AROUND THE AREA & STATE
Suspect being booked into jail makes an escape
A man arrested on car theft charges escaped from authorities Thursday night while being booked into the Harris County Jail, officials said.
The man was being moved into the Inmate Processing Center at the county jail, 1200 Baker, about 8:30 p.m. Thursday when he fled on foot, authorities confirmed.
The man, identified as 30-year-old Chad Strong, was arrested on a car theft charge as part of a Harris County Precinct 7 Constable’s Office case, officials said.
Houston police and Harris County sheriff’s deputies had canine teams searching the area, but suspended the search about 10 p.m.
Strong, who was handcuffed when he ran, also will face an escape charge, officials said.
Dove hunters hit staff, prompt school shutdown
LUBBOCK — Dove hunters shooting too close to an elementary school in Lubbock prompted a lockdown after staff were hit with birdshot, police said.
Staff members at Willow Bend Elementary School hit by pellets on Wednesday were not injured and four of the hunters were released pending filing of charges, according to a Lubbock Police Department news release.
One of the hunters, Tyler Falgout, was arrested on unrelated charges, the Lubbock AvalancheJournal reported.
Man charged in confrontation with police chief
AUSTIN — A man who police say got into a confrontation with Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo at a downtown restaurant last week has been charged with misdemeanor assault, according to an arrest affidavit.
Michael Fitzsimmons, 57, pushed the chief with an open hand about 6 p.m. Sept. 3 at Eddie V’s restaurant at 301 E. Fifth St., the affidavit said.
A witness recognized Acevedo, who was in plain clothes, and asked him to help remove Fitzsimmons, who was asleep on the restaurant’s property and refusing to leave, the affidavit said.
“Chief stated that Fitzsimmons came to his feet and open-handed pushed Chief Acevedo in the chest,” according to the affidavit. “Chief Acevedo stated that he took Fitzsimmons to the ground physically detaining him until officers arrived.”
Fitzsimmons was shown booked in the Travis County Jail on Thursday, the Austin AmericanStatesman reported. He also has been charged with marijuana possession and is being held on $1,500 bail, records show.
Utility sues tree-trimming firm after fires
BASTROP — A $35 million lawsuit filed by a utility alleges a treetrimming company failed to properly maintain vegetation before 2011 Central Texas wildfires destroyed nearly 1,700 homes.
The lawsuit filed by Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative names Asplundh Tree Expert Co. of Willow Grove, Pa., the Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday. Asplundh spokeswoman Ronnie Gauker said the company declined comment Thursday.
The Labor Day 2011 blaze was started when strong winds knocked down trees that crashed into overhead power lines, causing sparks, according to a Texas A&MForest Service investigation.
Bluebonnet has been sued by more than 50 homeowners whose residences burned in Bastrop County.
Bluebonnet in 2005 contracted with Asplundh to manage vegetation, including trimming trees, along the utility’s 11,000 miles of power lines in 14 counties, including Bastrop. The lawsuit includes a signed agreement between the utility and Asplundh in which the contractor assumes responsibility and liability for any destruction of property that isn’t caused by negligence on behalf of Bluebonnet.