On Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 10:28 p.m., Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputy Raul Polanco initiated a traffic stop on a 2016 Ford Focus for a traffic violation on Runion Road in Tom Green County. The vehicle was being operated by Logan Gaitan. As Deputy Polanco approached the vehicle and was interviewing Gaitan, he could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle was initiated and approximately 9.8 pounds of marijuana was found in a card board box in the back seat of the vehicle.

Gaitan was booked into the Tom Green County Jail for the offense of Possession of Marijuana over five pounds and under fifty pounds, a third degree felony offense. Justice of the Peace J. P. McGuire magistrated Gaitan on Sunday, July 23, 2017. Gaitan was released from custody after posting a $10,000 bond.

Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office K9 Pusinka has received body armor.

Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office K9 Pusinka has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. K9 Pusinka’s vest is embroidered with the sentiment “In memory of K9 Jethro, Canton, OH Police Department”.

Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c (3) charity located in East Taunton, MA whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. The non-profit was established in 2009 to assist law enforcement agencies with this potentially lifesaving body armor for their four-legged K9 officers. Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provided over 2,600 protective vests, in 50 states, through private and corporate donations, at a cost of over 2.1 million dollars.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

The donation to provide one protective vest for a law enforcement K9 is $1,050.00. Each vest has a value between $1,795 – $2,234 and a five-year warranty, and an average weight of 4-5 lbs. There is an estimated 30,000 law enforcement K9s throughout the United States. For more information or to learn about volunteer opportunities, please call 508-824-6978. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. provides information, lists events, and accepts tax-deductible donations of any denomination at www.vik9s.org or mailed to P.O. Box 9 East Taunton, MA 02718.

Heroes for Heroes Blood Drive,

come save lives and vote for your favorite local hero!

UPDATE: Shane and Sally Investigation Moving Forward

On July 10th the Federal Bureau of Investigation Evidence Response Team (ERT) deployed from Dallas, Texas to Tom Green County to assist in two crime scene searches, one located at O. C. Fisher Reservoir and the other at Twin Buttes Reservoir. These crime scenes are related to the homicides of Shane Stewart and Sally McNelly (1988).

These highly trained and equipped teams operate at an exceptional level of competence to ensure evidence is collected in such a manner that it can be introduced in courts throughout the U.S. and the world.

The Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office has made a commitment to the solving of this case and will leave no stone unturned until this case is solved. The ERT’s response was a direct offer of support originating with the local FBI office.

Members of the ERT systematically searched the crime scene and items of possible evidentiary nature were recovered and will be submitted for laboratory testing.

As the investigation continues to unfold, the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information on the murder of Shane Stewart and Sally McNelly to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 325-655-8111 or at the Sheriff’s Office web page listed below. If people with information wish to remain anonymous they can also contact Crime Stoppers at 325-658-HELP.

http://www.tomgreencountysheriff.org/

The Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating six stolen guns. The guns are described below.

.22 caliber Colt model 1877 Old Frontier Scout revolver with yellow grips

.22 caliber Colt model 1877 Old Frontier Scout revolver with black grips

.22 caliber Colt model 1877 Old Frontier Scout revolver with pearl grips

.22 caliber Walther model P22 handgun

.308 caliber PTR model rifle with camo colored stock

.22 Hornet caliber H&R model 157 rifle with wood stock.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of these guns or any information pertaining to the theft of the guns, please contact Sgt. Corey Speck at 325-655-8111.