NEWS
SO, DA receive funding for cell phone forensic lab, digital fingerprinting system
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
Montague County Commissioners approved a request Monday to join four programs that can assist in crime-fighting for the sheriff’s office and within the 97th Judicial District.
Staff from the sheriff and District Attorney offices made the presentation requesting funding to access a trio of cell phone forensic tools and a biometric identification system helping bring needed modern technology into criminal investigations.
District Attorney Casey Hall and DA Investigator Chris Hamilton, along with Chief Deputy Jack Lawson and Deputy Ethan Romine made the presentation to set up their own forensic lab for cell phones.
Hamilton opened by telling commissioners investigations into major crimes have changed in recent years and the importance of accessing digital evidence such as material from a cell phone is vital. The sheriff’s staff has done some training in this area, but most suspects won’t share their passcodes so the investigators have to move up to the state or federal levels to get help to access them. And while both are willing, the backlog is vast up to a year or year and a half, which can stall out a case.
“I pulled a few strings to get a phone to ICAT and the Wichita Police helped in the Helms murder, Wise County also helps, but those departments can’t do it all the time,” said Hamilton.
The officers would like to utilize programs that are available to help unlock cell phones and decipher their data whether it be actual calls, texts, messages, search history or location data.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
| AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) today encouraged Texans to take part in this year’s Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend starting Saturday, April 27 through Monday, April 29. “Having emergency supplies on-hand is a critical part of being prepared for potential severe weather,” said Governor Abbott. “I encourage Texans across the state to stock up on supplies they might need in an emergency to protect themselves and their loved ones, such as first aid kits, flashlights, or hand-held fire extinguishers.” Signed into law by Governor Abbott in 2015, Senate Bill 905 established Texas’ annual Emergency Supplies Sales Tax Holiday Weekend allowing Texans to purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free either online or in person. Texans can visit the Texas Comptroller’s website for more information on qualifying purchases. As spring storms and increased wildfire danger impact Texas, along with the approaching hurricane season which begins on June 1, Texans are encouraged to review disaster preparedness tips and information on building an emergency supply kit at TexasReady.gov. |
By BARBARA GREEN
[email protected]
A public hearing has been scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on May 28 for the Montague County Commissioner’s Court to present the updated subdivision regulations that have been in the works for several months.
That date was set during Monday’s court session, where a development officer also was named and a state-required notice was approved. The 89-page draft of the subdivision regulations are available on the county website co.montague.tx.us/page/montague.home.
It was August 2019 when the regulations were adopted by the commissioners after much debate among water well drillers, groundwater district staff and directors, realtors and land developers.
During those original discussions water issues lead the way as many counties especially around heavily populated urban areas are experiencing water shortages and possible contamination due to an inadequate number of houses and wells or even the use of a public water system in the rural areas.
Charley Lanier, who has been working as a grant officer for the county, was named to be the subdivision development officer. After a brief 10-minute executive session, the court named Lanier who they said would be the “initial contact” for all developers who will accept all paperwork and plats.
Read the full story in the mid-week Bowie News.
City of Bowie water and street crews repair a broken water line in the area of Walnut and Smythe last week, along with repairing a large pot hole in the same area. (Photo by Barbara Green)
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