Police Blotter, November 2, 2025

Van Alstyne Police made the following arrests and investigated several motor vehicle crashes since October 24, as reported by Assistant Police Chief Steven Hayslip. Mary Jane Farmer, The Van Alstyne News reporter, edited these.

Arrests

October 24 — About 4:30 pm, police officer stopped a vehicle that they documented going 92 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. They learned there was an outstanding warrant for the driver, a Sherman man, and so placed him under arrest.

Grayson County Jail records show that the warrant charged the suspect with possession of drugs and that he paid his bail of $10,000 with a surety bond the next day for his release.

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October 26 — A reporting party called police about 1:15 am regarding a disturbance in the 600 block of Van Alstyne Parkway. The caller said he/she saw a man dragging a woman in the area. Upon polices’ arrival, they located the suspect, a Dallas man, and determined he assaulted a female family member. They jailed him on a   charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury. Bail was set at $10,000, but since then, there has been an Immigration & Custom Enforcement (ICE) hold put on the suspect and he remains incarcerated.

November 1 — A disturbance in the 400 block of Dartmouth also instigated a call too police. The officers located both people involved and found that the female, who resides in Van Alstyne, had broken the victim’s phone to keep him/her from calling the police.

Van Alstyne PD jailed the suspect on a charge of Interfering With Emergency Call.

A magistrate set her bail at $2,500, which she paid with a surety bond and was released the same day.

Wrecks

October 25 — Two vehicles in the 200 block of East Jefferson collided at the railroad tracks. The report said the car in front slowed down for the tracks, but the car in back didn’t and rammed the car in front. There were no injuries, Hayslip said.

October 25 — Another crash that day happened on U.S Highway 75’s north service road. There were no construction workers in the area. The first car’s driver “was traveling east on FM 121,” the report said. A second driver “traveling north on the service road disregarded an official traffic control device.” That struck the first one and rolled over into the embankment, landing on all four tires. That driver went by ambulance to a hospital with minor injuries.

October 28 — A two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Van Alstyne Parkway and Collin-McKinney Parkway has a regular traffic light. One vehicle was facing west in the left-turn lane

When it began a U-Turn there to go east on Van Alstyne Parkway, a vehicle going east on that road (also known as FM121),  and it’s right front side collided with the left side of the turning vehicle. There were no injuries.

October 29 — The driver of a vehicle going south on U.S. 75 fell asleep behind the wheel, Hayslip reported. Subsequently, he left his lane and consolidated with the guard rail. No injuries were reported.

October 30 — A vehicle moving north on U.S. 75 as another vehicle was merging onto the highway. That driver sideswiped the one already on the highway. No reported injuries.

October 31 — A vehicle was about half a mile south of County Road 375, moving southward, and in a construction zone with workers present. The driver struck the concrete barrier on the right side of the highway. There was damage to the vehicle and minor injuries reported, but the injured person declined medical treatment.

October 31 — A driver distracted by looking down to move a drinking cup sideswiped another vehicle on Waco. No injuries were reported.

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All information is provided here for The Van Alstyne News by Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip and edited by News editor Mary Jane Farmer.

October 20 — About 9:53 pm, police officers were sent to the 100 block of Henry Hynds Expressway (US Hwy 75 northbound service road), regarding a fight in progress. Those involved were gone when police arrived, but the officers soon found the vehicle described as the one that had been there.

They got the car stopped and immediately smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage. Police had the driver go through the Standard Field Sobriety Tests, then put him under arrest on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

They found that one passenger, had a firearm underneath him in the right front passenger seat. His record showed that he is a felon and thus jailed him on a charge of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon (Felon). A third passenger was intoxicated in a public place and was a danger to himself and/or others. He went to Grayson County Jail on a charge of Public Intoxication.

All three suspects were from Arkansas, according to GC Jail database.

October 17 — Just after 1 a.m., police made a traffic stop on northbound U.S Hwy. 75 near Exit 51. They stopped the vehicle after seeing it carried defective equipment, namely a defective headlight. The driver, a DeSoto, Texas, man emitted the odor of marijuana, giving police probable cause for a search. They uncovered 3.7 ounces of marijuana, prompting incarceration on a charge of Possession of Marijuana between 2-4 oz.

October 19 — It was another vehicle on U.S. 75 with a defective headlight that had police stopping it about 12:53 a.m. The driver, a Dallas man, provided false identifying information as the police questioned him, but the officers were able to identify him. He went to jail on a chage of Failure to Identify (Provide False Information).

October 20 — Just after 3 in the morning, Van Alstyne police made a traffic stop on southbound U.S. 75 at Exit 50. It was traveling at 119 miles-per-hour inn a 65-MPH zone, Hayslip said. When officers initiated their overhead lights and siren, the driver failed to yield and attempted to flee from the officers. But they finally got him stopped, and one of the first things they noticed was the smell of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

They made a probable-cause search and found a usable amount of the illegal drug. The driver, an Arlington man, was placed under arrest on charged of Possession of Marijuana less than 2 ounces and Fleeing Police.

Vehicle Crashes

October 13 — A two-vehicle crash happened about 10 a.m., The first vehicle was moving east on Gateway Lane, where the second vehicle was parked illegally. Hayslip said the vehicle was not parked in the direction of traffic flow. The first vehicle ran into the second. The driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

October 13 — On 10/13/2025 at approximately 1008 hours, Unit 2 was traveling north on State Highway 5 near CR 375. It came to a stop at that intersection, with attempts to turn west. Unit 1 was also moving north and failed to stop for the stopped vehicle in front of it. Unit 2’s driver and a child went by ambulance to a hospital, as did two other passengers who had non-life injuries, according to the report.

October 17 — At about 5:15 a.m., a car was moving west on County Road 375 with his right left tire blew out. This caused him to lose control of his vehicle. It drove off the roadway and struck an electric pole, knocking it over. There were no injuries.

October 19 — About 8:15 p.m., two vehicles were moving south on U.S. Hwy. 75. Around Hodgins Road, the first car was in the right lane and attempted to lane change into the left lane. However, that’s where the second vehicle was. Vehicle one struck vehicle two, then lost control and hit the center concrete barrier. Three occupants were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.   Police had the second vehicle towed, but the first was driveable.

Information provided by Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip and the Dallas Express online newspaper, which quotes information from a Carrollton, Texas, press release. Carollton PD did not respond to the Van Alstyne News request for press information.

Recently, a Carrollton murder suspect killed himself in a standoff with Van Alstyne police.

Jomaar Lee Davis was suspected of murdering his girlfriend, Briana Casto, on October 20. Then he killed himself on October 21 in Van Alstyne during a police standoff.

Carrollton police responded to a medical emergency near 4600 N. Josey Lane around 10:12 a.m. on October 20, according to the release. When they arrived, they found 24-year-old Casto dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

The investigation identified Davis as the main suspect and the detectives began their search for him. While the search was underway, Carrollton officials obtained an arrest warrant charging Davis with murder.

On October 21, the Celina Police Department shared information that placed Davis in or near Van Alstyne. “The suspect’s phone was actively pinging in the Van Alstyne area,” the release read.

The Collin County Sheriff’s Office notified Van Alstyne Police Department around 3:30 a.m. about Davis’ possible location, according to a release from the department.

Van Alstyne police responded and LaCore’s Nutraceuticals area of Van Alstyne, off FM 3133 at Industrial Parkway.

Other agencies also responded, including the Anna Police Department, Howe Police Department, Carrollton Police Department, Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and Collin County Sheriff’s Office. Together, they contained the situation ensuring the safety of the public, said Hayslip.

“Crisis negotiators established phone contact with the suspect; however, communication was later cut off by the suspect,” the release stated. Members of the Grayson County SWAT team subsequently approached the vehicle in an armored vehicle, at which point a gunshot was heard.

The suspect had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Van Alstyne EMS, which had been standing by during the situation, immediately rendered life-saving aid before he was flown by air ambulance to a nearby hospital for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Van Alstyne’s Partin Elementary School was near the scene, and school officials opened that school later in the day, as another precaution to public safety.

Van Alstyne police thanked all responders for their professionalism and teamwork.

“The coordinated response among local and regional law enforcement, fire, and EMS personnel helped bring a very dangerous situation to a resolution while keeping our community safe. We are grateful for the dedication and support from every agency that assisted,” Hayslip said.

By Mary Jane Farmer, for the Van Alstyne News.

Since September 29, Van Alstyne Police have made several arrests and investigated three car crashes. The department’s Public Information Officer,  reported on the following incidents.

Sept. 29 — At about 12:51 pm, officers were sent to the area of Greywood and Williams Way in response to a call about a disturbance. They located the people reportedly involved and made an initial investigation of the incident. As a result, they jailed one of the participants, a Van Alstyne resident on

On September 29, 2025, at approximately 2151 hours, officers were dispatched to the area of Greywood and Williams Way, in regard to a disturbance. Upon arrival in the area, officer located the subjects involved in the incident. After conducting an initial investigation, they jailed the suspect, a Van Alstyne resident, on charges of Assault Causing Bodily Injury, Family Violence and Attempted Sexual Assault. There, the suspect also had a warrant applied to him charging him with Driving from a Service Road onto a Highway where it wasn’t permitted.

A magistrate set his bail at a total of $17,500, which he paid with surety bonds which carried special conditions on the two VAPD charges and $190 cash fine on the driving offense. He paid those and was released on Sept. 30.

Oct. 1 — At 2:21 p.m., officers were again sent to a disturbance, this one in the area of South Dallas and Jefferson. Their investigation identified one suspect, a Van Alstyne resident , who

involved in the incident and jailed him in Grayson County Jail on a Charge of Assault Causing Bodily Injury (FV).

The Jail’s database does not bring this suspect’s information up.

Oct. 3 — At 11:40 p.m., police made a traffic stop in the 900 block of Van Alstyne Parkway after seeing the driver fail to keep his vehicle in a single lane.

They smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage coming from the driver, and had him go through the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Afterward, they jailed the suspect, a McKinney man, on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated with an Open Container.

Again, the GC Jail database doesn’t bring up this man’s incarceration information details.

Oct. 4 — At 4:30 in the afternoon, police were sent to a theft-in-progress call in the area of North Preston and Blassingame. The reporting party said a lawn mower had been stolen from in front of the residence.

Officers were able to locate the suspects, a man and a woman from Pottsboro and took both of them to jail, each on a charge of Theft of Proper ty valued Between $2,500-$30K. Both were given bail of $3,500, and both posted it for their releases the next day with surety bonds.

Wrecks

No date given — Two vehicles collided on southbound U.S. Highway near Jim Jones about 1.25 miles from Van Alstyne Parkway. One vehicle slowed for heavy traffic, behind it was a second vehicle. It swerved into the right-hand lane and, because there were other vehicles there, that driver moved back into the left lane. The driver side of her vehicle struck the passenger side of the second vehicles, causing damage to both vehicles. Hayslip said there were no injuries.

No date given — A single car had a back passenger-side tire blow out while going south on U.S. 75 at CR 375. That caused the vehicle to hit the center concrete barrier. Again, no one was injured.

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne Leader.

Van Alstyne Police Department made the following arrests during the last week of September 2025. The Department’s Public Information Officer, Lt. Steven Hayslip made the following reports.

Sept. 24 — At just after 10 p.m., patrol officers stopped a vehicle that was being driven on U.S. Hwy 75 with an obscure license plate. The driver, a Bentonville, Ark., man, acted unusually nervous, and an officer asked him if he had anything illegal inside his vehicle. The suspect told the officer that he had some marijuana with him, and police conducted a probable-cause search and uncovered the marijuana. They jailed the suspect on a charge of Possession of Marijuana weighing between 2-4 oz.

Sept. 26 — At almost 4 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop on U.S. Hwy 75 at Farmington Road, made because officers observed the traveling approximately 88 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. They made contact with the driver, who is identified as a Van Alstyne resident in the police report, but as being from Sherman in the Grayson County Jail database.

Those warrants were issued by Dallas County and so police placed him under arrest on Warrant Service

Both charged him with illegal drug offenses. Jail records show that he is still incarcerated without benefit of bail .

Sept. 27 — At about 12:16 a.m., police officers made a traffic stop on U.S. 75 at FM 121, after seeing the vehicle being driven at 85 mph in a 65-mph zone. They noticed the smell of an intoxicating beverage coming from the driver. Officers put the driver, a Garland man, through a series of Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, after which they jailed the suspect on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

Sept. 17 — At 9:06 a.m., police were sent to the area of Greywood and William Way in regard to an assault. Upon arrival, officers were able to locate two subjects. While conducting the initial investigation, officers were able to determine that the suspect, a Van Alstyne resident, had assaulted a family member by impeding her breath. It was further determined that he had taken the victim’s cell phone in an attempt the keep the victim from making an emergency phone call. It was also determined that was in possession of Cocaine.

Police jailed the suspect on charges of Assault on Family Member, Interfering with 911 Call, and Possession of Cocaine weighing between 1-4 g. Bail was set at a total of $33,000 and as of Wednesday, he remained incarcerated in lieu of bail.

National Night Out — Most of the Van Alstyne Police Department’s officers will be at the Central Social District Park just across Preston Ave. from the park. They will be celebrating National Night Out from 6-8 p.m., along with their First-Responder co-hearts, the V.A. Fire and EMS Department, all there to meet and greet Van Alstyne residents. They will be providing lots of games, bounce houses, and food for everyone there. And there’s absolutely no charge for any of this.