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San Antonio hosts 2nd annual Armed Forces River Parade

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:25:53 GMT

The San Antonio River Walk appeared red, white and blue Saturday night, as the Paseo Del Rio Association hosted its second annual America's Armed Forces River Parade.

The parade was held on Armed Forces Day to honor the men and women of the armed forces, both active and retired.

San Antonio native Ruben Barron, who brought his wife to the parade on Saturday said it's a way that they could show their support for the troops.

"We are very patriotic, my wife and I," said Barron. "So, it was a no-brainer, just come out here and enjoy everybody, enjoy the moment."

This is the second year for the one of a kind parade with 25 professionally decorated floats, featuring all branches of the military, including veterans and military support groups.

"With everything going on, it's very important to support the military," said Micaela Olivo, a volunteer at the parade. "It's very important to support what we have locally also."

America's Armed Forces Parade is held in San Antonio or "Military City, U.S.A." and for Army trainee Zachary Rowley, he said the parade is something that's greatly appreciated.

"I think it's awesome," said Rowley. "I mean this is Military City. They really support it. I think this would be a great place to be stationed."

Car crashes into Westside home after chase

Sun, 19 May 2013 03:16:05 GMT

Police say a domestic dispute led to a car chase Friday evening that ended in a Westside home.

The incident happened around 11 p.m. Friday night, beginning on Westfield.

Police responded to the domestic dispute and arrived at a home to find a man in his 40s breaking windows.

The suspect hopped in his car, sped off and then crashed into the Westside house, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.

"I was laying here and then everything started coming in," said Eddie Charles, who was inside the home. "It was scary."

Charles was winding down on Friday, watching some late night television. Little did he know that the real action was happening outside his door and about to come smashing right through his house.

"I heard a crash, then for about half a second, I didn't hear nothing," said Charles.

The crash was the sound of the suspect's car hitting a guardrail. The silence was a result of the vehicle going airborne.

The car landed in Charles' yard, hitting a tree and two parked cars before slamming into his garage.

"It scared the crap out of me," said Charles. "I was literally laying there, just watching TV and then having the wall come in like that, stuff flying all over."

The force of the impact caused some unwanted remodeling inside the home drywall and remnants of broken furniture in pieces on the floor.

But as bad as the damage is inside, it's even worse on the outside. The garage door has been destroyed, bushes demolished, not to mention the gaping hole in the side of the home.

Charles and his wife were not hurt, but he said adding insult to the injury done to his home was the man's reaction after he was arrested.

"He was right here, laying on the ground and he was laughing," said Charles. "He was laughing about all this stuff, I was like 'Are you serious?'"

Police did not release the suspect's name, but said he will face several charges.

For a list of recent stories Cory Smith has done, click here.

Daughter of murder victim raises money for his funeral

Sun, 19 May 2013 02:29:16 GMT

A woman who lost her father after he was murdered last week is desperate for answers. Jose Avila, 45, was found dead in his apartment in the 100 block of East Mistletoe on Wednesday. According, to the police report, a family member who came to check on him that day, found the front door unlocked and that he had been stabbed at least a dozen times. "No matter what situation, he would be there for me and he was there for everybody," said Genevieve Avila, Avila's daughter. "My dad was a very kind-hearted man and I just don't understand why someone would have done this. I mean I don't understand." "Its not right, said Jessica Ortiz, another family member. "We will find that person. The cops will do what they have to do to find him." On Saturday, Genevieve Avila, along with other family members, put together a barbecue plate sale to raise money for funeral expenses, but also to honor and remember him. Avila said it shows how much her father meant to everyone by all the support they received Saturday afternoon. However, Avila said she is still in shock and she still wants answers. If you saw anything or might have heard something surrounding his murder, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 224-STOP.

Man on foot critically injured in westside collision

Sat, 18 May 2013 22:31:00 GMT

A man was critically injured after he was hit by a car while crossing the street late Friday night.

It happened a little after 10 at Culebra and Maiden.

Police say the man was not crossing at a crosswalk when he was struck by the car.

We are told the driver who hit him did stop.

The man was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.

SAPD investigating violent death of woman

Sat, 18 May 2013 19:36:16 GMT

Police are trying to piece together a violent murder that happened Friday morning.

According to the San Antonio Police Department, 43 year-old Eleanor Gonzales was found dead in the front yard of a duplex located in the 5700 block of Canterbury.

Police say she died from multiple stab wounds.

“I haven't talked to her in a couple of days, she's been mad at me, so I haven't talked to her,” her son Matthew Sanchez said.

Sanchez said his mother lived alone at the duplex, and feared often for her safety.

“She lived by herself,” Sanchez said. “We would come stay once in a while so she wouldn't be by herself so stuff like this wouldn't happen. But lately, she's been mad at me, that's why I haven't been coming to stay with her.”

SAPD police chief William McManus said the woman’s body was found in the front yard by the mailbox by a neighbor who was taking her child to school.

Though McManus wouldn’t give many details, he said her death was violent, and that he believes the victim knew her attacker.

“I am cautiously optimistic in stating that I think we will close this case sooner, (rather) than later,” McManus said.

For a list of recent stories Isis Romero has done, click here.

Speeding cycle rider dies in crash

Sat, 18 May 2013 18:19:34 GMT

A man speeding on a motorcycle lost control and died when he crashed on I-10 late Friday night.

Police say the man lost it on the ramp from 410 to 10 West, hit a retaining wall and flew into a metal sign.

They say the impact sheared the man's legs off.

He then fell to the ground about 30 feet below.

Police say witnesses saw the man crash as he tried to take the ramp to 10 West just before midnight.

He died at the scene.

Police are now investigating that crash.

The name of the cycle rider had not yet been released.

Road rage sends man to S.A. hospital

Sat, 18 May 2013 14:26:31 GMT

A 19-year-old is in jail after police say he allegedly ran over a 25-year-old man in connection to road rage.

The victim was taken to the hospital by medical helicopter.

Police say the victim suffered injuries to his legs and arms.

Eyewitnesses told police they saw both drivers cutting each other off and engaging in aggressive and angry driving behavior.

“Our victim did stop and get out of the vehicle the other vehicle did run him over there’s something going on there, at this point in time, it appears to be more than an accident but we are investigating,” said San Antonio Police Sergeant Mark Hubbard.

At this time, charges are still pending on the 19 year old suspect.

For a list of recent stories Mariza Mendoza has done, click here.

Local veteran accused of threatening son

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:52:35 GMT

Sergeant Matthew Sheffel, a military veteran who served for 12 years, is now an inmate charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Police said he grabbed his 7-year-old son and threw him against the wall. He then grabbed a knife and held it to the boy’s throat.

A woman who was in the home, but didn’t want to be identified, said the night the alleged attack happened, Sheffel was off his medications.

“He just wasn’t able to control himself anymore and I wasn’t able to talk him back,” said the woman.

A police report said Sheffel suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Family members said when he returned from his last 15 month tour in Iraq last year, he found out his marriage was over.

They said he was forced to care for his children and a set of 7-year-old quadruplets and a 10-year-old daughter.

What complicates Sheffel’s situation even more, he received a home from Operation Homefront last August. He could now lose the home since he remains in jail.

Aaron Taylor with Operation Homefront said, “we’ve put more than 100 military families in homes and they’re all, with the exception of Sgt. Sheffel, still in those homes.”

Sheffel remains at the Bexar County Jail.

As for his children, Child Protective Services has placed all 5 of them with their biological mother.

For a list of recent stories Mariza Mendoza has done, click here.

S.A. beer brewers excited about Texas House vote

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:26:59 GMT

Small beer brewers declared victory Friday after the Texas House approved new rules that would overhaul regulations that apply only to craft breweries.

"It's a longtime coming," said Joey Villarreal, owner of the Blue Star Brewing Company. "It's great to see that common sense prevailed and we're all excited."

Current laws not only prohibit pubs from packaging their beer for retail stores, they also prevent breweries from selling beer to tour visitors.

Under the new law, places like the Blue Star Brewing Company in San Antonio could actually sell kegs to other restaurants and bars.

"We don't have to say no, that Texas law doesn't allow us to do that," said Villarreal. "We can deliver a keg of beer and that just sounds like common sense, but believe it or not, it was a reality in Texas until today that we could do that. So, this is just a very exciting time right now."

Travis Poling with Beer Across Texas said the new rules will really help local breweries take off.

"What it essentially does is it allows these businesses to reach consumers much more readily," said Poling. "And we're probably going to see Texas turn into a craft beer state much like Colorado and California."

"I think it's going to be good for local brewers," said Villarreal. "And, maybe there will be more opening, more people making beers here in Texas. I think it's just great."

The bills already passed the Senate in March.

The bills have to go through a third reading and clear a final House vote next week before heading to Governor Rick Perry's desk.

For a list of recent stories Stephanie Serna has done, click here.

Arizona reports its border strategy works

Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:00 GMT

Long known as the busiest in the nation, U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson sector reports its strategy developed over the past decade has worked, and South Texas could benefit from its experience, in the face of a renewed surge of illegal immigration.

“There are things that we have tried and tested and proven that work, and anything we have is being looked at by the South Texas leadership,” said Jeff Self, Arizona Joint Field commander.

Daniel Tirado, a spokesman for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Valley sector, said South Texas now has the technology, fencing and additional manpower that Arizona now has at levels it once lacked.

“We’re trying to help them just as they’ve been trying to help us,” Self said.

The first of its kind within U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Joint Intelligence and Operations Center based in Tucson monitors illegal activity picked up by technology, unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as agents on the ground, then deploys manpower and resources where they are most needed.

“We’ve had a lot of lessons learned. We’ve had a lot of bumps and bruises, but we’re trying to do that so we can replicate this elsewhere,” said Mark Mitchell, its chief watch commander.

Someday when the concept is exported to South Texas, Mitchell said, “This would be a great resource for the agents in the field and senior leadership down there.”

For now, CBP has its South Texas Campaign based in Laredo that pursues transnational criminal organizations, by coordinating efforts in the field by multiple law enforcement agencies.

“The STC is utilizing an integrated approach by focusing enforcement and investigative efforts in the South Texas corridor to combat illicit activity,” said Narcizo Ramos, STC assistant commander.

As for apprehensions, agents in the Rio Grande Valley report their numbers are closing in on what Arizona now sees, less than 70,000. But in 2000, the Tucson sector reported 616,000 undocumented immigrants detained.

Self said the decline started before Arizona’s controversial law targeting illegal immigrants, an improving Mexican economy, and a decline in demand during the recession.

Self said, “Border security is truly a holistic approach.”

Had it not been for that, Self said, “We would still have a chaotic border environment. It would be completely out of control.”

He said now his agency is 87 percent effective in securing Arizona’s border.

Yet at one time, Self said critics thought it impossible.

He said, “You were skeptical back then. You didn’t think we’d be where we are today.”

For a list of recent stories Jessie Degollado has done, click here.