CRIME & SAFETY

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A woman claims to have stopped a stabbing taking place in the square in Tyler. Raynie Castaneda was leaving downtown when she says she saw two men fighting on the ground in the Tyler square. Castaneda says that she didn’t see any blood during the altercation...

Great Texas Balloon Race founder Bill Bussey doesn't usually take passengers in his racing balloon, but today he made an exception. Tyler animal rehab operator warns against taking in wildlife. Updated: 5 hours ago. The rescue group rehabilitates wildlife with their own funds and has taken in over 100 raccoons,...

TYLER – A Tyler man was sentenced to 18 years in state prison on Friday in relation to a 2022 crash that killed David Lewandowski of Hewitt, judicial records show. According to our news partner KETK Nicholas Ray Agustin, 20 of Tyler, pleaded guilty to intoxication manslaughter with a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and intoxication assault with a vehicle on Friday, according to judicial records.

Deputies charged Jason Keith Ashcraft, 50, of Tyler, with indecent exposure, possession controlled substance penalty grade 1/1-B between 1 gram and 4 grams, and burglary of vehicles. Ashcraft was in the Smith County Jail on May 21 and released Sunday on bonds totaling $6,500.

A woman claims to have stopped a stabbing taking place in the square in Tyler. Rehab expert Towana Graham said citizens trying to rehab animals or keep them as pets is a very bad idea, and in some cases be dangerous to other pets and family members.

LINDALE, Texas (KLTV) - The Lindale Police Department and Smith County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a high speed chase that ended with the suspect crashing out and fleeing on foot. According to the Lindale PD chief, officers attempted to conduct a routine traffic stop but the suspect refused...

A Tyler man has been indicted on a manslaughter charge after being accused of giving a 17-year-old illicit drugs that led to his death. Billy Bernard Maddox, Jr., 27, was booked into the Smith County Jail on May 26 the indictment in connection with the April 23, 2022 death of teen Preston Hawley.

TYLER, Texas — A power outage has caused traffic to be backed up at a busy Tyler intersection. According to CBS19 crews on scene, the traffic lights are out at the intersection of University Blvd. and Loop 323. Tyler police are directing traffic until power can be restored. CBS19...

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – A Tyler woman was arrested on Tuesday after being indicted on two charges of manslaughter. According to her indictments, Chasity Head, 33, is accused of “failing to yield the right of way at a stop sign” after ingesting marijuana on July 5, 2022. Documents said this caused the deaths of her […]

VAN ZANDT COUNTY — An East Texas deputy is sentenced to 44 months in prison for hitting a handcuffed suspect in the face. Former Van Zandt County Chief Deputy Craig Shelton received 3 years and 8 months sentence in a Tyler Federal Court Wednesday. Shelton said he accepted full responsibility for violating the victim’s civil rights in the November 2021 incident. In addition to his prison sentence, Shelton will also receive drug and alcohol counseling. Also Wednesday, former Van Zandt County Deputy Blake Snell was sentenced to 1 year of probation for obstruction of justice in the incident involving Shelton.

LINDALE, Texas — A three-vehicle crash closes northbound lanes on Highway 69 in Lindale Thursday night. According to Tyler Police spokesperson Andy Erbaugh, there is traffic on northbound lanes on HWY 69 due to a crash involving three-vehicles. One person was taken to a local hospital for non-threatening injuries,...

Scammers are the absolute worst. They have a plethora of ways to steal your money or your personal information. They will disguise it as a fancy giveaway, as we've seen with scammers using Texas Roadhouse, or even tugging at your heart strings thinking you're helping a young life with a life saving surgery. Its a scam that's going around the country called Sofia's Scam and it has made its way to Tyler, Texas as I witnessed this weekend on South Broadway.

Traffic was diverted Wednesday afternoon at Locust Street and North Broadway Avenue in Tyler after a two-vehicle crash. First responders and crews worked to clean up the crash, which was partially blocking the southbound lanes. Traffic was not heavily affected, but motorists were directed to turn onto Locust as crews...

SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KLTV) - The Smith County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a woman that may be suffering from a mental illness. Courtney Taylor Martin, 34, was reported missing by her family on May 24. She was last seen on May 18, near her residence in the area of County Road 42 and FM 724.

TYLER, Texas (KETK) – The district attorney’s office elected on Friday to seek the death penalty for one of three men charged with capital murder in the June 2021 death of a Tyler 17-year-old. Andres Urrutia, 21 of Tyler, and his two co-defendants were indicted for capital murder by terroristic threat in September 2021 after […]

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A man on a mini-bike was hit by a car while crossing Hwy 31 in Tyler on Tuesday. Tyler police responded to a call regarding a wreck on Hwy 31 at Eisenhower Drive on Tuesday afternoon. The crash involved a man on a mini-bike who was hit by a Honda CR-V while crossing the highway. The driver of the Honda had failed to yield right-of-way, police said.

TYLER, Texas (KLTV) - A Tyler woman accused of money laundering and drug dealing pleaded guilty on Tuesday. Leslie Venegas, 23, was suspected of selling large quantities of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, THC-infused items, LSD or “acid”, as well as guns and gun accessories. She was arrested along with her girlfriend, Shelby Dedmon, in Oct. 2022 following an investigation through Venegas’ Snapchat account. On Tuesday, Venegas pleaded guilty to her charges in Judge Debby Gunter’s court, and was sentenced to the state’s recommended 20 years confinement. She also received six months for violating her probation.

HAWKINS, Texas — On Tuesday, Hawkins community members began rallying behind soon-to-be junior River Hammond who was severely injured in a crash on Friday, June 26, the same night as Hawkins High School's graduation. "I've just heard an outpour of support and love for River," said HISD superintendent Susan...

MUSKOGEE, Okla. — A Texas man has pleaded guilty to arson, animal crushing in Indian Country, and assault in Indian Country, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. In a Superseding Indictment, the government alleges that on Sept. 3, 2022, 32-year-old Raymond Phillips,...

TYLER – A child was hit and injured by a vehicle driving on West Morris Street in Tyler around 6:46 p.m. on Sunday. Tyler Police Department confirmed that it appears as if the child step out into the road before being hit. They were then taken by EMS to be treated at a local hospital. Officials said that the child was awake and alert. According to our news partner KETK, the vehicle driver stayed on the scene after the child was hit and no criminal charges are being pursued at this time.