Author Archives: Mary Jane Farmer

About Mary Jane Farmer

In the music production business, including event production, booking, photography, reporting, volunteering, and other such essentials, since 1974.

Arrest Made Following Robbery Incident at Sonic Drive-In

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Wilson Odirachukwunma Nwokrie

Press Release from Van Alstyne Police Department

On Wednesday, August 6, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Van Alstyne Police Officers  responded to a reported robbery at the Sonic Drive-In located at 1130 W. Van Alstyne Parkway.
The suspect, identified as Wilson Odirachukwunma Nwokrie, an Anna resident, arrived at the location and placed a food order. After the order was delivered by an employee, Nwokorie attempted to pay with a credit card. The employee returned inside the establishment to process the payment, which was declined.When the employee returned to notify Nwokorie,  the suspect reversed his vehicle and drove toward the employee, attempting to strike them with the vehicle. This action placed the employee in immediate fear of injury. Nwokorie then fled the scene, reported VAPD Lt. Steven Hayslip.
Responding officers were provided with the suspect’s license plate number. Utilizing the Department’s license plate recognition software, officers located and tracked the vehicle. A traffic stop was initiated, and Nwokorie was taken into custody without further incident.
He was transported to the Grayson County Jail and booked on the following charges:
• Robbery
• Fraudulent Possession/Use of Identifying Information (<5 items)

Grayson County Jail records show that bail for the suspect is at a total of $30,000 and as of late Thursday, he remains incarcerated.
The investigation is ongoing. No injuries were reported, said Heyslip.

Police Activities Between July 28 and Aug. 4, 2025

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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.

 

 

 

Police Blotter since July 12, 2025

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By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News — Information provided by Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip

July 17 — At about 8:36 pm, police officers conducted a warrant service in the 1000 block of Ballard Road.  They found the suspect there, and confirmed the warrant they had issued against him previously. It charges the suspect with Assault Causing Bodily Injury-Family Violence. Police jailed him on the Warrant.

The book-in procedure was completed on July 19, and he posted bail of $2,500 with a surety bond which has special conditions placed upon the suspect for his July 19 release.

July 17 — It was about 2 hours later when the officers conducted a second warrant service, this at a house in the 500 block of Thompson Drive. They, again, found the suspect there and re-determined the two active warrants issued for his arrest, then jailed him on the warrants.

Grayson County Jail records indicate that Montgomey County issued one warrant which charged him with possession of illegal drugs in a large amount. The second warrant was issued in Grayson County and charged the suspect with Failure to Appear on a previous charge of Possession of Drugs between 4-200 grams. There is no bail allowed on that charge and the suspect remains incarcerated.

July 17 — At about 10:22 p.m., while officers were conducting that second warrant, another person at the house hindered them from arresting the suspect, a known felon. They placed this suspect under arrest on a charge of Hindering Apprehension.

Jail records show he posted bail of $10,000 with a surety bond and was freed the next day.

July 18 — A Mesquite man went to Grayson County Jail after police stopped him and determined he was intoxicated. It. Was about 10:44 p.m., when they saw the man’s vehicle moving out of its lane in a dangerous manner. While talking with the suspect, they smelled the odor of an intoxicating beverage and saw an open can of such a beverage near him.

They jailed the suspect on a charge of DWI w/Open Container. He posted bail of $2,000 the next day and was released.

July 19 — A little after 2 in the morning, police stopped a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75 at Van Alstyne Parkway after seeing it being driven in a construction zone at 85 mph in a 65-mph zone. The driver was a McKinney man, who, police discovered, had two active warrants for his arrest. These charge him with

Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon and Knowingly Altering a License Plate.

Bail on those were a total of $2,500, which the suspect paid and was released the following day.

July 19 — About 11 p.m., police were sent to the 400 block of Rigsby in reference to an intoxicated man. They found him in a public place and determined he was a danger to himself and/or others.

Police then took him to Grayson County Jail.

Wrecks

The first wreck of the week happened in/near the 152 N. Main parking lot, no date given. The report states that it was an unknown vehicle that struck another vehicle that was parked in the lot, and then failed to stop and leave identifying information, as required by the Texas Traffic Code.

July 20 — Shortly before midnight, officers saw what appeared to be an accident at Henry Hynds service road at Northridge. They determined that the car was going north and observed an animal in the road. The driver hit the temporary concrete median, and not the animal.

 

 

 

Van Alstyne Resident Killed in Two-Vehicle Crash

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Information from Texas Department of Public Safety’s Josue DeLaCerda, Public Information Officer

BONHAM – On July 12, 2025, at 11:30 a.m., Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Highway 78 near County Road 2510 in Fannin County.

A preliminary investigation indicated that a 2002 Chevrolet C1500 was traveling northbound when the driver made a U-turn and struck the trailer of a northbound traveling 2009 Peterbilt (18-wheeler).

The driver of the Peterbilt, Woodrow Dallas, a 57-year-old male from Sherman, TX, was transported to Texoma Medical Center in Denison with non-incapacitating injuries.

The driver of the Chevrolet C1500, Nancy Malone, an 85-year-old female from Van Alstyne, TX, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

This investigation is ongoing, and no additional information is available.

Police Blotter Since July 7, 2025

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By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News

Van Alstyne Police Lt. Steven Hayslip, the department’s Public Information Officer, provided the following information regarding arrests and several vehicle collisions. These have happened since July 7, 2025.

July 7 — About 6:30 p.m. officers were dispatched to South Waco Drive. at Hynds St. in reference to a motor vehicle collision. Upon arrival, they determined that a vehicle had been going south on S. Waco when possible driver distraction caused it to travel into the opposite direction and hit a mailbox before coming to a stop in a field.

There was front passenger side damage and no injuries to report. Driver was seen by Van Alstyne EMS as a precaution and the vehicle was towed as there was damage to the radiator. No one was taken to a hospital.

July 8 — It was just after noon when officers were notified of a minor hit-and-run accident at the intersection of Van Alstyne Parkway and South Waco Drive. A tractor-trailer rig was attempting to turn south on S. Waco Drive. The driver made a wide right turn and struck a vehicle waiting to turn westbound on Van Alstyne Parkway. Despite leaving the scene, police located the semi and obtained all its information. Hayslip said there was only minor damage to the vehicle hat had been struck and no injuries were reported.

July 10 – At about 6:30 pm, officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Manchester Street in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the people involved. After completing the initial investigation, they jailed a Van Alstyne resident on charges of Assault of a Pregnant Person and of Unlawful Restraint.

Grayson County Jail records show that the book-in was completed after midnight and that the suspect’s bail was set at a total of $15,000, which he paid on the 11th with surety bonds and was released.

July 10 — A second arrest of July 10 was of a Dallas woman. The report states that police were went to the area around Casey’s Gas Station on Van Alstyne Parkway regarding a possible intoxicated individual driving a vehicle. Upon arrival in the area, officers located the vehicle. While speaking with the driver, officers reported that they could smell the odor of an intoxicating beverage. The officers put the suspect through Standard Field Sobriety Tests. She completed the tests, and then went to Grayson County Jail on a Charge of Driving While Intoxicated 3rd or More offense.

Bail was set at a $10,000. She posted bail with a surety bond which also added special conditions on her and she was freed the next day.

July 12 — A traffic stop concluded with the arrest of a Princeton man. The stop was made at almost 1 a.m. at U.S. Highway 75 and Van Alstyne Parkway, after police found the vehicle being driven at 107 miles per hour in a 65-mph zone. The driver did stop for police. While they were talking to him they could smell the odor of marijuana, and when they asked him about it, he admitted to having a THC (marijuana) vape pen ,and also a weapon, inside the vehicle. Police placed him under arrest on Charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance PG 2 (THC) <1G and of Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon.

A jail magistrate set bail at a total of $17,500, which the suspect paid later that day with surety bonds for his release.