NEWS
SO, DA receive funding for cell phone forensic lab, digital fingerprinting system
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
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.
A Wednesday morning rollover on State Highway 59caused a vehicle to catch fire but had no injuries.
Montague County Public Information Officer Sgt. Aaron Randle said the call came in around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of SH 59 and Nobile Road. When Montague Volunteer Fire Department firefighters arrived, the 2008 Chevy pickup had rolled over and was fully enguled in flames. The17-year-old adult driver was out of the vehicle.
Brandle said the fire was under control at 8:06 a.m. Bowie Emergency Medical Services was also on the scene.
By BARBARA GREEN
editor@bowienewsonline.com
The City of Nocona has been nominated as a rural Opportunity Zone by Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Mayor Christopher Nunneley said they will begin “pitching” this federal tax angle to potential businesses.”
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference Nunneley, Donna Culpepper, executive director for the Nocona Economic Development Corporation and Michelle Page of the Nocona Chamber of Commerce announced the nomination and offered a brief overview of the federal tax incentives that can become available.
Read the full story in the Thursday Bowie News.
Remember Sept. 11 2001, 25 years later
While history will remember Sept. 11, 2001 among the darkest days in America’s history, it also is a day marked not only by tremendous heroism and bravery by first responders, but also every day Americans from all walks of life who showed the world our country would not be intimidated by terrorism.
There were 2,996 people killed during the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 including 343 firefighters and paramedics, 23 New York city police officers and 37 Port Authority police officers. Tens of thousands more suffered in the aftermath due to exposure to chemicals and industrial debris.
The Bowie News editor asked some local lawmen, firefighters, a pilot and two retired FBI agents their memories of this tragic day and how their jobs were impacted by the events. We thank them for sharing their reflections.
Read the full feature in your Thursday Bowie News.
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