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DESOTO – It is not always that first responders from both the Police Department and the Fire Department, as well as city dispatchers, have the chance to be commended for a job well done.

At the City of DeSoto Council meeting last week, DeSoto Mayor Rachel Proctor and the City Council were able to commend the city’s first responders for locating a child who had gone missing but was found by first responders before the situation turned into a tragedy.

As explained by Mayor Proctor during the presentation, a Mayoral Commendation presentation was given to DeSoto First Responders in the case of a missing child who had slipped out of her house.

The incident happened on November 23, 2024, when three-year-old toddler Kaliayah went missing from her home.

Proctor explained, “She got up in the middle of the night, unlocked her front door, and went outside looking for her father after he had left for work.”

DeSoto Police and Fire Rescue searched tirelessly from door to door for over an hour and finally found her.

Proctor explained that DeSoto Paramedics checked the child out and returned her safely to her mother, Ashley Collins.

“It is with immense pride that we share our gratitude tonight as I stand before you to recognize the extraordinary work of our first responders,” Proctor said.

“Tonight, I bestow a mayoral commendation to these brave individuals because without their unwavering dedication and the grace of God, Mayoral Commendation presentation what could have potentially been a very tragic situation ended up with them locating the child and returning her home. So, through tireless work and dedication, I want to call up a few individuals here tonight: Emergency Dispatchers Kaneesha Dixon, Yamilet Rojas, Seth Thompson and, also, our Fire Department Whitley Fagan, Cornelius Henderson as well as those with the Police Department Officer Victoria Gonzalez, Officer Keith Ratliff, Officer Ramarlo Robertson, Officer Joel Hernandez and Officer Joshua Bush. Let’s put our hands together and give them a great big clap,” Proctor said.

The Mayor also recognized Police Chief Joe Costa and Fire Chief Bryan Southard.

Southard thanked the Mayor for recognizing the city’s dispatchers, the fire fighters involved and added “Our dispatchers, obviously we don’t do this for the recognition. When I called the firefighters and ask them to come [to the meeting tonight] they kind of gave me… well, they do it because they love serving people. Our firefighters, our dispatchers, and our police officers. You have got to have a heart to serve and a heart to do this,s and we are very thankful this had a very happy ending and outcome for the family and everyone involved.”

After the city council meeting, Chief Costa said, “I am very proud of the DeSoto Police Department and all those involved in this situation. We take these matters very seriously and we are very happy this incident resulted in a positive outcome for all.”

The post Desoto First Responders Awarded Mayoral Commendation in Case of Missing Child appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DESOTO – Former City Councilmember Kay Brown Patrick opened citizen comments with her thoughts about council discourse: “After the election, I really felt that the lack of unity and un-organization is the reason we have racism, fascism and authoritarianism that is going to be walking around the White House and to watch my own council continuously perpetuate that own discord. Then I saw conveniently there is an item on the [upcoming] agenda about council internal conflicts and dynamics. I have worked closely with council and local governments, and I have never seen the need for an agenda item to discuss internal conflict and dynamics among council members.”

Jerry Ravenel spoke next, thanking the city council for the Civic Academy Program they put together recently to help residents understand what city leaders and staff do. He thanked the staff and directors and said he could tell they took pride in making sure “the residents of this city were engaged; they had interactive discussions and were able to ask questions they felt needed to be asked.” Ravenel finished by saying that he was not aware of “the things this city has going for it, and it made me even prouder to be a resident.”

DESOTO – As Dallas clears its homeless population out of that city, it is no surprise suburbs like DeSoto are finding more of an uptick in the “unhoused” situation. At a Special DeSoto City Council meeting Monday night, one item on the agenda addressed the coming need to address this increase in numbers. The homeless situation in DeSoto falls to the Tri-City Regional Care Team, which encompasses not only DeSoto but also Cedar Hill and Duncanville, and it plans to include Lancaster and Glenn Heights in the future. DeSoto Lt. Melissa Franks is the Regional Team Coordinator, and at Monday’s meeting, she reminded the council that the City of Dallas has initiated programs to move its homeless encampments out of the city to clear up its communities.

On Friday, November 8, 2024, at approximately 7:54 p.m., police were dispatched to an active disturbance in the 400 block of Raintree Circle, DeSoto, Texas. The caller, an adult female, reported to dispatch that an unknown adult male armed with a pistol was in her backyard. During the 911 call, dispatch could hear screaming as the suspect attempted to force entry through the rear garage door. Multiple neighbors also called 911, reporting gunshots in the area. Police arrived on scene at the victim’s residence by 7:57 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers encountered the victim in front of her home. She informed them that she believed she had shot the suspect, who was likely at the back of the property. Police searched the premises and found the suspect lying on the ground inside the garage, with a pistol nearby. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Octavio Flores Mondragon, had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and another to the face. Officers secured the scene and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

The victim stated that she noticed a dark truck following her as she entered her neighborhood, and it pulled in behind her when she parked in her driveway. Concerned for her safety, she ran inside her home and called the police. She armed herself with her pistol as the suspect tried to break in, firing multiple shots to stop him. She then met officers at the front of her home when they arrived.

The suspect faces charges of Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Another Felony, a first-degree felony. No motive has been determined. The pistol found beside the suspect is believed to be the firearm he had during the incident.

No further details are available for public release.

The post Armed Intruder Shot by Homeowner During Break-In Attempt in DeSoto, Texas appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DESOTO— Two public hearings were for discussion only, including the FY 2025 Budget, as required by Article VII of the DeSoto City Charter. This budget was later passed during the regular agenda. The discussion during this public hearing had staff explaining the proposed tax rate of .684934 to fund the debt service and general fund operations. This rate is higher than the no new revenue rate of .613457 and equal to the voter approval rate of .684934. With this rate being equal to the voter approval rate the city is not required to hold an election for approval.