Suspect in deputy's shooting found dead after SWAT standoff

By Michelle Homer, Leigh Frillici & Courtney Zubowski / 11 News
CHAMBERS COUNTY, Texas – A man suspected of killing a Chambers County deputy was found dead inside a mobile home Monday night, ending a 10-hour SWAT standoff.

A neighbor said the trouble began in the Tower Terrace subdivision at West Osage and Apache around 9:30 a.m. when someone went to Gilbert Ortez’s mobile home to shut off the water because the bill hadn’t been paid.

Another neighbor, who was outside with her dogs at the time, said she was shocked to see what happened next.

“The wife came out and they were having words, so she shot at the water lady,” said the woman. “And that’s when the water lady ran and she must have called the cops.”

Chambers County deputies went to the home to arrest the woman, who investigators identified as Ortez’s girlfriend, Pamela Leggett.

But when deputies arrived, the neighbor said Ortez opened fire, hitting Deputy Shane T. Detwiler in the head.

“The guy started pop, pop, pop, shooting,” the neighbor said by telephone.

Deputy Detwiler died at the scene. His colleagues had to wait for the gunfire to stop before they could retrieve his body.

Officers from the Chambers County Sheriff’s Department and DPS, as well as ambulances, fire trucks and a Life Flight helicopter, were called to the scene.

The frightened neighbor said she spent hours hiding in her bathroom until deputies evacuated her late Monday afternoon.

“This is ridiculous. I want to get outta here,” she said by telephone.

The neighbor said deputies also went to Ortez's home last Friday because of a disturbance.

The neighbor's name was withheld for her protection.

At one point during the standoff, a robot took a phone inside the mobile home to try and establish communication with Ortez. Officers also tried to smoke him out with tear gas around 4 p.m., but he didn’t budge.

Officers had not been in contact with Ortez since the morning. When they entered the home around 7:30 p.m., they found him dead. Ortez had been shot, but investigators aren’t sure if it was suicide or if he was killed by one of the officers’ bullets.

Deputy Shane Detwiler [left] leaves behind a wife and three small children and was a decorated veteran of the Iraq war.

READ THE FULL STORY AT KHOU

Palm Tree Arsonist Strikes Again

GALVESTON, Texas — Early Thursday, a tree arsonist set ablaze three more of the island’s palms, bringing the number of torched and blackened trunks to 34, authorities said.

Meanwhile, the Galveston fire marshal’s office enlisted the help of a trained dog and handler from Pasadena’s Fire Department.

As Texas Forest Service crews marked trees killed by Hurricane Ike’s September saltwater flood, one or more arsonists have been burning palms since May.

Galveston Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson said one man, who police said was carrying an empty gas can while fleeing police last month, has not been charged with arson and there have not been any other arrests related to the burned trees.

A resident phoned authorities about 5:45 a.m. Thursday, giving police a description of a man on a bicycle seen leaving the scene of three burning palms at 16th Street and Avenue M.

Although the three trees were close together and just a foot or two from a two-story house, the flames didn’t impinge on the structure, Robinson said. The trees have mostly been set ablaze south of Broadway, Robinson said.

Robinson asked anyone who sees someone setting a tree ablaze to call 911.

This story is available through KHOU, Ch. 11's partnership with The Galveston County Daily News.

UPDATED: Houston Area 4th of July Fireworks Events

HOUSTON—The 4th of July means fireworks across the U.S. and Houston is no exception.

There are dozens of celebrations in our area, but the largest is the Freedom over Texas festival this weekend. It is presented by Shell.

The free event is at Eleanor Tinsley Park. This year, organizers are honoring Houston’s military heroes and the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Country singer, Texas native Clay Walker will be the main act. He will take the stage at 8 p.m. Right after that at 9:30, fireworks will light the sky.

If you’re thinking about heading there you should know about some road that will be closed.

On Thursday, a couple of lanes along Allen Parkway were closed. They include roads between Taft Street and downtown.

Also, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Allen Parkway will be completely closed to traffic.

If you’re in The Woodlands, there are several events where you can celebrate.

First there is the Star-Spangled Salute which is being held Friday night at the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion.

You’ll hear patriotic music presented by the Houston Symphony.

Friday at 9 a.m. you can see the South Montgomery Parade which runs through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street.

Finally, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. you can head to the Red, Hot and Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza at Town Green Park and Waterway Square.

There’s also a lot to celebrate in Fort Bend County Saturday, July 4 th.

In Sugar Land, the festivities include The Red White and Blue Fest at Oyster Creek Park. Those events begin Saturday and run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

The city of Stafford and the Fort Bend Symphony will celebrate by treating the public to a free patriotic concert.

Freedom Rings 2009 will be held at the Stafford Centre and starts at 5 p.m.

In Missouri City, the public is being treated to a July 4 celebration at Buffalo Run Park.

The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and the fireworks blare into the night sky at 9.

Chevy Freedom Over Texas Fireworks
Location: Eleanor Tinsley Park
website: www.chevysfreedomovertexas.com
This is by far the largest celebration in the city of Houston, and the fireworks display is one of the biggest in the state. Montgomery Gentry will headline. The festival starts at 4 p.m. with performances by local acts. If you don't feel like braving the crowds, you don't have to miss our on the fun; just tune in to ABC13 from the solitude of your couch.

The Houston Symphony 4th of July Celebration
Location: Miller Outdoor Theatre, Herman Park
Led by principal pops conductor Michael Krajewski. Enjoy an All-American salute to commemorate Independence Day, and end the evening with fireworks presented by the Miller Theatre Advisory Board.

Sam Houston Race Park
website: www.shrp.com
The park celebrates Independence Day with special family-friendly activities and a spectacular fireworks display.

Firecracker Hotbox
Location: Gulf Greyhound Park
website: www.gulfgreyhound.com
Come see some of the nation's hottest greyhounds compete.

Kemah Boardwalk
website: www.kemahboardwalk.com
The 4th of July fireworks launch at 9:30 p.m.

SplashTown Fireworks Spectacular
website: www.splashtownpark.com
The park sends up the explosives after dusk.

Fire destroys Galveston seawall condos

By Chris Paschenko
The Daily News

Published June 4, 2009
GALVESTON — At least 60 units of a Galveston resort were gutted Wednesday by fire, which was started accidentally by welding contractors who were renovating the complex damaged by Hurricane Ike, fire officials said.

Firefighters were called at 2:19 p.m. to Maravilla Resort Condominiums, 9520 Seawall Blvd., and found fire spreading between the second and third floor.

“It was the workers out there doing welding and cutting,” Fire Chief Mike Varela Sr. said of Fire Marshal Gilbert Robinson’s determination. The contractors had a city permit for renovations and were employing a fire watch, Varela said.

Galveston firefighter Gary Vasquez suffered from heat exhaustion and was taken by ground ambulance to Mainland Medical Center in Texas City and released, Varela said.

A medical crew treated some of the contractors at the scene, but they weren’t taken to a hospital, Varela said.

The blaze began in the rear of the complex, working its way toward the seawall side of the structure. About 120 firefighters, including those from Jamaica Beach, Santa Fe, Hitchcock, La Marque and Texas City were called to the island and helped evacuate about 30 or 40 people from the building. They also fought the blaze and manned fire stations here. There were no further injuries, Varela said.

Firefighters focused their attack at the center of the complex, where Varela said a fire break helped them control the blaze about 5:30 p.m.

Much of the upper units of the three-story complex were gutted, and many more sustained smoke and water damage, Varela said.

Lloyd W. Rinderer, an assistant city manager for Galveston, said he lost his condo of six years to the blaze. Rinderer, who is also treasurer of the condo’s homeowner’s association, said he would reside on his boat at The Galveston Yacht Club, just as he did not long after the storm.

“We were a month from completing Hurricane Ike repairs,” Rinderer said of the Sept. 13 storm’s damaging effects. “There were 164 units and there were about 10 people who were actually living there.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Massive fire destroys dozens of beachfront condos in Galveston

Massive fire destroys dozens of beachfront condos in Galveston
06:50 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 3, 2009

By Michelle Homer / 11 News
GALVESTON -- Every firefighter in Galveston battled a huge 5-alarm fire on the island's West End Wednesday afternoon. The blaze at the beachfront Miravilla Resort Condominiums burned out of control for several hours.

The fire broke out around 2:15 p.m. and Galveston fire crews were on the scene minutes later.

Even off-duty Galveston firefighters were called in to help battle the blaze.

They also brought in help from surrounding communities including Jamaica Beach, Texas City, La Marque and Santa Fe.

When Air 11 first arrived, the flames were confined to one corner of the complex.

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Within minutes, the fire had spread to dozens of other units. There are 164 units in the complex.

"We went from an offensive to a defensive fire real quick to not put the firefighters in harm's way because the fire was spreading so quickly," said Galveston Fire Chief Mike Varela.

The wind shifted in the middle of the fire, adding to their challenge.

Everyone inside was evacuated safely, according to Galveston officials.

The flames spread quickly through dozens of units at the Miravilla condos.
One firefighter was transported to an area hospital after suffering heat exhaustion.

"His blood pressure was down real low and they were trying to get it stable again," said Varela.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

County hurricane advice: ready supplies, ice, digital TV

By JARED SEROTA
Updated: 06.02.09
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is projecting a near-normal hurricane season for 2009. Still this prediction does not mean that Harris County residents should not be prepared for the worst.

That was the message from Harris County Judge Ed Emmett at a press conference in the Houston Transtar emergency command center on Monday, the first day of the 2009 hurricane season.

And the county has made its own preparations to handle distribution of emergency supplies, Emmett revealed.

“FEMA and the state of Texas will be responsible for getting the supplies to us, and then we will take it from there,” he said.

Emmett advised all residents to stock Emergency Supply Kits and those with special needs to register for evacuation transportation by dialing 2-1-1.

Emmett said that there is no way to guarantee how soon relief will arrive after a disaster and urged every resident to “Get the supplies in your home that will allow you to survive for 72 hours or even longer without having any relief come from any agency.”

After Hurricane Ike hit Houston last year, many residents were without ice and could not keep their medicines cool. In order to ensure that residents have ice, Emmett suggested that all residents fill up empty milk jugs with water and freeze them.

Potential TV problem

Stephen Lee, a resident agent for the Federal Communications Commission, spoke at the press conference to urge residents to be ready to make the switch from analog to digital television. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of being ready for this transition,” said Lee.


READ THE FULL STORY HERE

2009 Hurricane Forecast To Be Released Today

Forecasters to make predictions about 2009 hurricane season

Top federal weather forecasters on Thursday will be announcing their eagerly anticipated predictions for this year's Atlantic hurricane season -- a season likely to be as active as last year.

Officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others will make their forecast public at a news conference to be held at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia.

On hand will be Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco and Bill Read, NOAA's National Hurricane Center director, along with a host of other federal officials.

Government forecasters were right on the mark with their 2008 predictions -- a very active hurricane season. The numbers: 16 named storms, eight hurricanes, five of them major.

Scientists had projected that the 2008 season would bring 12 to 16 named storms that would grow into six to nine hurricanes, two to five of which would be Category 3 or stronger.

Gerry Bell, NOAA's lead seasonal Atlantic hurricane forecaster, has said the gradual warming of the Atlantic Ocean, combined with an active tropical era of storms that began in 1995, will likely mean busy hurricane seasons in the future.

Florida was spared the worst of last year's hurricane season. Only Tropical Storm Fay struck the region hard.

That was not the case for our Caribbean neighbors. Cuba and Haiti got pounded by a succession of major hurricanes and storms, resulting in heavy damage and lost lives.