but "was a story teller.  He would talk to you for hours."

Former colleagues of Hasse's say the news of his death spread through the Frank Crowley Courts Building and is sending "shockwaves" through the legal community in Dallas.

Hasse worked for the Dallas County DA's office from 1982 to 1988, having earned his law degree from SMU in 1981 according to the State Bar of Texas' website.

Former Dallas County assistant district attorney Toby Shook said that Hasse was a felony prosecutor when he joined the DA's office.

"When I was a young prosecutor we use to watch because he was that talented," Shook said. "You'd learn a lot from him, he would talk about his cases, didn't mind sharing information and that kind of deal. Very friendly guy, talkative with everyone that kind of thing."

Shook says Hasse was one of the most talented prosecutors and targeted major drug dealers. Shook says he put "a lot of folks in prison" and was at one point the head of the DA's office Organized Crime Division.

Shook echoed Smenner's thoughts that prosecutors often deal with unpleasant individuals who may wish to do them harm.

"It's always in the back of your mind that something like that could happen because you're dealing with prosecuting very violent people who know violent people," Shook said. "And sometimes you hear of threats but it rarely, rarely happens."

Former Kaufman County District Attorney Rick Harrison, who is now a criminal defense attorney, said it was stressful and shocking news when he emerged from a murder trial at lunch.

"He was a, you know, very experienced prosecutor," Harrison said, "and enjoyed being a prosecutor, you know, enjoyed the job."

Shook says prosecuting was Hasse's life.

"Mark Hasse loved prosecuting more than anything," Shook said. "It was a job that he loved getting up in the morning and going to, he truly loved it you can tell that when talking to him. It was his life and he died doing it."

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Cowboys' Ratliff Charged in Intoxicated-Driving Case

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Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Jay Ratliff has been charged with a Class A misdemeanor in connection with an intoxicated-driving arrest in Grapevine earlier this month.

Ratliff was arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving after a collision with an 18-wheeler along state Highway 114 on Jan. 22.

Police were alerted to the crash by 911 calls shortly after the crash. The responding officers learned that Ratliff, who was driving a pickup truck, turned into the big rig before crashing into a barrier wall.

Grapevine police said lab results indicated that Ratliff had a blood-alcohol level of .16 at the time of his arrest.

After the crash, Ratliff failed a field sobriety test and then became verbally abusive as he refused to take a breath test. Officers obtained a warrant and forced him to submit to giving a blood sample.

Ratliff's arrest came less than a month after fellow defensive lineman Josh Brent was indicted on one count of intoxication manslaughter for his role in a one-car crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown Jr.

Ratliff will next appear in court Feb. 26.

If convicted, he faces up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $4,000.

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Kaufman Co. Asst. DA Gunned Down Near Courthouse

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Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was gunned down Thursday morning in what appears to be a targeted attack, police say.

Hasse was shot multiple times while walking from the parking lot toward the county courthouse at about 8 a.m., officials said. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he later died.

When asked if Hasse appeared to have been targeted by his attacker, Kaufman County Sheriff David Byrnes said: "I would say from all appearances it is, but we have no concrete information on that. We're pursuing every avenue right now."

Kaufman County Criminal District Attorney Mike McLelland said the county suffered a "devastating loss."

Investigators Search for Assistant D.A.'s Killer

Investigators are searching for two suspects believed to have shot Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse. Authorities believe they fled in a brown or silver older model Ford Taurus.

Shooting of Mark Hasse Shakes Community

The shooting of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse shocked the quiet community of Kaufman.

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"We lost a really, really good man. He was an excellent friend and a spectacular prosecutor," he said. "He will not be easily replaced. He will be sorely missed by everybody in the office. I hope that the people that did this are watching, because we are very confident that we are going to find you, pull you out of whatever hole you're in, bring you back and let the people of Kaufman County prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."

Chris Aulbaugh, the Kaufman chief of police, said no official arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Police are following up on several leads, including multiple witness reports from various angles around the crime scene, he said.

Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, the Texas Rangers and state troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety are at the scene assisting local and county law enforcement with the investigation.

Police said witnesses have reported two shooters wearing all black, one or both of them possibly wearing a tactical-type vest, and driving an older, silver Ford Taurus. Aulbaugh said they have not yet confirmed that there were two people involved in the shooting and if the shooter(s) were wearing a tactical jacket as described.

Police taped off the parking lot near the Tax Assessor/Collectors office, which is near the courthouse and is commonly used by judges and prosecutors. Officers later expanded the taped-off area to include two city blocks. Several streets around the courthouse and parking lot are closed as the shooting is investigated.

Investigators said they were not aware of any threats made toward Hasse and that they didn't know of any cases that might explain the shooting, but that Hasse was aware of the dangers associated with his profession.

"Mark was fully aware of the dangers of this job. He accepted them readily and was, as I said before, an absolutely stellar prosecutor and good friend," said McLelland. "Tell the people that they have lost an outstanding man who will not be easily replaced."

Eric Smenner, a friend of Hasse's, told NBC 5's Scott Gordon that while it was too soon to say what may have led to the shooting, Hasse had dealt with cases involving methamphetamine in the county, gangs and white supremacist groups. He described Hasse as a hard-working lawyer who "loved to tell stories" and often put dangerous criminals behind bars.

Tonya Radcliffe, a board member on the Kaufman County Appraisal District whose office is adjacent to the scene of the shooting, said a staff member heard the gunshots and called police. Radcliffe said she and her staff of about 25 are in the building and under lockdown.

During the early stages of the investigation, a hospital, several schools and county buildings, including the Tax Assessor/Collector's office, were locked down as a precaution.  With Thursday being the last day for people to pay property taxes without a penalty, officials advised Kaufman County residents that they could still pay taxes using the county's pay by phone option or make payments in person at sub-courthouses and drop boxes.

A reward of at least $34,000 from Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and other sources is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gunman. The reward is expected to increase as other donations come in.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at 1-877-TIPS-KCC. As always, tipsters may remain anonymous.

We will continue to update this story with more information as soon as it's available. As this story is developing, elements may change.

Editor's Note: Greenville ISD was locked down because of a search for robbery suspects. The lockdown was not related to the Kaufman County shooting.

NBC 5's Randy McIlwain, Scott Gordon, Ken Kalthoff, Keaton Fox and Deborah Ferguson contributed to this report.

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Official Calls on Tarrant DA to Resign Over Sex Scandal

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Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Ron Wright on Tuesday called on District Attorney Joe Shannon to resign over a sexual harassment scandal.

"As a fellow Republican elected official, I take no joy in this," Wright said in a statement. "In fact, it pains me to do it, but I believe it is the right thing to do."

On Friday, the county released documents in a sexual harassment complaint brought by former assistant district attorney Sabrina Sabin. She claimed Shannon touched her inappropriately, constantly commented on her breasts and harassed her in other ways over a period of about four years.

Tarrant County commissioners agreed to settle the complaint in September for $375,000. Shannon said he did not agree to the payment and denied the allegations.

The county also paid legal fees and hired a human resources company to investigate the complaint, bringing the total cost of the settlement to more than $500,000.

"To suggest that this leaves the district attorney and his office in a bad light would be a gross understatement," Wright said. "The optics (how this is seen by the average voter) are terrible:  the top law enforcement official in the county embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal that costs county taxpayers a half million dollars. Politically, the optics could scarcely get much worse."

In a statement, Shannon said he has no intention of resigning.

"The Tarrant County District Attorney's office is widely regarded as the best in the state," he said.

The statement did not directly address the sexual harassment accusations. Shannon has said he signed a confidentiality agreement that does not allow him to comment on specifics.

Wright said he cannot judge whether the allegations are true but added the settlement, "leaves the matter in a perpetual state of he said/she said."

"Joe Shannon should step down as Tarrant County District Attorney, and he should do so immediately," Wright said.

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Bond Set for Teacher Charged in Fatal Hit-and-Run

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A judge on Wednesday set bond for the woman charged in the hit-and-run death of a 6-year-old Grand Prairie boy.

Tammy Lowe, 53, turned herself in to police on Tuesday in connection with the Jan. 24 hit-and-run crash that killed John Paul Raidy.

Her bond has been set at $100,000 for the felony manslaughter charge and an additional $100,000 for the charge of accident causing injury/death.

Lowe's attorney, Cameron Gray, said a judge ignored requests to reduce her $200,000 bond.

He said he met with his client two different times Wednesday. She will likely be transported from the Grand Prairie Jail to the Dallas County Jail by Friday at the latest.

Lowe's husband Gray had a meeting at Grand Prairie police headquarters on Wednesday. Gray would not say what the meeting was about, saying it was "just tying loose ends up."

Family to Honor Boy Killed in Hit-and-Run

The family of John Paul Raidy is planning to honor the life of their 6-year-old son, just days after he was killed in a hit-and-run crash.

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Police are not questioning Lowe's husband about the hit-and-run, Gray said.

He said his client is thinking about the crash.

"She's very sad about what happened," Gray said. "She feels a great deal of pain for the family of the child."

NBC 5 has obtained seven different calls made to 911 after the hit-and-run crash.

Heidy Cano, one of the callers, said she is still haunted by what she saw.

"It's like a video recorded in my mind, because it's hard to see that happen," she said.

Cano returned to the intersection Wednesday night for the first time since the crash.

"Right now, I'm standing here, and I can see it like it's happening again," she said.

Lowe, a teacher of 22 years who taught seventh-grade social studies at Adams Middle School, resigned before before surrendering to police on Tuesday.

Family members of Raidy said later that day that they never expected a teacher to be behind the wheel of the car that hit their son.

"You become a teacher because you want to spend your life teaching children, and to think that a teacher was so heartless to do this, it's unbearable," said Christina Raidy, the boy's great-aunt.

But Raidy's family said it was focusing on honoring his life, not on the woman charged in his death. His funeral was held Wednesday morning.

"It's about John; it isn't about her," said family friend Sean Martin.

NBC 5's Ellen Goldberg and Ray Villeda contributed to this report.

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Officer Arrested for Armed Sexual Battery: Miami Police

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Update in Teacher Sexual Battery Arrest Case

The teacher charged with sexually battering a young South Florida girl allegedly continued his inappropriate contact with her even after his arrest, the girl's mother told NBC 6 South Florida in an exclusive interview. The woman's attorney, Jeffrey Herman, also discusses the allegations.

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A Miami Police officer was arrested Wednesday on charges of armed sexual battery by a law enforcement officer and armed kidnapping, police said.

Luis Hernandez, 27, a seven-year member of the police department, was arrested by internal affairs detectives after DNA evidence backed up a woman's claims he kidnapped and sexually battered her in November 2011, police said.

"The findings were enough to have a Miami-Dade County judge sign an arrest warrant and charge Officer Luis Hernandez with sexual battery by a law enforcement officer, and armed kidnapping," Miami Police spokeswoman Officer Kenia Reyes said.

The charges stem from an early morning alleged attack by Hernandez on Nov. 26, 2011. That day, he was called in to relieve an officer going off-duty by transporting a 44-year-old woman to to the Miami-Dade County Jail. She had just been arrested after an earlier bar fight, police said.

Hernandez picked up the victim from a colleague at police headquarters just after one o'clock that morning. Soon after, she said, he drove her to a parking lot off the 2500 block of Northwest 2nd Avenue. She recalled that Hernandez told her, "I'm going to help you," police said.

Man "A Danger to the Women of the Community": Judge

The victim told police internal affairs investigators that Hernandez gave her some gauze and told her to clean up her face. With her shirt torn from the fight hours earlier, she recalled Hernandez poured a liquid onto a scratch on her breast. Then, she said, Hernandez lifted her shirt, and began fondling her.

Police documents note the victim told investigators that Hernandez, dressed in police uniform, removed his duty belt and exposed himself. According to the victim, the officer then told her to "get down," a demand, she believed, for oral sex.

The victim refused, and she claimed Hernandez began fondling her private parts. According to police, she said he then ordered her to turn around, and she begged him to stop.

Officer Arrested After Woman Accused Him of Having Sex With Her: Report

After the encounter, the victim said she was handed off to a detention officer, but because of her wounds, that officer asked Hernandez to come with him and the victim to jail. While being processed, the victim, who is a Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrant, felt comfortable sharing the story that would launch the investigation, police said.

Within months, DNA evidence linked Hernandez to the crime, they said.

Mayor Tomas Regalado told NBC 6 the investigation and arrest proves the city demands the best of its officers.

"To me, this is not a scandal, this is a clean up of the department," he said.

Hernandez is being held without bond, online Miami-Dade Corrections records said. It was not known if he has an attorney.

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Super Bowl Chicken Wings Could Cost You More

Kevin Cokely, NBC 5 News

With chicken companies producing fewer birds in 2012 because of the drought, football fans could end up paying more this Super Bowl.

Chicken Wings Pricier This Year

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Fewer chickens are coming home to roost this year.

The National Chicken Council (yes, there really is such a thing) reports that Americans will consume 1.23 billion chicken wings this Super Bowl weekend -- down about 1 percent, or 12.3 million, from last year.

Chicken companies produced fewer birds in 2012 because of the drought and the resulting higher corn and feed prices.

"The big thing is, feed costs went up this year, so when you get the higher temperatures combined with increased feed costs you're not going to have as many chickens produced," said Bill Katz, owner of Frankie's Sports Bar & Grill.

With three locations in Dallas, Fort Worth and Lewisville, Frankie's expects to sell 15,000 wings this weekend.

The sports bar is paying a bit more for them this year but not charging customers any more.

"Having a large supplier, consistent quality, consistent pricing -- it makes it easy for me," Katz said.

But fewer chicken wings to go around may make them harder to find in some places -- or, at the very least, more expensive.

"If you're a smaller store or dealing with a smaller supplier and you're trying to piecemeal stuff together, they're going to be last in the pecking order," Katz said. "You know, it's like the big dogs eating at the bowl. The big dogs are going to get their food, and the little dogs [are] going to get the leftovers."

Wing prices normally spike each year right before the Super Bowl, but the wholesale price has never been higher -- about $2.11 per pound, up 26 cents from last year.

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FW Officer Seriously Injured in Haltom City Shooting

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A Fort Worth police officer is in serious condition after a shooting in Haltom City Tuesday afternoon.

The call came in at about 5 p.m. that an officer was shot on the 1900 block of Carson Street in Haltom City.

Haltom City police say a narcotics investigation led to a shootout between an armed suspect and Fort Worth police officers. One Fort Worth police officer was shot, as was the suspect.

Cpl. Joe Hackfeld with the Haltom City Police Department said they were pursuing a vehicle involved in that narcotic investigation, but could not disclose the specifics of that investigation. Hackfeld says the man they were chasing ended up ditching his vehicle on Carson Street, just south of state Highway 121.

Haltom City officers set up a perimeter and searched neighboring businesses and homes.

A woman living behind the automotive shop, Lynsey Kendrick, told NBC 5 that her house was searched by police. Kendrick said she heard six shots from her porch.

Officer Sharron Neal, a spokesperson for the Fort Worth Police Department, says three Fort Worth police officers happened to be at 2nd Opinion Automotive talking with the owner, when they learned that a wanted man was behind the building.

Officer Neal says that as the officers went to confront the man, he opened fire on the officers. Neal says the officers returned fire. However, given the early nature of the investigation, it's unknown at this time how many of the officers returned fire and how many rounds were fired. It is also too early to know how many shots the man fired.

The officer was transported to Harris Methodist Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries.

"A Fort Worth police officer has been shot," said Cpl. Tracey Knight with the Fort Worth Police Department. "He is in serious condition. He is being treated here by the best doctors in the city. And so we ask for all of our citizens to keep our officer in their thoughts and prayers."

The identity of the injured officer has not been released. Fort Worth police did say the officer is a 21-year veteran with the department and is in serious condition.

Sources within the Fort Worth Police Department tell NBC 5 this officer was shot three times.

The injured suspect was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing.

NBC 5's Ben Russell and Chris Van Horne contributed to this report.
 

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Sources: Heroin Use Probed in Death of Pickens' Grandson

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Police are investigating the death of Thomas "Ty" Boone Pickens IV, the 21-year-old grandson of billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens, as a possible drug overdose, two sources familiar with the investigation told NBC 5.

At least one witness told investigators that Pickens, a student at Texas Christian University, took the prescription drug Xanax and later injected heroin in the hours before he died, the sources said.

Pickens was pronounced dead Tuesday morning at Baylor All Saints Medical Center, where a friend brought him after saying he wouldn't wake up. He already may have been dead for several hours, the sources added.

Pickens had been staying at off-campus condos located in the 1800 block of Rogers Road, Fort Worth police Cpl. Tracey Knight said. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will determine his cause of death, she added.

A young man who answered the door at the condo did not want to give his name, but said that he and his cousin -- also TCU students -- were with Pickens Monday night.

The man, who was visibly shaking, said Pickens told them he had taken Xanax earlier Monday and later used heroin inside their condo when the two had gone to the store and left Pickens alone.

When they returned from the store, Pickens appeared to be sleeping, he said.

Tuesday morning, when Pickens did not wake up, he and his cousin carried his body to a car, he said. His cousin drove Pickens to the hospital while he went to class, he said.

The man said police searched the condo for drugs later Tuesday morning, but he could not say what officers found.

Police had not yet decided late Tuesday whether or not to arrest anyone who may have been involved in the drug use.

Knight said homicide detectives were notified of the death but it wasn't known if they would lead the investigation.

News of the death and the possible drug connection was certain to spread fast across the TCU campus following a well-publicized drug raid just last year.

A spokesman for Pickens' grandfather issued a written statement.

"Ty's loss at such a young age is an unspeakable family tragedy for the entire Pickens family and his many friends.  We mourn his passing and respectfully request that the family be allowed to grieve in private in this time of sorrow," said Jay Rosser, spokesperson for T. Boone Pickens.

The university also emailed a statement.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of this member of our community and our hearts and thoughts are with Ty's family at this time," said Cavins Tull, TCU vice chancellor for student affairs. "Staff members are available if students need to speak with someone about this sad news."

TCU360.com reports Pickens was a junior majoring in strategic communication.

A spokeswoman for the Tarrant County Medical Examiner did not immediately return a call for comment.

NBC 5's Amanda Guerra and Meredith Land contributed to this report.

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Man Wanted in Connection to Radio Shack Robbery

Ben Russell, NBC 5 News

Police have issued an arrest warrant for David Lee Horton Jr. in the armed robbery of a Radio Shack in Plano.

Euless Man Wanted in Plano Armed Robbery

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Plano police issued a warrant Monday night for a Euless man wanted in connection to an armed robbery.

Police are looking for David Lee Horton Jr., 33, and have charged him with aggravated robbery for a robbery on Jan. 21 at a Radio Shack on the 3300 block of Dallas Parkway, just off of the Parker Road exit of the Dallas North Tollway.

Horton went into the store, displayed a handgun, forced the store's clerks into a back storeroom and retrained them up, police said.

Horton then proceeded to steal cash and electronics from the store before he fled, police said.

Police released a photograph of Horton along with an image of the vehicle authorities believe he may be driving. Police say Horton was last seen in a white, four-door vehicle, possibly a Honda Civic with a sunroof.

If you have any information on this case, you're asked to call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 877-373-8477. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.
 

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Proposal to Arm Teachers Discussed at Community Meeting

Kevin Cokely, NBC 5 News

A panel discussion in Arlington heard arguments for and against arming teachers.

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About two dozen people attended a panel discussion in Arlington on Monday night about the idea of arming teachers and other school staff members.

The civic group Arlington Alliance for Responsible Government sponsored the panel discussion.

"We have to do it," said David McElwee, a gun rights activist who spoke at the forum. "These are very dangerous times we live in. We're going to have an incident in Arlington, and those people in the school house are the last line of defense."

School board members turned down a proposal to allow teachers and others to carry guns in school last year, and the board president said they are not inclined to change their minds, even after the tragedy last month in Newtown, Conn.

"I think arming teachers is silly, and we don't need to inject more guns into a situation that doesn't need guns to start with," said Peter Baron, Arlington school district board president.

One parent who came to hear the discussion said he wants more trained police officers in the schools.

"My first option is to put more police officers in the school," Christian Kelly said. "As a parent of two elementary school students here in Arlington, the [schools] aren't armed."

Just last week, Arlington school board members voted to increase school security, including adding buzzer and lock systems to help screen those who enter.

"We absolutely are always looking to improve security, but ... arming teachers is not the answer," Baron said.

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Memorial Grows For Young Hit & Run Victim

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

Memorial growing for 6-year-old John Paul Raidy, who was hit by a car and killed in Grand Prairie. Neighbors are also remembering the victim.

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Hit and Run Driver Kills 6-Year-Old Boy

Grand Prairie police hope the public can help track down a dark hatchback car responsible for hitting and killing 6-year-old John Raidy Thursday night.

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John Paul Raidy's parents, neighbors and friends are still in shock after a hit and run driver killed the six-year old boy.

Ten-year olds Melanie and Vanessa will not have their best friend to play with anymore. 

"I can't imagine that we were playing with him and he just died. I can't believe a good friend died in the middle of a good day," they said.

The two girls rode scooters and joked around with Raidy.

At around 7:30 Thursday night, Raidy, his mother and one-year old sister, Lily were walking home, when police say a car ran the red light at North Carrier Parkway and Holiday Hills.

The car hit Raidy and carried him on the hood for nearly an entire block.

Next-door neighbor, Glenn Grubbs saw first responders take him to the hospital, where Raidy died.

"When I looked over they were picking him and putting him on the back board," Grubbs said. "When I saw his long blond hair, I knew it was John."

On Saturday, a memorial grew near the crash scene for Raidy, who would have turned 7-years old next month.

His mother, Lauren, made an emotional plea Friday to find the car's driver.

"He loved school, he loved all his friends and you took him from us," his mother said.

Using traffic cameras within the vicinity where the crash happened, police describe the car that hit

Raidy as a black or a very dark colored 4-door hatch-back.

If you do recognize the vehicle or know anything about the driver, please call police. 

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Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

Catherine Ross, NBC 5 News

A man who had to be extracted from his vehicle early Friday morning after driving into Bachman Lake says he believes his rescue was partly "divine intervention". Doctors say Jason McClellan suffered a seizure and lost control of his SUV.

Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

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Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

NBC 5's Catherine Ross talks with Jason McClellan about being pulled from his sinking SUV at Bachman Lake. His message for the strangers and 3 police officers who saved him.

Citizens and Officers Hailed as Heroes After Lake Rescue

Dallas Police officers and citizens were recognized after they helped rescue a man from his car as it went underwater in Bachman Lake Friday morning.

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The man pulled from his sinking SUV in Bachman Lake on Friday morning says he remembers nothing about the accident that landed him in Parkland Hospital's intensive care unit.

"I remember getting on Northwest Highway and ten minutes later, I'm waking up in an ambulance," said 31-year-old Jason McClellan of Dallas.

McClellan says he was on his way to work in Las Colinas just after 6:00 a.m. on Friday, when doctors believe he suffered a slight seizure and lost control of his vehicle.

Two joggers saw the car plunge into the water, and after trying to free McClellan, called 911.

Three Dallas police officers managed to free McClellan, who by then, was unconscious, by breaking his sunroof window.

"I think there was some kind of divine intervention that happened there," McClellan said.

"I have a new appreciation for strangers now."

McClellan says he has no memory of the accident itself, adding that he watched video of the rescue while being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

"I was just laying up there watching the news, trying to figure out if that was really me or not," he said.

While he's yet to meet the Dallas [olice officers and two citizens who helped in his rescue face-to-face, McClellan says the joggers did call to check up on him in the hospital.

While he says he appreciated the gesture, he added a heartfelt message of thanks to the Good Samaritans.

"Thanks for giving me my life," he said.

"Because without that, I'd be dead, I guess."

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Dog Hurt in Business Fire Comes Home

Mark Schnyder, NBC 5 News

Jake barked and wagged when we came to the door. Owners were thrilled to see that.

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Dog Fights for Life After Fire

The community is pulling together after Jake the dog was hurt in a fire at the Kwik Kar in Bedford Tuesday.

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That wagging tail is a sight Vernon and Mary Dede have been waiting for.

"Very pleased," said Vernon Dede shortly after we showed up at his house.  "It's a huge load off both of our minds (to have him home).  I think he's happier.  We're happier."

The four-year old lab, possible Great Dane mix, inhaled a lot of smoke in Tuesday's fire at the Kwik Kar Lube and Tune in Bedford which the Dedes own.  Despite life-saving efforts by firefighters, for a while there Vernon and Mary Dede weren't sure Jake was going to be able to hang on.

Jake looks great.  He wasn't burned, but he's still got a ways to go on his road to recovery.  He's on antibiotics, pain killers and has to go to the vet twice a day for breathing treatments but at least he's home.

"When he came home he went right back to his dog kennel which is his safe place and we fixed him dinner and he ate dinner right away which was a great sign," said Mary Dede. "And we gave him his medicine and he went back to bed and just having him there in the house just made everything kind of right again."

The Dedes weren't looking for a dog when Jake found the Dedes four years ago.  Just as they son was heading off to college, Jake the puppy showed up under Vernon's car at a lakehouse.  Vernon brought him home and Jake became a family member instantly. 

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Storm Spotters Converge in Fort Worth

Mark Schnyder, NBC 5 News

Even the best weather technology isn't enough. Meteorologists say they need eyes on the ground identifying what's happening where.

Storm Spotters Converge in Fort Worth

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Who can forget the video images from Chopper 5 of tractor trailers spinning hundreds of feet above the ground on April 3, 2012? 

No one in Fort Worth's South Hills High School Auditorium on Saturday could forget.  In fact, that's why many showed up.

"Texas is one of the states that has a bunch of storms so I think it's important for the public to know how to identify storms and communicate about them," said Clarice Dyson, a high school student in from Frisco who wants to be a storm spotter.

"We had people spotting the tornadoes [last April] as they were forming," said NBC 5 Chief Meteorologist David Finfrock.  "That's the thing about being in a metropolitan area like this.  We've got a lot more eyes on the storms and it helps to have trained eyes."

The hundreds of eyes in the auditorium will help tell the rest of the story of the storms, which even the most advanced radar may not pick up right away.  We talked to experienced Fort Worth storm spotter Dave Lloyd about that.

"There's a very important component in terms of looking underneath the clouds and being able to see things that aren't being seen on radar," says Lloyd.  "It's amazing they'll show you clips of radar that don't really look very nefarious but there's actually a tornado in there."

It's about recognizing clues in the atmosphere that suggest severe weather is on the way or already here and knowing the difference between what could bring a little thunder, lightning and rain or a potentially killer storm.

If you missed today's Storm Spotter class, click on this sentence for the schedule for future sessions.

Take NBC 5's million-watt First Alert Radar with you everywhere you go. The NBC 5 First Alert Radar app is available for download free for iPhone, iPad and Android. Search NBC 5 in the App Store or Google Play and download it and rate it today! CLICK HERE for more information.

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Memorial Grows For Young Hit & Run Victim

Andres Gutierrez, NBC 5 News

Memorial growing for 6-year-old John Paul Raidy, who was hit by a car and killed in Grand Prairie. Neighbors are also remembering the victim.

Memorial Grows For Young Hit &...

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Hit and Run Driver Kills 6-Year-Old Boy

Grand Prairie police hope the public can help track down a dark hatchback car responsible for hitting and killing 6-year-old John Raidy Thursday night.

More Photos and Videos

John Paul Raidy's parents, neighbors and friends are still in shock after a hit and run driver killed the six-year old boy.

Ten-year olds Melanie and Vanessa will not have their best friend to play with anymore. 

"I can't imagine that we were playing with him and he just died. I can't believe a good friend died in the middle of a good day," they said.

The two girls rode scooters and joked around with Raidy.

At around 7:30 Thursday night, Raidy, his mother and one-year old sister, Lily were walking home, when police say a car ran the red light at North Carrier Parkway and Holiday Hills.

The car hit Raidy and carried him on the hood for nearly an entire block.

Next-door neighbor, Glenn Grubbs saw first responders take him to the hospital, where Raidy died.

"When I looked over they were picking him and putting him on the back board," Grubbs said. "When I saw his long blond hair, I knew it was John."

On Saturday, a memorial grew near the crash scene for Raidy, who would have turned 7-years old next month.

His mother, Lauren, made an emotional plea Friday to find the car's driver.

"He loved school, he loved all his friends and you took him from us," his mother said.

Using traffic cameras within the vicinity where the crash happened, police describe the car that hit

Raidy as a black or a very dark colored 4-door hatch-back.

If you do recognize the vehicle or know anything about the driver, please call police. 

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16.26 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

Catherine Ross, NBC 5 News

A man who had to be extracted from his vehicle early Friday morning after driving into Bachman Lake says he believes his rescue was partly "divine intervention". Doctors say Jason McClellan suffered a seizure and lost control of his SUV.

Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

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Lake Rescue Survivor Gives Thanks

NBC 5's Catherine Ross talks with Jason McClellan about being pulled from his sinking SUV at Bachman Lake. His message for the strangers and 3 police officers who saved him.

Citizens and Officers Hailed as Heroes After Lake Rescue

Dallas Police officers and citizens were recognized after they helped rescue a man from his car as it went underwater in Bachman Lake Friday morning.

More Photos and Videos

The man pulled from his sinking SUV in Bachman Lake on Friday morning says he remembers nothing about the accident that landed him in Parkland Hospital's intensive care unit.

"I remember getting on Northwest Highway and ten minutes later, I'm waking up in an ambulance," said 31-year-old Jason McClellan of Dallas.

McClellan says he was on his way to work in Las Colinas just after 6:00 a.m. on Friday, when doctors believe he suffered a slight seizure and lost control of his vehicle.

Two joggers saw the car plunge into the water, and after trying to free McClellan, called 911.

Three Dallas police officers managed to free McClellan, who by then, was unconscious, by breaking his sunroof window.

"I think there was some kind of divine intervention that happened there," McClellan said.

"I have a new appreciation for strangers now."

McClellan says he has no memory of the accident itself, adding that he watched video of the rescue while being treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

"I was just laying up there watching the news, trying to figure out if that was really me or not," he said.

While he's yet to meet the Dallas [olice officers and two citizens who helped in his rescue face-to-face, McClellan says the joggers did call to check up on him in the hospital.

While he says he appreciated the gesture, he added a heartfelt message of thanks to the Good Samaritans.

"Thanks for giving me my life," he said.

"Because without that, I'd be dead, I guess."

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