NCSO News

On Tuesday, April 21, 2015, at approximately 4:00PM, Nolan County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with DPS, and the Nolan County Constable responded to the area of the Sweetwater Middle School to assist officers of the Sweetwater Police Department. It was reported that a man, who was in the area, had exposed himself to children that were outside in after school athletics. After a search of the area was conducted, the suspect, Billy Eugene McQueen Sr., was located approximately 75 yards from the school property. McQueen was subsequently arrested by Sweetwater Police and transported to the Nolan County Jail, where he was booked for the offense of Indecency with a Child by Exposure.

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and Jail has been overcrowded since January 2000. For over 15 years, Nolan County has had to house a portion of our inmates out in other counties. The current jail, located inside the Nolan County Courthouse, has many other deficiencies as well that have affected its compliance with standards and rules promulgated by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. Finally in 2012 the Nolan County Commissioner’s Court purchased land and began preparing to build a new Jail and Sheriff’s Offices.

The issue of a new Nolan County Jail and Sheriff’s Office was voted on as two separate propositions in a bond election held as part of the general election in November 2012. Both issues passed with approval of the voters of Nolan County. Construction of the new facility began on September 30, 2013. While originally due to be completed October 31, 2014, the new Nolan County Jail and Sheriff’s Office will be now be ready to occupy in the next 4 to 6 weeks, or around June 1, 2015.

I want to personally thank the citizens of Nolan County for allowing us the privilege of having a nice new building. We will soon be able to house all of our Nolan County prisoners in our own new jail under one roof. This will save the taxpayers of Nolan County about $12,000.00 per month. I want to also express my appreciation for the patience the public has shown in getting this project finally brought to completion. The delays have been frustrating, but we are finally nearing the end of the construction phase.

We will be holding an open house once everything is completely done and we will announce that date as soon as it is narrowed down. Our new address at that time will be 211 Avenger Field Road, Sweetwater, Texas 79556. The new facility is located 3.5 miles west of the existing Nolan County Courthouse out on Loop 170 or Avenger Field Road.

Gratefully,
David Warren
Nolan County Sheriff

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking qualified, professional and career minded candidates for the position of County Jailer in the Nolan County Jail. All candidates must be of excellent moral character, and of good physical and mental condition.

Primary duties include the day‑to‑day application of plans and operating procedures that are required by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the Sheriff’s Office for the care, custody and control of inmates confined in the Nolan County jail.

Starting Salary: $36,998.88 per year plus benefits (Include; health, dental, and life insurance, retirement, vacation/sick leave)

Join our team, click here to download an application today!

AUSTIN – Texas game wardens have concluded two separate week-long enforcement operations in South Texas that led to the seizure of more than 10,000 feet of illegal gill net, approximately two tons of marijuana, and the filing of numerous other criminal cases.

The two operations – which involved dozens of game wardens — focused on detecting and reducing criminal activity including apprehending poachers, trespassers, human smugglers, and drug smugglers in rural areas along the south Texas border region.

Operation Brush Guard took place near Kingsville and Falfurrias while Operation Tilapia focused on Lake Falcon, near Zapata.  The combined operations included integral support from the U.S. Border Patrol, county sheriffs and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

While on Lake Falcon, game wardens seized nearly two tons of marijuana from three boats while conducting surveillance on gill netters from Mexico.

During Operation Brush Guard, 345 pounds of marijuana and 3.9 grams of cocaine were seized. Additionally, game wardens filed 14 citations and warnings, and made 4 arrests.

In total, seizures from both operations included 10,240 feet of illegal gill net, 5 vessels, 4 outboard motors, 9 vehicles, 3.9 grams of cocaine, and 4,291 pounds of marijuana.

April 14^th to the 20^th is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and during that week, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office will be recognizing the diligence and professionalism of our Telecommunicators. We would like to encourage others to recognize them as well. Our dispatchers receive emergency calls and what they do with those calls can often greatly influence the outcome. The pressure and stress of the job is high, and the hard work they do every day deserves thanks from all of us.

Since 1968 – 44 years ago – 9-1-1 has served as the vital link between the American public and emergency services, and it is with great pride that our highly skilled Public Safety Dispatchers who have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, and treatment of patients be recognized for their efforts.

Public Safety Agencies nationwide take one week a year – the second full week in April – to recognize the pivotal role played by telecommunicators, dispatchers, communications operators, radio control personnel – ALL those people, by whatever job title, who utilize telephones, radios, computers and technical skill to provide support to Law Enforcement, Fire Services, Emergency Medical Services and other governmental field personnel. Each year, National Telecommunicators Week is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. In 1991, Congress proclaimed it as a special national week of recognition.

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office encourages everyone to take a little time to think about the crucial role played by our communications officers. They handle thousands of phone calls, dispatch deputies, firefighters and paramedics, and do their utmost to keep the public safe as they perform one of the most stressful positions in law enforcement.

Anyone who wishes to do something to recognize these hard working individuals, contact Sergeant Brock Carter at (325) 235-5471.

In honor of these dedicated men and women, here is a review of the rules to follow when you call 911 to report a crime or emergency:

When Should You call 911?

911 Emergency calls should be made only in cases such as a crime in progress, such as a fire, a medical emergency, or a similar immediately threatening case. A possible 911 situation can involve something you see – a burglar breaking in to a neighbor’s house, a fire, an automobile accident. It can also involve what you hear – a woman screaming or yelling “Don’t hit me again,” gunfire, an explosion or glass breaking. Also, a reckless or suspected drunk driver is always a 911 call. They’re potential killers not only of themselves, but of innocent bystanders as well.

Before you call, gather as many facts as you can under the circumstances and write them down so you won’t forget them. Take a second look – a minute gathering more complete information may be worth the delay. If you are describing a person, important points include the race of the person, whether it is a male or a female, what the person is wearing, the color of his or her hair and any other outstanding characteristics. With a car description, a tag number is great if you can get it, and a report that the vehicle had a ladder on top or a dented left front fender is more useful than simply describing the vehicle as a “white van”. The job of the communications officer is to gather as much pertinent information relative to the situation as possible and to keep you on the phone if at all possible. This action better prepares deputies coming to your aid.

What to expect when you call 911

When you call 911 emergency lines, one of the first things you will be asked is “Is this an emergency? This question is a necessary one because unfortunately, some people do call 911 for non-emergencies. Communications Officers must often deal with 911 calls for directions, weather conditions or traffic information. This misuse of 911 is unacceptable, and has the potential of delaying true emergency calls.

Once it is established you do have an emergency situation, the Communications Officer will ask you a series of questions in an effort to get enough information so he/she can send the proper assistance to you as soon as possible. Try to answer the questions as calmly and clearly as possible. Help will be sent to you right away, and the more cooperative you are over the phone, the faster help will arrive. When you call 911, a computerized system will automatically tell the Communications Officer your address and phone number. If you have any special medical conditions you can register that information with the Sheriff’s Office and that information can be included in the system, and will be available to Communications officers when you call. The officer will continue to talk with you after help has been dispatched to you. The longer he/she can keep you on the phone and the more information that can be relayed to the responding deputy, ambulance or fire truck, the better and safer the situation is.

Misuse of the 911 Emergency System

Unfortunately a substantial number of 911 calls received by Communications Officers are not of an emergency nature. If you are reporting a non-emergency situation such as a suspicious person, a previously stolen bike or a dog continually barking, 911 is not the proper number to call. The Sheriff’s Office offers non-emergency phone numbers for the reporting of such calls. Your call will still be handled appropriately, but this will allow true emergencies to be handled first.

Let me re-emphasize: 911 is for emergency calls only and is not equipped to answer questions, give directions, weather forecasts or road conditions. How would you like it if you had a real emergency and someone else was tying up the Communications Officer asking where the closest post office is? To report a non-emergency call, the following phone numbers may be called 24 hours a day: Nolan County Sheriff’s Office (325) 235-5471, Sweetwater Police Department (325) 236-6686.

On Monday, January 21, 2013 at approximately 6:30AM, Nolan County deputies responded to assist Mitchell County law enforcement who were engaged in a high-speed vehicle pursuit traveling eastbound on Interstate 20. It was reported that a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper who was working stationary radar on Interstate 20 in Mitchell County had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a speed violation. The vehicle was described as being a small teal colored, SUV with Oklahoma plates occupied by three men. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver exited and began firing at him. After firing three shots at the trooper, the driver re-entered the vehicle and fled eastbound at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The trooper was not injured in the gunfire and initiated a vehicle pursuit as the suspects continued to fire at him. The trooper lost sight of the vehicle near the community of Loraine in eastern Mitchell County, but it was later located abandoned on Farm to Market Road 1230 near mile marker 230 of Interstate 20, just inside Nolan County. The Texas Rangers arrived on scene and led the investigation as residents in the immediate area were contacted, and a search of all buildings, structures and vehicles was conducted. Tracking dogs, horses and a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft were all utilized to search the area near the abandoned vehicle, but the suspects managed to elude detection and remained at large. Just after 2:00PM, a tip was received from citizens when three males arrived at a house in southeast Colorado City in Mitchell County. After conducting an investigation, the three suspects were found to be hiding and barricaded inside the house. A perimeter was set up and several houses nearby were evacuated as a safety precaution. Law enforcement officials from around the area including the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and Sweetwater Police Department assisted and supported the Texas Department of Public Safety and Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office on the scene until the three suspects were ultimately apprehended. After a near 10-hour standoff, entry into the house was made by DPS SWAT just after midnight and all three suspects were found hiding. Two suspects from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma were transported to the Mitchell County Jail and a 16-year-old boy from Edmondson, Oklahoma was transported to the juvenile facility in Taylor County. Myron McDonald Jr., 22, is being held on charges of attempted capital murder, felon in possession of a firearm and evading arrest. Christopher Deshawn Johnson, 24, is being held on charges of attempted capital murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Charges are pending against the juvenile suspect. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident and their findings will be presented to the Mitchell County District Attorney’s Office. McDonald and Johnson both have criminal records in Oklahoma including gun violence.