Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town

Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip reported on the department’s activities between December 27 and January 2. During this time, they received 134 calls for service, with nine police reports and eight offense reports. There was also one vehicle crash, with injuries, and the police made one arrest. There were two more arrests made after January 3, and those details will be in the next report.

There was no one from Van Alstyne indicted by the Grayson County Grand Jury in its most recent session.

Arrest — December 27, about midnight, officers were called to a disturbance in the area of McKinney Circle, and the caller gave dispatch the description of a vehicle involved. Hayslip said the responding officers located the vehicle, then, following protocol with the people inside it, determined that the driver, a Van Alstyne man, was driving while intoxicated and also carrying a firearm. They arrested the driver on charges of DWI and Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon.

At the Grayson County Jail, a magistrate set bail at a total of $4,500 on the two charges. The suspect paid that bail in surety bonds and then released on December 29.

Hit & Run and Pursuit — On January 1, about 12:45 a.m., police officers were dispatched to the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 75 and FM 121 (Van Alstyne Parkway) regarding a hit-and-run crash which happened between Sherman and Howe. Hayslip said the suspect vehicle had attempted to pass another vehicle, but instead struck the other vehicle in the rear. The suspect vehicle driver then hit the victim vehicle again in the side, and failed to stop as required by Texas law.

Van Alstyne police attempted to get the offending vehicle’s driver to stop, but he failed to do so and a pursuit ensued.

Officers stayed behind the suspect vehicle, as it continued southward toward Melissa, and speeds reached 100 mph, Hayslip said. In Melissa, the suspect struck another vehicle, but, in spite of a blowout on the offending vehicle, the driver continued down the highway.

The driver moved the vehicle off the highway at Laud Howell Pkwy in McKinney. He drove onto the overpass bridge and stopped, jumped out and ran behind vehicle and then jumped over the guardrail. He landed about 25-30 feet below, resulting in broken bones. Police found him to be in possession of a stolen firearm and found another gun inside the vehicle he drove.

Hayslip said the driver was taken to a nearby hospital to have his injuries treated, and that police believe he was intoxicated during the pursuit.

“At this time, the incident is still under investigation,” Hayslip said. “The identity of the suspect has not been released pending further investigation.”

Graffiti on the renovated railcar, discovered just after Christmas

By Mary Jane Farmer for the Van Alstyne News, Scene In Town.

Between Dec. 20-26, Van Alstyne police received 113 calls for service, which 10 resulted in police reports, seven in offense reports, one motor vehicle crash with no injuries, and one arrest. Van Alstyne PD Sgt. Steven Hayslip reported the following incidents.

Offense — Vandal(s) struck at McKinney Wilson Park between December 19-22, Hayslip said.

The morning of December 22, 2021, officers were sent to the park, located at 146 Ball Park Way on the east side of town, in regard to vandalism. They found that someone had ‘tagged’ playground equipment with graffiti. The park and the equipment in it are city-owned, and the Public Works Department, soon after the investigation was completed, cleaned the graffiti off.

This railcar in the downtown was recently violated with graffiti plastered on the green backdrop. Police are searching to find out who did this one and several others acts of similar vandalism around town.

Since that time, vandal(s) have added graffiti to the railcar at the corner of East Marshall and South Main Drive, also city property. Then, again, on December 30, police were called to another location near the downtown area because of graffiti. Details of these last two incidents have not been made available yet.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents, being described as “intentionally damage city (playground) equipment by tagging the equipment with graffiti,” is urged to contact Detective Ingram of the VAPD. Also, Hayslip said, “VAPD encourages anyone who observes anything out of the ordinary to report the circumstances to the police department.” That phone number is 903-482-5251.

Arrest — On Christmas Eve, at about 2 p.m., police were sent to the area of South Waco and Nevils Street in regard to a welfare concern, said Hayslip. Hayslip did not say what the caller was concerned about, but said the officers did locate the described person, an Allen man. While conducting their investigation, they found an outstanding warrant for the suspect’s arrest.

The warrant shows to have been for violation of a protective order.

Police jailed the suspect in Grayson County Jail because of the warrant. On December 27, the suspect was released to Collin County authorities.

Indictment — At the most recent convening of the Grayson County Grand Jury, jurors indicted one Van Alstyne female along with about four dozen other people, most of whom were from Grayson County.

Angela Michelle Fonseca, who shows to be from Van Alstyne on the indictment list, but from Howe on Grayson County Jail records, was indicted on a charge of theft of property valued between $2,500-$30,000. Information is that the incident happened in July 2020 and it was Grayson County Sheriff’s Office who made the November 2021 arrest.

An indictment is a formal charge and is not considered as evidence of guilt.

From reports provided by Van Alstyne Police

Van Alstyne Police Sgt. Steven Hayslip reported on the police department’s activities during the days between Nov. 22 and Nov. 28.

During this time, police received 111 calls for service resulting in seven police reports and four offense reports. Of those three were for motor vehicle crashes, one of which resulted in minor injuries for one occupant. None resulted in anyone being taken to jail.

Arrest —At about 4 p.m. on Nov. 22, officers made a traffic stop on U.S. Hwy. 75 south of Van Alstyne Parkway. The driver, a Van (Smith County) female, was discovered to be in possession of Xanax. Hayslip said that Xanax is listed in Penalty Group 3 of the Texas Health & Safety Code. Police took the suspect to Grayson County Jail on a charge of possession of controlled substance, PG3 less than 28 grams.

A magistrate set bail at $1,500, which the suspect paid with a surety bond and released two days later.

Arrest — On Nov. 23, about 9 a.m., a traffic stop on U.S. 75 resulted in another arrest. Hayslip said this one was, again, south of Van Alstyne Parkway. The driver, a man from Shreveport, LA, was discovered to be in possession of illegal drugs. Hayslip said they found both methamphetamine and marijuana in his possession. Police had the suspect incarcerated in Grayson County Jail.

Meth is listed in the Texas Health & Safety Code’s Penalty Group 1, resulting in a charge of possession of controlled substance, PG 1. Police also charged him with possession of marijuana less than 2 grams.

Bail on these charges totaled $2,000, which the suspect paid three days later with surety bonds.

Arrest — On Nov. 24, about 11:30 p.m., someone called police about a reckless driver. Hayslip said they located the vehicle and saw it in a traffic violation. They made a traffic stop. During the resulting investigation, they found the driver was driving while intoxicated and jailed him on a DWI charge. Since the arrest was made just before midnight, it was during the night of Nov. 25 when book-in was completed.

A magistrate set bail at $1,500, which the suspect paid in a surety bond on Nov. 25 for his release.