Thompson student allegedly abducted
A 14-year-old female Thompson student was allegedly abducted and assaulted after getting off the school bus Monday, May 20, in the Clear Brook Meadows subdivision.
When the student didn’t return home from school by 5:30 p.m., a search party of family and neighbors canvassed the area and later found the girl in the woods behind Dobie. She has since been reunited with her family.
While the victim was reportedly blindfolded, she was able to describe the suspect as a white male in his 40s with a tattoo on his forearm.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. While details of the alleged abduction are scarce, the Leader has learned from sources in the sheriff’s office there have been inconsistencies in the girl’s story.
The incident prompted Pasadena Independent School District officials to send letters home notifying all area parents of the event.
“This message is not meant to alarm you but to inform you so you can take precautionary steps with your children,” the letter stated. “Our staff has been alerted and will be watching and doing all we can to protect your children. We are having conversations with students about safety, and we encourage you to do the same.”
As an added precaution, PISD now has additional police patrolling all South Belt schools and the Clear Brook Meadows subdivision.
The story, which was covered by multiple news outlets Tuesday, created an outpouring of concern from residents on the Leader’s Facebook page, with more than 100 people commenting and sending messages.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the PISD Police Department at 713-740-0200 or the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000.
The 35th Citizens Police Academy held its graduation ceremony Thursday, May 16, at El Franco Lee Park. The Citizens Police Academy was established in order to provide local citizens information for developing a working knowledge of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Harris County Precinct 1 Commisioner El Franco Lee attended the ceremony and spoke afterward of the significance of it being held in the South Belt community.
“I saw the service across town, and I knew that we needed it here and throughout Precinct 1,” said Lee, “Of course, I wanted the pilot program to come out here because the community has always been on the cutting edge of progressive and safe endeavors.”
Lee concluded that “We wanted to make sure we prevailed to you the educational opportunities that are common grass-roots programs. But it gives us one more step to having individual security. Together we can make the community very safe.”
The program is designed to highlight the daily activities and responsibilities a deputy sheriff encounters during the line of duty.
“This class has given all of us an eye-opening understanding of the day-to-day operations that go on in an officer’s life,” said Class President Kristy Poole.
The 35th CPA graduates are as follows: Robert Allen, Daniel Arizpe, Joan Brumfield, Robert Cabellero, Peggy Campbell, Rodney Carrier, Shelly Cino, Virginia Cox, Sam Elegbeleye, Danny Gonzalez, James Hickmon, Terry Jones, Elvi Limon, Denise Lorenz, Donald Lorenz, Olga McDonald, Kristy Poole, Hilda Ramirez, Sandy Steckler, Eric Stevens, and John Weber.
The CPA graduates are expected to educate local residents of their community in order to improve the effectiveness of law enforcement in their neighborhoods. They will also play a vital role in their community by improving communication between citizens and law enforcement and by providing local input and support throughout the county.
Poole said that her class “is truly appreciative to Sheriff Adrian Garcia, the HCSO family, all of our speakers, our instructors and mentors and to our personal family and friends for allowing us the ability to participate in this amazing eye-opening adventure.”
Diversity is a key to the academy’s success. Each class is a cross-cultural representation of Houston. All are invited. Laborers, homemakers, business owners, pastors, civic and social leaders are welcome to learn emergency communications, crime prevention standards, and many other topics, including the ride-along program.
Through the CPA’s interactive courses, participants learn many aspects of law enforcement, such as gang and terrorism prevention. Residents will gain a better understanding of how police services are conducted in their communities.
Poole added, “In the past 13 weeks we, as Class 35, have embarked on a journey showing us just some of the ins and outs of what it is like to be a Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy. We have had wonderful teachers along the way from subjects that range from penal code to jail operations and K9 to bomb squad and even patrol to domestic violence.”
Classes for the 13-week academy are held once per week and last up to 2-1/2 hours. Each week a different aspect of the department is covered. Students also interact with the court system and other law enforcement entities, such as city police, who teach some of the classes related to their specific area of expertise.
When asked to comment on the impact the CPA experience had on her and her community, Poole said, “We have been blessed with strong, well spoken, and very knowledgeable instructors, and we will always be grateful for the lessons they have taught us. We hope to make them proud as we go and embark on the next step of being CPA alumni.”
The CPA is free, and enrollment is open to qualified individuals. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and reside in Harris County. A thorough background check will be conducted on each applicant.
Residents interested in participating in the CPA must fill out and mail an application. For more information, contact the HCSO’s Community Services Division at 713-759-9454.
E-mail mynews@southbeltleader.com with news items of interest.