LA Crawfish serves up Louisiana close to home - Page 7
WEDNESDAY • JANUARY 25, 2023 JEANNE GREGORY REALTOR®, CRS, GRI, ABR
Fort Bend / Southwest • Volume 48 • No. 17 • $1.00
Court Documents: Accuser in family violence case changes story By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
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Suspect in local murder remains in Louisiana
Missouri City police officer Robin Williams remains on administrative leave following an accusation of family violence. (Contributed photo)
deputy saw a video taken last August in which Williams is shown using her baton to strike Taylor on his body and legs several times while using expletive-laden and threatening language in an argument over a cellular phone. According to the complaint, Taylor told police that Williams had also used her department-issued Taser on him in August. Williams made an initial court appearance in a Harris County court on SEE ACCUSER PAGE 5
Houston Astros utility player Davide Hensley interacts with a fan during last Saturday's Caravan Jam event at Constellation Field in Sugar Land. Fans braved the cold weather for a chance to meet players and see the World Series trophy. (Photo by Ken Fountain)
Fans meet Astros, see World Series trophy in Sugar Land By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Hundreds of Houston Astros fans braved the chilly weather for the chance to meet and get autographs from three hometown heroes at the Caravan Jam event at Constellation Field on Friday. As well as meeting pitcher Seth Martinez, catcher Korey Lee, and designated hitter and infielder David Hensley, fans also got the chance to get up close and personal with the Commissioner's Trophy, which the Astros
won after clinching their second World Series victory last year. The free event had a full, family-friendly atmosphere, with fans being able to play catch on the outfield of the home field of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Minor League team affiliated with the Houston Astros. There were also opportunities to meet the Shooting Stars and mascots Orbit and Orion. Fans arrived early and waited patiently for the park to open. "I came because I love the
Chad Stewart and Sandy Callahan of Sugar Land get their photo taken with the World Series trophy. (Photo by Ken Fountain)
team. I think they've got some good players, and I'm looking to get an autograph
from some of them," Chris Tica of Richmond, said. "Oh, yeah, I want to see that
World Series trophy," the lifelong Astros fan said. "It's an opportunity to see the trophy, the first time I've ever seen one in my life, I may as well get that done," said Nico Rodriguez, also of Richmond. "And see some of the players I've watched all season here at the Space Cowboys games. It's nice to see them grow up and do something really great with their careers. Hopefully get an autographed ball." Zachary Wolff, a young Astros fan from Sugar Land, SEE FANS PAGE 5
Stafford council addresses concerns of gunfire, fireworks By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
Thompson
A Missouri City police officer and declared candidate for Houston mayor remains on administrative leave after being accused of family violence by her live-in boyfriend. But the accuser may have changed his story, according to a court document. Robin Williams, 32, was placed on administrative leave by the Missouri City Police Department after being charged earlier this month with continuous violence against family, a
third-degree felony. She is a four-year veteran of the department, according to Det. Medina, acting as a departmental spokesman. According to the charging document filed January 9, Germaine Taylor told police that Williams had used her department-issued police baton to strike him multiple times in the house they shared in south Houston. He also told police that she had struck him in mouth, causing him to bleed. The charging document also stated that a Harris County constable's
Star struck
By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM
The suspect in the shooting death of Sugar Land resident and Alief ISD teacher Wendy Duan remains in a Louisiana jail after refusing to waive extradition, according to a city spokesman. Sugar Land police responded to a shooting January 7 at 9:50 p.m. in the 1100 block of Oxford Mills Lane. Neighbors told police they heard shots fired. When officers arrived, they found Duan dead in the backyard with multiple gunshot wounds. Duan, a reading teacher at Alief ISD"s Boone Elementary since 2017, lived alone at the house. Detectives quickly identified Charvas Thompson, 26, of Houston after interviewing witnesses at the scene, reviewing nearby video and confirming his vehicle from license plate recognition cameras in the area, according to authorities. Witnesses told police an argument led to the shooting, and Thompson drove away in his vehicle. Duan began dating Thompson a week before she was shot and killed, according to the release. According to media reports, Duan's mother has said the two met through an online dating service. An arrest warrant was issued charging Thompson with murder and setting his bond at $500,000. Sugar Land police worked closely with the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force and the Western District of Louisiana Violent Offenders Task Force and located Thompson in Shreveport, according to authorities. At a hearing last week, Thompson refused to waive extradition, according to Doug Adolph, a spokesman for the City of Sugar Land. That will lead to Fort Bend authorities having to go through a formal extradition process through a Louisiana court, which could take several weeks, Adolph said. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information about the case should to contact the Sugar Land Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at (281) 275-2540 or report anonymous tips to Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS.
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Responding to concerns from residents over illegal fireworks and so-called celebratory gunfire over the recent holiday, the Stafford City Council devoted much of its January 18 meeting to explaining the law around fireworks and trying to find a path forward.
Several citizens had hoped to speak at the previous meting on January 4, shortly after the the use of fireworks and reportedly gunfire during the Christmas and New Year's holidays in the Promenade at Stafford Run neighborhood, including an incident in which a bullet reportedly came through a resident's ceiling. However, since the subject was not related to an agenda
item at that meeting, they were prevented from doing so. That was rectified at last week's meeting when the topic was the first listed item on the agenda. City Attorney Art Pertile of the firm Olson & Olson gave a PowerPoint presentation which laid out in specific detail the state laws regarding the use of fireworks and firearms, including areas where he
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said the state law hampers municipalities. Stafford, like the majority of Texas municipalities, prohibits the use of fireworks by private citizens within city limits, Pertile explained. Exceptions are made for professional fireworks displays that are approved by the city and for the use of road flares, he said. But those bans do not apply to places that are un-
SEE STAFFORD PAGE 5