By Mary Jane Farmer with info provided by Van Alstyne PD’s Public Information Officer.

Van Alstyne Police investigated and reported on the following traffic incidents and arrests made since August 16. Lt. Steven Hayslip made the following reports.

Aug. 17 — At. About 10:15 a.m. officers were sent to a 2-vehicle crash on East Jefferson and Moody. The report states that it was a minor accident with no injuries. It happened when one vehicle was turning off of Moody Lane and failed to yield the right of way at a stop sign. An eastbound vehicle struck as it moved eastward on Jefferson St. Neither vehicle was required to be towed.

Aug. 18 — A crash on northbound U.S. Highway 75 at Exit 52 happened about 12:15 p.m. Hayslip reported that three vehicles were traveling north in the left lane. Two of the drivers slowed their vehicles for traffic, but the 3^rd driver didn’t slow down. Vehicle No. 3 struck the vehicle in front of it and pushed it into Vehicle No. 1. Two of the vehicles had to be towed and one driver was treated at the scene. And paramedics treated one driver for apparent minor injuries, then released him.

Aug 18— About an hour later, at 1:14 pm, police investigated a crash on South Waco a t Marshall Drive. Again, this crash involved 3 vehicles going northward. Vehicles 1 and 2 slowed for traffic but the third one’s driver did not control it’s vehicle. It ran into Vehicle 2 and pushed it into Vehicle 3. Two of the 3 vehicles were drivable, the third required towing.  One of the drivers was treated at the scene and refused transport for additional treatment.

Aug. 19 — It was nearly 11 p.m. when police initiated a traffic stop on U.S. 75 at Sanford Circle. The stop was made when the officers observed the vehicle speeding in a construction zone. Upon contact with the driver, Pettersen, Brian of Wylie, officers observed his eyes to be red and glassy and noticed his movements to be sluggish. He admitted to consuming an intoxicating beverage. Officers had the driver go through Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, and after the tests were completed, they placed him under arrest on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

The suspect, a Wylie man, paid his bail of $2,500 with a surety bond and was released the next day.

Aug. 20— About 11:28 p.m., officers on duty stopped a vehicle on U.S. 75 at around Farmington Road, after seeing it being driven with defective equipment, or more namely-a non-working headlight. They smelled the distinctive odor of Marijuana on or around him. That was probable cause for a search, during which the officers found a usable of two ounces and also a firearm. They arrested and took the suspect, a San Antonio man, to Grayson County Jail on charges of Possession of Marijuana less than2 ounces, and Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon.

Bail was set at a total of 4,000 which he paid with surety bonds for his release.

Aug. 23 — It was about 12:20 a.m. when officers were dispatched to suspicious activity on U.S. 75. The reporting party/caller told dispatch that the passenger in the vehicle kept opening and closing the door while the vehicle was traveling. Upon arrival in the area, the officers located the vehicle. Upon making contact with the passenger, a Florida woman, they smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage. Their report said that her lip was red and swollen. She was uncooperative and told the officers that she injured her lip when she exited the vehicle earlier. While conducting their investigation, officers determined that she was intoxicated in a public place and was a danger to herself and/or others. She was placed under arrest on a charge of Public Intoxication.

A jail magistrate released the suspect later that day on her own recognizance.

Aug 24 — About 1 in the morning, police made a traffic stop on U.S.75 at the Farmington Road area. The reason was that they saw that the vehicle was being driven on a public roadway with an expired registration. They determined that the driver was a Colorado man, and then that there was current liability, as required by the Texas Traffic Code. Officers advised him that the vehicle would be impounded and allowed him to remove property from it. While he was removing items, officers observed a small clear bag with a white powdery substance fall from the sunglasses department. The suspect was placed under arrest on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1 (Cocaine) over 1 gram but less than 4 grams.

Aug. 27 — About 7:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to West Van Alstyne Parkway and Collin McKinney Parkway, in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they determined that a vehicle was traveling west on Van Alstyne Parkway, turned south at Collin McKinney causing a collision with another vehicle. Both vehicles suffered minor damage. There were no injuries and no one was transported to the hospital.

Aug. 27 — At nearly 8:30 p.m., police were sent to northbound U.S. 75 at Exit 52 in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they. determined that a vehicle was traveling North on US Highway 75, drifted into another lane causing a collision with another vehicle. Both vehicles suffered damage, with one being towed. There were no injuries and no one was transported to the hospital.

Aug. 27 — About 1:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to South Henry Hynds (U.S. 75 service road) at Bear Road, because of a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they learned that an 18-wheeler was on the shoulder of the road, dumping rock, and rolled over, causing major damage to the vehicle and trailer. No one was injured and no one was transported to the hospital.

By MaryJane Farmer with info provided by Van Alstyne Lt. Steven Hayslip, for the Van Alstyne News.

Van Alstyne Police made the following arrests and investigations since August 11 of this year. The department’s Public Information Officer, Lt. Steven Hayslip reported on these.

First, the Department asks the public’s help in identifying a hit-and-run driver on Sherman and Wayne streets/avenues. The victim was a teenage boy riding his bicycle. Hayslip said they have been notified about the situation, but has not received any more information, including no videos nor witnesses, since the mother’s report was made.

The mother posted on several Van Alstyne and Anna info Facebooks, asking for this help.

The teenage boy was taken to a hospital, which said he only suffered minor injuries, “just bruised and sore.”

One reply to the Facebook postings was from a woman who said that she was familiar with a “older black Dodge Ram that I see flying around town quite often.” The mother responded, saying her son “said it was either Dodge or Chevy.”

Anyone with information is urged to call Van Alstyne PD and the dispatcher will get the caller to the right officer. That number is 903-482-5251.

August 2 — About 11:30 a.m., officers initiated a traffic stop on northbound U.S. Highway 75 after they saw the vehicle being driven at 90 miles-per-hour in a posted 65-mph work zone.

The driver, a Dallas man, emitted the odor of marijuana. Dispatch advised the officers that there was an outstanding warrant for the driver’s arrest out of another agency. The suspect told the officers there was a firearm in the back seat, and then that he was a convicted felon. They placed the suspect under arrest on charges of Possession of Marijuana, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, Tampering with Physical Evidence with Intent to Impair the investigation; Unlawful Possession of Firearm by a Felon; and Warrant service.

A jail magistrate set the suspect’s bail at a total of $37,000. He posted that with surety bonds for his August 7 release.

August 11 — About 3:45 p.m. officers were told of a minor crash on northbound US 75 at Exit 51. Hayslip said that a truck carrying a water tank exited the highway too fast, took faulty evasive action, and skidded off the roadway into the median.  The truck had some minor suspension damage and the water tank fell off of the flatbed.  The truck was towed out of the median.  There were no injuries.

August 14 — A little bit after 4 p.m., police were sent to the area of Collin McKinney Parkway and the Van Alstyne High School for a reckless driver. The caller had told dispatch that the driver was driving erratically. Upon arrival, officer located the described vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. At this time, officers initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, a Van Alstyne woman, the officer smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage and had the driver complete a series of Standard Field Sobriety Tests. Based on the tests, he jailed the suspect on charge of Driving While Intoxicated w/Child Passenger under 15 years of age.

The Grayson County Jail records did not show this suspect’s booking and release information.

August 14 — It was about 11 p.m. with officers were sent to the 400 block of N. Sherman St., regarding an assault. Upon arrival, they made contact with the victim, who reported that a family member had assaulted her and then left. Officers located the vehicle a short time later. When talking with the suspect, a Van Alstyne man, they smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage and had the suspect go through the SFSTs. They then jailed the suspect on three charges — Continuous Violence Against Family; Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon; and Driving While Intoxicated.

Jail records show the suspect had a total bail of $10,450 set, and he paid that. With surety bonds on Aug. 15 and was released.

August 16 –About 3:02 a.m., police, while patrolling, spotted a car parked in the street with its motor running and its driver slumped over. After getting the driver’s attention, they noticed the smell of alcohol on her. They had the driver go through the SFSTs, and then jailed her on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated with an Open Container. The magistrate set bail on the susepct, a little Elm woman, at $2,000, which she paid for her release the next day.

August 16 — At 4:05 a.m., police were sent to Van Alstyne Parkway regarding an erratically-driven vehicle going east, and the reporting person said it was being driven erratically and almost struck her vehicle. They located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver was a Howe man who smelled of an intoxicating beverage. They had him go through the SFSTs, after which they took him to Grayson County Jail and incarcerated him on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. He paid bail of $2,000 with a surety bond and was released on Aug. 17.

August 16 — A call about a reckless driver on U.S.75 was answered by police officers. This was at almost 7 p.m. and they were sent to NB US75 at Panther Parkway. The reporting caller said the driver couldn’t maintain a single lane and was driving all over the road. Upon arrival in the area, officers located the vehicle. The driver, a Dallas man, smelled of alcoholic beverage and so the officers had him go through SFSTs and then jailed him on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. Bail was set at $2,500, but was released on Aug. 21 on Personal Recognizance.

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News. Information provided by Public Information Officers Lt.  Steven Hayslip, VA PD, and DPS Trooper Josue DeLaCerda.

The Van Alstyne Police worked through the following accidents, investigations, and arrests between today August 5 and today (August 12),and Texas Department of Public Safety sent a report on an arrest they made in Van Alstyne.

August 5 — It was about 3 in the afternoon when officers were dispatched to the 400 block of west Van Alstyne Parkway, because of a disturbance in progress. Upon arrival, they were able to locate the involved people.  They continued investigating and learned that one of the two had assaulted the other. The victim attempted to leave the area to get away from him, and the suspect would not allow her to get away.

They placed the suspect under arrest on charges of Assault Causing Bodily Injury (Family Violence) and Unlawful Restraint.

Grayson County Jail Records show that the suspect’s bail is set at $10,000, and payable with a Surety Bond, but that he is still incarcerated as of Tuesday (Aug. 12).

August 5 — About 5:50 that day, police were sent to a 2-vehicle crash on Southbound U.S. Highway. 75 at Exit 50. Their investigation showed that one vehicle rear-ended another when traffic slowed down due to construction. The offending vehicle’s driver was possibly following too closely. Adam’s Automotive towed both vehicles.

August 5 — It was about 6:26 p.m.  when police were again sent to SB US 75 at the Exit 51, because of a single-vehicle accident. The car swerved to miss a slow-moving vehicle due to traffic backup and instead hit the concrete median. Adams Automotive towed the damaged car.

August 7 — At approximately 8:44 a.m. police were end to Northbound U.S. 75 at Exit 54A regarding another motor vehicle crash. They determined that a vehicle traveling north on U.S. 75 near Anna had changed lanes, causes the back of that vehicle to strike the front of the second vehicle. There were no injuries and no one was taken to the hospital.

August 7 — At about 6:12 p.m., police officers were sent to the intersection of West Van Alstyne and Nunnelee regarding another vehicle accident. The police report states that they determined both vehicles were going west on Van Alstyne Parkway when the one in the front came to a stop due to traffic build up. The vehicle in back rear-ended the front car, causing moderate damage. There were no injuries and one of the two vehicles was towed away.

August 7 — It was around 10 p.m. when police initiated a traffic stop on Waco Street and Van Alstyne Parkway. Hayslip said that the officers watched as a vehicle failed to use a single before making a turn, as outlined in the Texas Traffic Code. The driver, an Anna Man, smelled of alcohol, and so the police put him through the Standard Field Sobriety Tests. They then placed him under arrest on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated, 2^nd Offense.

The passenger, a Blue Ridge man, was also intoxicated, Hayslip said, and it was in a public place, making him a possible danger to himself or others. They jailed the passenger, also, on a charge of Public Intoxication.

A magistrate at Grayson County Jail set the driver’s bail at $25,000 payable with a surety bond which had special conditions. He posted that the next day for his release.  The magistrate set bail on the passenger at $292 Personal Recognizance, and he, too, was released on August 8.

August 7 — About 10:20 that morning, officers were dispatched to Southbound Hwy. 75 at Mantua near Anna, because of a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they were told that a vehicle was traveling south on US Hwy. 75 near Mantua and stopped for debris in the road. A second vehicle stopped behind it, but a third vehicle was not able to stop in time and struck the second vehicle and pushed it into the first vehicle. All three vehicles were damaged. There were no injuries.

August 9 — At 10:21 p.m., a Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Initiated a vehicle stop on the southbound lanes of US-75 near Hall Cemetery Drive. “The driver of the motorcycle refused to stop, and a pursuit ensued,” said DPS Public Information Officer Josue DeLaCerda said. The pursuit ended near U.S. 75 and FM 121(Van Alstyne Parkway)

The trooper booked the driver, a Sherman man, into Grayson County Jail on a charge of Evading Arrest with Vehicle, which is a Third-Degree Felony.

The suspect’s bail was set at $15,000, which he paid with a Surety Bond on Aug. 10 for his release.

August 10 — About 1:30 pm, police initiated a traffic stop at Henry Hynds (US Hwy 75 service road) and Van Alstyne Parkway. The report says that they observed a vehicle operating on a public roadway with an expired registration. The driver, a Josephine man, smelled of an intoxicating beverage, so police put him through the SFST tests. When completed, they jailed him on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated. Following protocol, they inventoried the vehicle, and found a firearm and a useable amount of marijuana. C

Police jailed the suspect on charge of DWI w/Open Container, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, and Possession of Marijuana Less than 2 oz.  Bail was a total of $5,500, which the suspect paid later that day and was released.

Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip, the department’s Public Information Officer, reported to The Van Alstyne News following law enforcement activity between July 28 and August. 5.

On July 28, about 3 a.m., officers were notified of hit-and-run crash on southbound U.S. Hwy 75 at Panther Parker. The report said tractor-trailer rig changed lanes and struck a vehicle, disabling it. The tractor-trailer driver didn’t stop and the driver of the damaged vehicle was unable to provide any information on the suspect rig. The damaged vehicle required towing due to damage and no injuries were reported.

On July 29, at about 10:45 a.m., police were sent to a one-vehicle crash in the 10,000 block of E Jefferson St. The police report states that the driver took faulty evasive action, left the roadway and rolled his/her vehicle. The vehicle required towing due to damage, and Hayslip said the driver was transported to a hospital with apparent minor injuries.

On July 3, about 10 minutes past noon, officers were dispatched to the intersection of West Van Alstyne Parkway and Henry Hynds, in reference to a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they determined that a vehicle was traveling east on Van Alstyne Parkway when another vehicle struck it’s rear, causing damage. Both vehicles suffered minor damages and one was towed. There were no injuries and no one was transported to a hospital.

On August 2, about 4 a.m., police were again sent to the area of U.S. Hwy 75 at Panther Parkway. The reporting party told dispatch that a vehicle was failing to maintain a single lane and its speed was erratic. Upon arrival in the area, officers located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, a Dallas man, the officers smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage and administered Standard Field Sobriety Tests. Upon completion of the tests, police placed him under arrest on a charge of Driving While Intoxicated.

Grayson County Jail records show that the driver posted bail set at $5,000 and with special conditions set. He was freed on Aug. 3.

On August 2, at about 1:50 a.m., Police officers were sent to U.S. Hwy 75 at Panther Parkway because of vehicle being driver without maintaining a single lane. They stopped the car and made contact with the driver.  The driver smelled of an intoxicating beverage and police put him through SFSTs. Afterward, they took this driver to Grayson County Jail on a charge of DWI.

Jail records shows the driver to be a McKinney resident whose bail was set at $3,000. He paid that with a surety bond and was released later the same day.