Category Archives: Fort Worth

Fireworks canceled mid-show due to safety concerns

On Monday, Fort Worth’s Fourth fireworks display was halted after several grass fires developed along the banks of the Trinity River, the Fort Worth Fire Department reported.

After consultation with the pyrotechnic company, a decision was made to suspend the fireworks show, out of an abundance of caution, due to concerns about damage to additional tubes used to shoot off the fireworks display.

Tarrant Regional Water District, the organizers of the fireworks show at Panther Island, issued this statement: “The fireworks show at Fort Worth’s Fourth was cut short tonight. We apologize that the show wasn’t able to be completed. Necessary preparations were taken leading up to the event, and as safety is our No. 1 priority, the decision was made to cut the show short at the direction of the Fort Worth Fire Marshal.”

Once the crowds departed the Trinity River area, the pyrotechnic technicians and the Fort Worth Fire Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit completed a review of the tubes. A decision was made to eliminate the remaining fireworks by discharging them in a controlled environment.

At about midnight, parts of the fireworks display were discharged to make the area safe. There was no threat to public safety while carrying out this disposal.

On Tuesday morning, the FWFD Bomb & Arson Unit in collaboration with the pyrotechnics company began eliminating the remaining fireworks at Panther Island Pavilion. This was done in a controlled environment under controlled circumstances by professionals. There was no timetable given for how long this process would take.

By midnight on July 4, FWFD had been dispatched to 203 grass fires across the city, which is 126 more than in 2021.

Original Source: Texas Police News

Police Officer Arrested in Tarrant County

Rucker/Tarrant County Jail

On June 2, 2022, the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) was contacted by the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office regarding the arrest of FWPD Officer Victor Rucker for a charge involving a domestic violence incident that occurred while he was off-duty.

Upon learning of his arrest, the Fort Worth Police Department immediately began an administrative investigation. Officer Rucker has been placed on restricted duty and stripped of all police powers during the course of the ongoing criminal and administrative investigations.

The Fort Worth Police Department holds its officers to a high standard both on and off-duty, and does not tolerate criminal misconduct or unethical behavior; therefore, a thorough investigation to collect and review the facts and the circumstances of these allegations will be conducted.

Officer Rucker has been with the department for seven years and was assigned to West Division Patrol at the time of his arrest.

Source: The Texas Police News

Police Make Bogus Tag Bust Tied to Social Media Ads

NBCDFW

Law enforcement officials in Central Texas hope the arrest of a man accused of selling a fake Texas temporary license plate could lead to more information about who is behind a series of Facebook ads advertising bogus tags for sale.

The arrest comes as welcome news for a Fort Worth car dealer, whose company name has been used on fictitious tags that the dealership did not issue.

As NBC 5 Investigates has reported, numerous ads seen on Facebook Marketplace in recent months have offered fraudulent tags containing the name of a Fort Worth car dealer, Powerplay Motors. But the license numbers that appear on those tags were not issued by Powerplay.

Read the Full Story

Thanks to Texas Police News for the information.

American Airlines and OSU-Tulsa host Girls in Aviation Day

More than 100 young women attended the Girls in Aviation Day event to learn about the exciting field of aviation. (Photo: AA)

FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines and Oklahoma State University-Tulsa (OSU) joined together to host the first Girls in Aviation Day this past weekend. Held at American Airlines Hangar 80, located at the airline’s Base Maintenance facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Women in Aviation International event focuses on introducing young girls to the exciting field of aviation, educating them on career opportunities, and bringing awareness to the many diverse fields within the industry — all areas American is keenly focused on.

“American Airlines has so many great opportunities to offer the next generation of aviation professionals,” said Stacey Brown, Director of Aircraft Overhaul at Tulsa. “It’s important we capture these young women early so they can see first-hand the many career opportunities that await them. The City of Tulsa has long played a critical role in American’s success, and we’re excited to connect with these impressive and aspiring aviation professionals from this important community.”

Read more from AA Newsroom…

Woman found buried under Texas home sent text message for help; police believe more women were victimized

Photo: KHOU.com

FORT WORTH, Texas — We are learning new details about the Arlington woman who was found buried under a Fort Worth home. For the first time, WFAA is hearing from a family friend who gave us insight into what happened days before her murder.

At 26 years old, Marissa Grimes did everything to be that perfect mother to her two children.

Read more at www.khou.com.

[Editors’ Note: Our hearts and prayers go out to the Grimes family and their friends.]

Ft. Worth Mayor Parker delivers a message regarding trial of former Ft. Worth officer

Atatiana Jefferson (L) and Former Ft. Worth Officer Aaron Dean (R)

The presiding judge has not yet set a date for the criminal trial of a former Fort Worth police officer charged with murder in the shooting death of Atatiana Jefferson in October 2019.

Mayor Mattie Parker on Friday shared a message with the Fort Worth community regarding the pending trial timeline:

“I hear, and share in, our community’s growing concern regarding the criminal trial of former City of Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean.

“Until this criminal trial is resolved, Fort Worth cannot reconcile or move forward as a more unified community, and more importantly, Atatiana Jefferson’s family and friends cannot begin to find healing.

“The full responsibility and sole authority to set the trial date lies with Judge Hagerman, and the city has no control over when the trial moves forward. I realize that Tarrant County courts are balancing a full docket with hundreds of cases that are lagging behind schedule due to the effects of the pandemic.

“Despite these obstacles, it is imperative that a trial date be set as soon as possible.

“As mayor, I am committed to ensuring the City of Fort Worth honors Atatiana Jefferson’s legacy and the family she left behind. I will be reaching out to her family to listen and better understand the best ways to accomplish that goal.”

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo canceled due to COVID-19

Originally set to take place Jan. 15-Feb. 6, the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will not be held in 2021.

Members of FWSSR executive committee voted Oct. 6 to cancel next year’s show after consulting with infectious disease experts and public health professionals. According to an organizational release, the stock show and rodeo draws more than 1.2 million guests annually and would create a high risk for further community spread of COVID-19.

“This is a heartbreaking decision for our leadership and was not made lightly,” FWSSR President Brad Barnes said in the release.

Read more from Community Impact…

The City of Fort Worth will host the Battelle Critical Care Decontamination System (CCDS)

Screen Shot 2020-04-29 at 11.29.18 AMThe City of Fort Worth in conjunction with Battelle Memorial Institute, Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the North Central Texas Trauma Regional Advisory Council (NCTTRAC) will begin accepting N95 filtration masks that have been used by First Responders or Health Care Professionals. Each mask will be inspected and complete a through decontamination process up to twenty times enhancing the life expectancy of this protective equipment important in the fight against Covid-19.

In order to allow current personal protective equipment (PPE) inventories to continue to stay above minimum numbers the FDA has approved Battelle to decontaminate N95 masks that are routinely considerable disposable. The site in Fort Worth will eventually be able to process up to 80,000 masks every 24 hours. The Battelle/Fort Worth site will serve as a regional hub and serve Texans from the Panhandle to the Piney Woods.

Health Care Organizations and First Responder Agencies will need to register with Battelle to receive information. “We are pleased to partner with a highly recognized organization such as Battelle to help coordinate this process of prolonging our PPE” said Ft. Worth Fire Chief James Davis. “It will allow Fort Worth to help our regional healthcare partners while continuing to provide care and maintain our inventory of N95 masks”.

For further information about Battelle and their process please visit their website at https://www.battelle.org.

Here’s Where You Can Get A COVID-19 Test For Free In DFW

BY WILL MADDOX 

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A COVID-19 mobile testing facility in New York, not unlike what you’ll find at Ellis Davis Field House and the American Airlines Center. ((U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Amouris Coss // Flickr Creative Commons)

MD Medical Group will be offering free drive-thru COVID-19 testing at nine of its DFW clinics. The tests will still require patients to be screened for flu and strep throat prior to COVID-19 testing, and appointments are required.

The state of Texas has some of the worst testing rates, and researchers predict that many of the hardest hit areas will be low-income neighborhoods in Dallas, which is also lacking data about who has been tested so far. Making testing geographically and financially accessible is important if the virus is going to be contained.

Read more from D Magazine…

‘We’re damn proud of it’: Fort Worth police chief praises community for finding Salem Sabatka

By Jake Harris

Updated at 8:35 p.m. Monday, May 20 with new information on Michael Webb’s bond amount.

Editor’s note: Due to the horrifying nature of this crime and the fact that the victim is a minor, WFAA will no longer show Salem Sabatka’s picture.

Less than 24 hours after she was kidnapped from her mother while taking a walk in their Fort Worth neighborhood, 8-year-old Salem Sabatka is back with her family and her suspected kidnapper is behind bars.

Screen Shot 2019-05-22 at 10.06.38 AM

Webb

Police have not yet released a motive for the kidnapping, carried out by 51-year-old Michael Webb of Tyler, who has a criminal record with a history of terroristic threats, sex assault and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, among others, according to records.

Read more from WFAA…