NCSO News

You can, however, use fireworks outside the city limits (out in the county), on private property. When using fireworks, on your private property, outside the city limits, please remember to read and follow all instructions and avoid lighting the fireworks near flammable items or in areas where there is dry grass or brush that could catch fire. Just a reminder, Nolan County is under a burn ban, which means conditions are right for grass/brush fires; we hope that you will consider using smaller, less incendiary fireworks as a result of the burn ban.

The following things are prohibited under the Texas Occupations Code Title 13, Subtitle D, Chapter 2154:

Sec. 2154.251.  PROHIBITED USE OF FIREWORKS.  (a)  A person may not:

(1) explode or ignite fireworks within 600 feet of any church, a hospital other than a veterinary hospital, an asylum, a licensed child care center, or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless the person receives authorization in writing from that organization;

(2) sell at retail, explode, or ignite fireworks within 100 feet of a place where flammable liquids or flammable compressed gasses are stored and dispensed;

(3)  explode or ignite fireworks within 100 feet of a place where fireworks are stored or sold;

(4) ignite or discharge fireworks in or from a motor vehicle;

(5) place ignited fireworks in, or throw ignited fireworks at, a motor vehicle;

(6) conduct a public fireworks display that includes Fireworks 1.3G unless the person is a licensed pyrotechnic operator;

(7) conduct a proximate display of fireworks that includes Fireworks 1.3G or Fireworks 1.4G as defined in NFPA 1126 Standards for the Use of Pyrotechnics Before a Proximate Audience unless the person is a licensed pyrotechnic special effects operator and has the approval of the local fire prevention officer; or

(8) sell, store, manufacture, distribute, or display fireworks except as provided by this chapter or rules adopted by the commissioner under this chapter.

(b) A person may not manufacture, distribute, sell, or use fireworks in a public fireworks display without an appropriate license or permit. Fireworks manufactured, distributed, sold, or used without an appropriate license or permit are illegal fireworks.

In addition to extra patrols focused on intoxicated driving over the holiday, deputies will be prepared to enforce laws related to illegal fireworks, issue citations, and confiscate fireworks being used outside designated areas (on public property).

Each year deputies respond to complaints of Fourth of July gatherings that get out of hand due to intoxication and disturbing the peace. These complaints include physical injury, property damage, or neighborhood disturbances. If you are impaired in any way when you use fireworks, you increase the possibilities of misuse and injury to yourself and others. Citizens should consider that damage or injury caused by a careless act involving fireworks can bring significant civil liability.

If camping with family and friends, please remember to use extreme caution with your campfires and grills. Only light fires and grills in designated areas, never leave a fire or grill burning unattended, and always have plenty of water available. As you enjoy your Fourth of July celebrations, please remember to have a designated driver if you’ve been consuming alcohol – do not drink and drive.

On Thursday, January 2, 2020 at approx. 7:26AM, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a resident on County Road 126 about a suspicious subject.  A white male began knocking on the resident’s door and was asking to buy some bottled water.  This individual was acting strange and said he had been lost in the area for over 6 hours.  The man was given some water and provided with directions to the Interstate (I-20) highway.  The man left walking in the direction of the interstate.

At some point later, the man was given a ride to the I-20 Rest Stop located at about the 257 mile marker of I-20, about 4 miles inside the east side of Nolan County.  The resident then called the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office to report this individual and his unusual behavior.

A Nolan County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched and upon arriving at the I-20 E. bound rest area, encountered the male subject.  The man was very evasive with the Deputy and appeared to be providing a potentially false identity and conflicting information about his actions and movements.

Shortly afterwards, around 8:30AM, another NCSO Deputy arrived and recognized the subject as Edward Weldy.  Mr. Weldy has been a previous resident of the Nolan County Jail on several previous occasions.

The two Deputies recontacted Weldy and learned that there was an active arrest warrant issued for Weldy for Parole Violation.  The warrant was a “no bond” violation warrant issued by the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole.  Once Weldy was aware that the Deputies knew who he was, he bolted and ran away on foot to the south of where the Deputies had located him.  Weldy ran south from Interstate 20 into a heavily wooded area.  The initial Deputy gave pursuit on foot and other law enforcement officers and agencies began responding.

The entire pursuit of this fugitive lasted almost exactly three (3) hours with Edward Weldy being taken into custody at 11:35AM.  The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received great assistance from the following agencies:

32^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office Investigators

Texas Parks & Wildlife Department – Game Wardens, including a specialized K-9 Game Warden stationed in Nolan County along with another traditional Game Warden.

Texas Department of Public Safety – Highway Patrol Troopers

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) tracking dogs and horseback search crew.

The quick response and assistance from so many officers was instrumental in keeping the suspect contained within a particular area.  A subsequent spotting of the suspect by a BNSF Supervisor was crucial in narrowing the search area leading to the ultimate capture of Weldy.

Weldy will have an additional charge of Evading Arrest added to the parole violation.

Edward Van Weldy, white male, age 33, current address – Nolan County Jail, forwarding address – Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

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2019 has been a busy year for the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office.  An area that the Sheriff’s Office continues to excel in, is in the area of illegal drug investigations.  Our success is due to a great collaboration between the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office along with the 32^nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Abilene office of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

A key part of our success has also been due to the excellent level of cooperation our office has received from citizens.  Residents calling in tips and giving us valuable intelligence is a crucial part of the effort to combat this type of criminal enterprise.  “Without your help and confidence in us, we would not be this effective” said Nolan County Sheriff David Warren.

The Patrol Deputies of the Sheriff’s Office are to be commended as well for their daily efforts of being the eyes and ears throughout the county.  These Deputies have stopped numerous offenders and violators, made many drug arrests and continued to feed valuable information to the Criminal Investigation Division all while performing their multitude of other duties.  “I am truly blessed to have such a dedicated and competent staff” stated Warren.

A focus for 2019 was to take as many drug dealers off the streets of our county as possible.  Starting in 2017, the CID section of NCSO has conducted a series of operations, with the other two entities previously listed, that have netted a total of 34 felony arrests of drug dealers with most of those being arrested in 2019.  These particular players were not just the “low lying fruit” or just “users” but instead were dealers well up the supply chain that were responsible for bringing in large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, crack cocaine, powder cocaine, marihuana and other illicit and illegal substances.  “These substances have ruined many lives in Nolan County and are always responsible for a myriad of other crimes committed against our friends and neighbors” Warren commented.  Several of the ones arrested have come here to Nolan County from other parts of Texas or the United States, simply to profit from selling their poison here in Nolan County.

There have thankfully been some tough sentences handed down thanks to the efforts of committed citizens, diligent prosecutors and strong judges here in Nolan County.  The sentences handed down thus far range well over 200 cumulative years with a 90-year sentence on one major drug dealer handed down just a couple of weeks ago.  Several of these offenders remain in our jail awaiting their turn for prosecution.

You may have seen some of our successes in the headlines throughout the past year, but our efforts continue night and day and many times going unnoticed.  Over the last three years, we have made a total of 310 drug arrests, 27 burglary arrests, 20 Unauthorized Use of Vehicle arrests and many other felony cases against criminal offenders in Nolan County.  During this period we have recovered 12 stolen vehicles and a substantial amount of assorted stolen property including guns, jewelry, knives, tools, etc..  “We won’t slack off and we don’t give up.  We work for you, the citizens of this great county, and we will continue to make Nolan County a safer place to live, work and raise your family.” stated Sheriff Warren.

On Friday, December 20, 2019, Investigators with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office, 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) executed an operations plan to affect the arrest of Dalton Dauel, a known fugitive. Mr. Dauel has been avoiding detection by law enforcement and in the meantime, was believed to be armed as he has been committing numerous crimes against persons and property. The investigators along with an officer with the Sweetwater Police Department found Mr. Dauel barricaded in a residence located in the 800 block of Sam Houston. Once discovered, he fled the area on foot and after a brief pursuit, Mr. Dauel was apprehended without incident in the 600 block of West Arkansas. He was then transported to the Nolan County jail and released to jail staff.