Van Alstyne Police Officers had an unusually busy time between Monday, (Sept. 8), and August 28, including the heavy winds and thunderstorms of Friday night (Sept. 5). The department’s Public Information Officer, Lt. Steven Hayslip reported on many of these incidents which resulted in arrests.
Sept. 4 — On July 8, a caller told police that a Van Alstyne resident had been assaulting his dog. Police were given a video of one incident, which gave police probable cause to believe the abuse had happened. They secured a warrant for the suspect’s arrest and it charged him with animal cruelty.
On Sept. 4, Van Alstyne police took the suspect into custody based on the warrant and transported him to Grayson County Jail. The dog was evaluated by a licensed veterinarian, who determined it did not sustain any major or life-threatening injuries.
“The Van Alstyne Police Department remains committed to protecting the welfare of both the community and its animals,” Hayslip said. “The Department thanks the public for their assistance in reporting suspected cases of animal cruelty.”
Aug. 30 — About 3 a.m., officers made a traffic stop on SH 5 and Houston after seeing the offending vehicle being driven at 62 miles-per-hour in a 40-mph zone. They determined the driver smelled of an intoxicating beverage and had him go through the Standard Field Sobriety Tests. They placed him under arrest and jailed him on a charge oof Driving While Intoxicated w/Open Container.
Jail records show that the suspect is a Van Alstyne resident, and that a magistrate at the jail set his bail at $3,000. He paid that with a surety bond for his arrest later that same day.
Aug. 31 — It was around 7:40 p.m. when dispatch sent officers to a reckless driver who, according to the reporting party at on U.S. Hwy 75 and the Farmington Road area. Hayslip reported that the officers located the vehicle and made a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, a Carrollton resident, they reported smelling the odor of an intoxicating beverage.
They put the suspect through the SFSTs, and then placed him under arrest for on a charge of DWI. Bail was set at $1,500, which the suspect paid with a surety bond for his release.
Sept. 1— About 4:30 a.m., police were sent to a possible vehicle accident. They found a vehicle that had struck a barrier. Following procedure, they identified the driver as an Arlington resident, and then found out there was an active warrant for his arrest.
They played the suspect under arrest on the warrant, which Grayson County Jail records show charged him with forgery. He made bail of $10,000 with a surety bond later that day.
Sept. 2 — A traffic stop about 3:25 p.m. on US 75 and FM 121 was made after police that the vehicle being driven at 79 mph in a 65-mph zone. The driver was found to be a Sherman man and the report states he smelled of marijuana. While conducting a probable-cause search, police found about 9 ounces of marijuana. The officers arrested him on a charge of Possession of Marijuana bet ween 4 oz-5 pounds.
Bail was set at $5,000, which the suspect paid with a surety bond the next day. Jail records show this to be this suspect’s 14th arrest here in Grayson County since 2001 with a total of 32 previous charges.
Sept. 4 — Police were sent to a residence regarding a welfare concern involving several juveniles. Upon arrival, officers found that no parent or legal guardian was present. During their contact with the juveniles, officers were advised that firearms and marijuana were inside the residence and that they did not know when their parents would return.
Officers secured a search warrant for the residence. During the subsequent search, officers located firearms, marijuana, and THC vape pens.
When the parents later returned to the residence, officers were still on scene and took them into custody on a charge of Abandoning/Endangering children with the risk of immediate child endangerment. The juveniles were placed in a safe environment with another family member. The case remains under investigation.
Grayson County Jail records show that the bail for both was set at a total of $20,000 each and that each made that bail with surety bonds the following day.
Sept. 5 — It was about 4:30 a.m. that morning when police made a traffic stop on U.S. 75 at Panther Parkway, based on their information that the vehicle was being driven without current liability insurance. They discovered that the resident, a Garland resident, had an active warrant for his arrest. The warrant charged him with DWI w/Open Container. They placed the suspect under arrest on the warrant.
Jail records show that jail authorities turned the suspect over to law enforcement from the warrant-issuing area, namely Ellis County on Sept. 9.
Sept. 6 — At 5:41 pm, officers were sent to Tolson Street location because of an oral disturbance. While talking with those involved, and following protocol, they learned that there was an outstanding warrant for the arrest of one of those involved. They jailed the suspect on that warrant.