The Pearland Police Officer’s Association in partnership with the Pearland Chamber of Commerce encourages everyone to attend and participate in this year’s City Council Candidate Forum on April 15 at 7pm at Berry Miller Junior High, located at 3301 Manvel Rd.
All of the City Council candidates have been invited and all questions for the candidates are submitted from the audience. If you have any questions about the Candidate Forum email John DeSpain at jdespain@pearlandpoa.org.
Capt. Chad Randall, Mayor Tom Reid and Officer De La Cruz
On Thursday (April 9), Officer Osiel De La Cruz was recognized as the Pearland Officer of the Year by the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast District (TLGCD) and the Exchange Club of Pearland at the 50th Annual Crime Prevention Luncheon.
The event took place at the City Centre at Quail Valley in Missouri City and included a luncheon and a presentation by Deven Schei of the Wounded Warrior Project.
TLGCD President Tony Ackerman stated it was an honor to recognize area law enforcement officers for their work in the community, service to the public and heroic actions.
Officer De La Cruz, a five- year veteran of the department and night shift patrol officer, was recognized for his continued daily hard work. This included making 53 DWI and drug related arrests last year, finding a shooting victim that led the arrest of five offenders and his apprehension of an aggravated robbery suspect while off-duty.
Captain Chad Randall of the Pearland Police Department said, “When I looked at the accomplishments of Officer De La Cruz this year, I could not help but think to myself, this was simply par for the course. This could have been last year or the year before. Officer De La Cruz consistently provides a high level of service to the citizens of Pearland.”
De La Cruz’s wife, parents and brother, as well as Pearland Mayor Tom Reid, City Manager Clay Pearson, Randall, Sergeant Ornaldo Ybarra and Awards Committee member Detective Eric Morton joined him at the presentation.
In addition to the recognition certificate, De La Cruz received a challenge coin and will be receiving a United States flag that has been flown over the U.S. Capitol.
The Wounded Warrior Project’s vision is, “To foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members in our nation’s history” and its purpose is, “To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members; to help injured service members aid and assist each other; and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members,” according to WoundedWarriorProject.org.
To learn more about TLGCD, visit TLGCD.org. For more information about the Exchange Club of Pearland, visit TheExchangeClubOfPearland.org.
By Stacey Glaesmann and Kristi Nix
Brazoria County Jail
Ryan Antonio Matthews, who was indicted by a Brazoria County Grand Jury on two counts of Capital Murder on July 24, 2014 for the alleged killing of Dawson High School student Arrijana Hill, will face justice this week.
The 17 year-old former Dawson football player allegedly stabbed and strangled Hill to death on March 21, 2014.
Jury selection begins Monday (Apr. 13) and the trial is expected to commence Tuesday (Apr. 14) at the Brazoria County Courthouse.
Matthews, who was 16-years-old at the time of the murder, was reportedly Hill’s boyfriend. Court records indicate Hill was found to be pregnant with twins, which DNA tests revealed Matthews to be the father.
Matthews has spent the time since the incident being held at the Brazoria County Jail on bonds totaling $1.5 million.
Matthews is facing up to 40 years in prison without parole since he was a juvenile at the time of the crime.
Arrijana Hill
ANGLETON — Jurors heard opening statements Tuesday morning in the Capital Murder trial of Ryan Matthews, 17, who stands accused of the slaying of Dawson High School student Arrijana Hill on March 21, 2013.
The trial is being held at the Brazoria County Courthouse, Judge Pat Sebesta presiding.
Matthews pled not guilty to two counts of stabbing and manual asphyxiation of Hill, resulting in her death as well as the death of her two unborn children.
Assistant Criminal District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk’s hour-long opening statement constructed a timeline from the defendant’s text messages with the decedent, as well as numerous others, that allowed for motive and opportunity for the defendant to commit the crime.
As Sistrunk explained how Hill’s younger brother came home first, noticed something was wrong, and called his parents, members of the nine male and four female jury started tearing up.
Sistrunk finished with his expectation that forensic witnesses and evidence would show that the defendant had committed the crime.
Defense attorney Tommy Stickler, Jr.’s brief opening statement claimed that the evidence would show tunnel vision on the part of investigators, that evidence existed that would exonerate Matthews and that no knife or other sharp object was recovered.
The jury, made up of three African Americans, two Hispanics and nine Caucasians, reacted with tears and body language that suggested disgust during the prosecution’s opening statement, but appeared more relaxed as the defense opened.
Hill’s parents, David and Opal Hill, remained in the courtroom during the proceedings.
A Pearland woman is facing charges of drug possession, assault and robbery after she and her boyfriend reportedly attacked her mother during an alleged robbery attempt.
The suspects, identified as Lindsey Allison Billot, 31, and her boyfriend, Robby Nicholas Gautney, 27, of Alvin, went to her mother’s house and allegedly tried to steal her purse and keys shortly after midnight Saturday (April 11) at a residence located in the 5000 block of Rockland according to Pearland Police reports.
When the victim resisted, the two suspects reportedly attacked her and hit her several times, which elevated the charges to robbery, police officials said.
Eventually, the victim was able to break free and ran to her car in an attempt to keep her daughter and Gautney from stealing it. The two suspects then tried to flee on foot but a witness was able to detain Billot until police officers arrived. Gautney was later arrested at the police station.
Both suspects were charged with robbery. Billot was also charged with assault causing bodily injury and misdemeanor drug-possession after approximately three dozen Alprazolam pills were allegedly found in her possession and seized as evidence.
The two suspects were taken to the Pearland Jail and later released. A Brazoria County Grand Jury is expected to consider the charges in the coming weeks.
Kristi Nix
A Pearland donut shop received an unwelcome visitor Friday morning when a car crashed through the front of the store. A driver accidentally pushed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and slammed into the glass windows and through the front door, crushing a row of tables.
The Pearland Fire Department and Brazoria County Deputies rushed to Best Donuts located at 9430 Broadway around 10 a.m., officials said.
Luckily no customers were inside the store at the time and no injuries were reported.
The car was towed from the scene and no charges have been filed in connection with the crash.
By Stacey Glaesmann
Fraley was apprehended while still in the downstairs lobby of the building.
In addition to discharging the extinguishers when no fire existed, Fraley is alleged to have ripped access card readers and a thermostat from the wall, turned over chairs and damaged a candy machine that belonged to the Pearland Police Officers Association.
The 2007 Yamaha scooter that had been driven by Fraley was towed from the scene.
Primary and secondary officers approach a possibly mentally ill subject in a CIT role-play.
The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requires that Peace Officers licensed in the state must complete a 40-hour course on Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) every 24-month training period.
CIT courses are designed to improve the way law enforcement and the community responds to people experiencing mental health crises.
Crisis intervention provides immediate, short-term help to individuals who are experiencing something that affects his or her emotional, mental, physical and/or behavioral functioning.
“Crisis” refers to any situation in which the individual perceives a sudden loss of his or her ability to cope. Mental illness, drug or alcohol use and trauma are examples of crisis causes.
Many times, when the Police Department is called, the situation is unclear until the officer arrives and assesses the situation. Mental health incidents do not include hostage or barricaded subject calls, which would be handled by the SWAT Unit.
CIT prepares the officers to establish rapport with the subject using active listening skills, de-escalation of the situation and providing the subject transportation to services (hospitals, doctors, behavioral health centers) if needed.
Lt. Patrick Savage supervises Pearland’s CIT course, with instruction by Officer Jeff Evans and Sgt. Brian Rusk. The weeklong course provides classroom instruction and ends with role-play scenarios in which the attending officers’ skills are put to several impromptu tests.
A team of two officers, one acting as a primary interface with the subject and the other as a secondary, are sent in to assess the situation. The scenarios range from a seriously suicidal person, who would be transported to a hospital to someone in a manic phase, who was not a danger to herself or others and would not be removed from the home.
Supervisors watch the role-plays and give feedback after the scenarios are complete. The officers receive comments on things such as introducing themselves, building rapport with the subject, using reflective statements and overall effectiveness in the situation.
Feedback is also given from the individuals who acted in the role-plays, as their feelings and thoughts while interacting with the officers offer valuable insight.
To learn more about training or the Crisis Intervention Team, visit PearlandPD.com.
Emergency services at Pearland Regional Airport were tested Friday (May 1) when a small plane veered off of the runway during takeoff, sustaining some damage.
The Cessna 180, owned by a husband and wife, ran off of the marked runway as the pilot taxied for takeoff. The plane was damaged, but the couple and all airport personnel were unharmed.
“Emergency response time was great,” said Cassidy Berenato with management company Texas Aviation Partners, located in San Marcos. “What happened was unfortunate, but it did test out our responses to a potential crisis.”
Pearland Police and Fire Services, as well as the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office and the Texas Dept. Of Public Safety (DPS), sent personnel out to the field, located at 17622 Airfield Lane near the Pearland/Friendswood city limits.
The cause of the accident is unknown and is pending an FAA investigation.
Updates will be posted as they become available.
To learn more about the Pearland Regional Airport, visit FlyPearland.com.
The Pearland Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (PCPAAA) presented eight new bicycles to Pearland Police Department’s Bike Patrol Unit Friday (May 1).
The gear cost the organization $16,000.
“This is why we exist,” said PCPAAA President Bill Pyeatt. “We get requests for things that the Department needs that are above and beyond the City budget. We are always pleased to be able to provide what they need when we can.”
The PCPAAA raises funds for items such as the bikes, as well as for things requested by other Units, with two major fundraisers every year. The next event is the Pear Run, which is scheduled for Saturday, May 9 at the Pearland Town Center Pavilion.
The Pear Run features a 10k run, a 5k run/walk and a 1k Fun Run for kids. Sponsors will have booths providing information and giveaways to runners and guests. There will also be a kids’ area with bounce houses and other fun activities.
Proceeds raised will go into the PCPAAA’s general fund for Department requests. So far this year, the organization has been able to donate the bikes, equipment for the Accident Investigation Unit and contributed funds to send the Honor Guard to Police Week events in Austin and Washington, D.C.
For more information, visit PCPAAA.com. To learn more about or register for the Pear Run, visit PearRun.com.
The mother of twins, who both died from a drowning incident that took place on February 17, has been arrested for two counts of Manslaughter.
Barbara Ramirez-Sifuentes, age 23, was arrested near the intersection of Scarsdale Blvd. and Sagepark Lane and transported to the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center Sunday (May 10). The suspect was released on $250,000 bond at around 11:30 a.m. Monday.
The original incident took place on February 17 in the 1400 block of Crystal Lake Circle East in Pearland. Life Flight transported both of the 15-month old children. One child was pronounced deceased at the hospital that day. The second child died on February 22 after being taken off of life support.
A Brazoria County Grand Jury handed down the indictments on Thursday (May 7).
The Prosperity Bank branch at 11451 Broadway in Pearland was robbed by a suspect brandishing a handgun on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at approximately 9:10 a.m. The suspect was described as a black male in his late 40s-50’s, approximately 5’10” and 200 – 220 lbs. He wore a black cap, black sunglasses, black jacket, black shirt, black pants, and white athletic shoes. He displayed a black pistol during the robbery. Several photographs of the suspect are below. He was believed to have fled in a vehicle parked nearby, but at this time the vehicle description is not known.
Anyone with information regarding the crime can contact Detective C. Turner at 281.997.4204 or cturner@pearlandtx.gov. Anonymous tips can also be provided to Brazoria County Crimestoppers at 800.460.2222 or via their website at brazoriacountycrimestoppers.com. Crimestoppers will provide a cash reward for information leading to an indictment or arrest.
Pearland CPA Class 40
The Pearland Citizens Police Academy (CPA) graduated their 40th class on Thursday May 7, commemorating 20 years since its inception in 1995.
In honor of this anniversary, two extra weeks were added onto the usual 12-week program. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) and the Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) presented during the extra two weeks.
Class 40 consisted of approximately 35 citizens, who dedicated every Thursday evening for 14 weeks to learn about what goes on behind the scenes at the Pearland Police Department, including Crime Prevention, SWAT, Active Shooter Events, Crime Scene Investigations and the Motorcycle and Truck Enforcement Units.
“I’ve lived here for a long time, but I never really knew about all of the things that Pearland PD does for our community!” said Class 40 graduate Sheila McCoy.
Each class member was asked to say a few words to the family, friends, instructors, CPA Alumni members and officers that were in attendance at graduation. Each graduate expressed thanks and feelings of accomplishment and useful knowledge.
“These classes are so important for our community,” said Mayor Tom Reid, who handed out graduation certificates along with Chief J.C. Doyle. “The police and our citizens here draw the line between order and chaos,” said Reid.
Class 41 will begin on Thursday August 6, 2015. To sign up, visit PCPAAA.com or contact Community Services Officer Daniel Hamminga at 281-997-4171 or dhamminga@pearlandtx.gov.
