Official site of Tribune News serving Tomball, Magnolia and Waller

The Harris County District Attorney's Office has dropped all charges against a 17-year-old Tomball student, following an incident Feb. 28, where police found a gun in the student's car.

Prosecutor's declined to file charges against 17-year-old Brett Ball, saying that the student broke no laws by having a gun in his truck on school grounds.

"The statute defines school property as excluding parking lots or parking structures," said DA spokesperson Sara Kinney.

Legislator's added the exclusion after concerns were expressed that someone who can legally carry a firearm could be arrested by merely going to pick up their child at school.

As the Tribune reported last week, police were tipped off the morning of Feb. 28 that Ball might have a weapon in his truck. When the school resource officer, Jennifer Torres, asked Ball if he had a gun, they said he admitted to it.

He was then arrested by Tomball Police and charges were filed. Only hours after the Tribune went to press, notification came that the charges were dropped.

It is not clear if Ball will still face disciplinary action from the school, as it is against school policy for student's to bring a weapon onto school grounds.

Tomball PD

• Feb. 25 Officer Tikal arrested a 39-year-old man from Tomball for Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Parole Warrant and a Montgomery County Felony Theft Warrant. His brother, a 22-year-old man  from Tomball, was arrested for Hindering Apprehension. 
• Feb. 26 Officer Manikas was dispatched to the 1200 block of West Main, for the theft of a back flow preventer valve valued at $1,500.
• Feb. 26 Officer Burns was dispatched to 122 N. Holderrieth, for the theft of an IPhone and case valued $650.
• Feb. 27 At 2:45 a.m.,Sgt. Welch discovered the front door glass shattered at a business in the 700 block of West Main. Another business window in the 1200 block of West Main was also discovered broken.
• Mar. 1 Officer Manikas was dispatched to the 1700 block of Hicks, where it was discovered that the gate chain was cut and a John Deere tractor, loader, rake, hay spear, box blade and trailer were stolen. Total value of stolen property was approximately $38,000.
• Mar. 2 At 8:15 p.m., Officer Ramsey responded to a disturbance in progress in the parking lot of the 27000 block of Tomball Parkway. Officer Hernandez arrested a 48-year-old female from Bellville for Assault - Offensive Contact.
• Mar. 2 Officer Ferguson was dispatched to the 27000 block of Tomball Parkway, for a theft of two phone chargers and a Bluetooth headset missing from a vehicle. The next day the victim called to say that a family member had removed them and they were not stolen.
• Mar. 2 Officer Finney responded to theft report at 920 Lawrence, where a 2008 Pontiac was reported stolen. The next day the victim realized she had parked her car in a different part of the parking lot and had forgotten where she parked it. 

Magnolia PD
• Mar. 1 Officer Diaz conducted a traffic stop in the 300 block of 6th Street. While conducting a field investigation, it was determined that a 56-year-old male driver from Magnolia was intoxicated. Further investigation revealed that the 43-year-old passenger had several outstanding warrants. The driver was taken into custody for Driving While Intoxicated and the passenger for the outstanding warrants. Both subjects were transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
• Mar. 2 At 1:40 a.m., Officer Salmassi and Officer Garza were dispatched to 523 Commerce St., in reference to a threat call. While conducting an investigation, a 38-year-old male from Magnolia was arrested for interference with public duties. The male subject was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he was booked without further incident.
• Mar. 2 Officer Tullis conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Magnolia Boulevard and Sanders Street, for expired motor vehicle inspection. Tullis learned that the driver of the vehicle had an outstanding warrant out of the Tomball Police Department. Tullis also determined that the back passenger was in possession of a controlled substance and the front passenger was intoxicated on methamphetamine. The driver of the vehicle was released to Tomball Police and the passengers were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
• Mar. 2 Officer Brown conducted a traffic stop in the 18600 block of FM 1488 for displaying expired registration. Brown learned that the 27-year-old male driver from Magnolia had an outstanding warrant out of Montgomery County. Brown also found the 50-year-old male passenger to be in possession of marijuana. Both subjects were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
• Mar. 3 At 4:50 a.m., Officer Garza was dispatched to a theft on Charlie Street. After arriving to the reported location, Garza met with the complainant and generated an offense report. This case was then forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division.
• Mar. 4 At 3 p.m., Sgt. Silliman was flagged down in the 41100 block of FM 1774, in reference to a criminal mischief. After identifying a 57-year-old male as a suspect, Sgt. Silliman generated an offense report to be referred to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office. The male subject was then released at the scene.
• Mar. 4 At 2:50 p.m., Sgt. Lopez was dispatched to the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488 in reference to a crash between a train and an 18-wheeler. After arriving at the reported location, Lopez conducted a crash investigation and found that no injuries were reported.
• Mar. 4 At 11:40 p.m., Officer Garza was dispatched to McDonald's restaurant, in reference to a theft. After arriving at the reported location, Garza spoke with the complainant and generated an offense report to be forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division.
• Mar. 5 Detective Clack was dispatched the 18800 block of FM 1488 in reference to a motor vehicle accident. After arriving tothe reported location, Clack conducted a crash investigation and found that no injuries were reported.
• Mar. 5 Officer Diaz conducted a traffic stop in the 18800 block of FM 1488. Diaz found that the 53-year-old male driver from Hockley had identified himself using a fictitious name. The male subject was taken into custody for failure
to identify as a fugitive
and transported to the Montgomery County Jail.
• Mar. 5 Detective Clack was dispatched to the 18900 block of FM 1488, in reference to a theft in progress. After arriving at the reported location and initiating a field investigation, the complainant refused to cooperate and requested that no charges be filed against the suspect. A report was generated for information use only.

Montgomery Co. Sheriff
Mar. 1 Deputy Allen stopped a car on SH 249 for driving 98 miles-per-hour in a 50 miles-per-hour zone. The 27-year-old male driver was arrested for reckless driving. During the arrest the deputy noted a smell of marijuana and found what was believed to be marijuana residue inside the suspect's mouth. The suspect was also charged with tampering with evidence.
• Mar. 1 Deputy Sharman was dispatched to the Spring Creek Estates subdivision for a disturbance.  Sharman found that two brothers were arguing and one assaulted the other. A 26-year-old was arrested for assault and the deputy found that the suspect also had an active warrant.
• Mar. 3 Sgt. Kader saw a vehicle parked at a closed gas station on Hardin Store Road that was occupied by two females. One of the females, a 19-year-old, was wanted out of Harris County.  The suspect was arrested and taken to jail.
• Mar. 3 Deputy Sharman was dispatched to the Hazy Hollow subdivision, in reference to a disturbance. Sharman found one of the persons involved in the disturbance sitting in a vehicle. The suspect was intoxicated, arrested and taken to jail.
• Mar. 4 Deputy Sharman stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver, a 35-year-old male, could not provide proof of insurance and his driver's license was invalid. The driver was arrested and a passenger was arrested that had five traffic warrants.

With area schools soon letting out for Spring Break, local law enforcement agencies plan to be out in force to catch drunk drivers.

"During Spring Break and going into St. Patrick's Day, there can be an increase in drunk driving, so we try to increase our presence on the roadways," said Lt. Dan Norris of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Along with the sheriff's office, state troopers, Magnolia Police and Tomball Police will all be stepping up enforcement over the next week.

"Too frequently people choose to drink and drive during Spring Break, which is an extremely dangerous decision that often leads to senseless tragedy," said Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven McCraw. "Getting impaired drivers off the roads during Spring Break is a major priority for the department, and we also urge the public to make responsible decisions, such as designating a non-drinking driver or finding alternative transportation if they are impaired."

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office plans to have additional deputies working overtime, as well as using their mobile alcohol testing van in various locations.

Magnolia Police Depar-tment (MPD) officials said they will be working in concert with both the sheriff's office and the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, to combat drunk drivers.

MPD executive officer J.K. Seangal said that his department will be holding extended no refusal weekends. If a person is pulled over and refuses to submit to a breathalyzer test, then a warrant will immediately be secured to draw that person's blood.

"These types of enforcements are very successful," Seangal said. "Montgomery County as a whole takes drunk driving very seriously. These efforts have actually deterred drinking and driving."

Meanwhile, Tomball police will be taking an overall traffic safety approach.

"We are going to conduct an enhanced traffic safety initiative," said Cpt. Rick Grassi. "That includes extra patrols to search for DWI (driving while intoxicated) offenders, seat belt violations and speeding."

Grassi said extra officers will be deployed to do saturation patrols around the city.

Norris said that drunk driving is a crime that occurs daily and crosses social and economic barriers.

"Education is so important to this effort," he said. "It's one of the laws that are so easy to follow if people just drink responsibly."

A large home near Stagecoach caught fire the morning of Feb. 25, causing problems for firefighters as high winds caused it to rapidly spread.

The house fire, just behind a convenience store on Stagecoach Road, gutted most of the home, as Magnolia firefighters battled it for several hours.

"No one was hurt or injured in the fire," said Magnolia Fire Chief Gary Vincent. "The size impacted the way we had to fight the fire. Fireground operations lasted several hours, including salvage and recovery of some of the homeowner's belongings."

Vincent said that the department called in several other departments to provide aid, once the fire escalated into a multiple alarm fire.

"High winds helped to drive the fire throughout much of the home and the attic had 2-by-6 beams, which made it difficult to access," he said.

Vincent said that while the fire was spreading rapidly throughout the home, they were able to save another building on the property, as well as keep the fire from spreading to nearby trees and pastures.

"There was one exposure building we were able to save," he said.

He also said that part of the home was able to be saved as well.

"I believe part of the home was able to be salvaged," he said. "We used protective covers to save numerous items of furniture from fire, smoke and water damage."

Several witnesses nearby said it looked as if the fire started in a vehicle in the driveway. That vehicle was completely burned in the home's driveway, as fire marshals began their investigation into the cause.

Vincent and Montgomery County Fire Marshal Jimmy Williams both said that the cause of the fire was still undetermined.

Williams said he expects the investigation to be wrapped up within the next week or so.

Every member of the Tomball Police department stood waiting outside their building Feb. 27, their badges glistening in the early morning sun.

They weren't preparing to respond to an emergency, rather they had gathered in preparation for the one time a year they could all be together – the annual inspection.

Inspecting them were the departments command staff of Chief Robert Hauck, Cpt. Rick Grassi, Cpt. Anthony Solomon and Cpt. Rickey Doerre, as well as other area law enforcement officials, business owners and community leaders.

"We do this for multiple reasons," Hauck said. First is the opportunity to show off the men and women of our department, the opportunity to allow us to get together with our public safety partners and members of the community and also the feeling of pride that all of us get being together as a whole, for this one time each year."

Hauck said that while the 47 sworn officers and 13 civilian employees were all together, the city received the help of the Harris County Pct. 4 and Montgomery County Pct. 5 Constable Offices, as well as the Harris County Sheriff's Office in patrolling the city.

"We are very grateful for our partners help, it's what allows us to do this inspection each year," he said.

Meanwhile several other officials, including other law enforcement members, talked to the officers, some jokingly trying to hire them away to work for their agencies.

"We have applications with us," Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said to laughter. "Seriously though, this community is very lucky that it has such fine men and women of the Tomball Police Department and to have Chief Hauck as well."

Montgomery County Sheriff Tommy Gage said he was grateful his agency has received help from the Tomball Police Department in the past.

"When you all come across that creek to help us, we are so appreciative," he said.

Montgomery County Pct. 5 Chief Deputy David Wood agreed.

"I also live in Tomball, so I have a good view to see what a good job you all do," he said.

Tomball Superintendent John Neubauer said the department's continued partnership with the school district has been a key for school safety.

"It has been a great partnership," he said. "The Tomball Police Department is great and I just want to thank you for all that you do."

Greater Tomball Chamber of Commerce President Bruce Hillegeist said that the key to the department's success is the character of the men and women within the organization.

"You all look handsome in those uniforms," Hillegeist said. "But under those uniforms are what's really important, you all have huge hearts and we are blessed to have you all here."