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A male suspect is dead following an early morning fatal officer-involved shooting in DeSoto.

Police were initially called to the 1100 block of Greenbriar Drive shortly after 4:00 AM Sunday after the unidentified armed suspect, a Hispanic male who was carrying a small child and was accompanied by two women, began knocking on random residential doors and trespassing through their front and back yards.

When police arrived, they encountered the male suspect who was armed with a handgun and was holding a small child. The man then threatened to shoot any police officer he encountered. Officers tried to talk to the man and deescalate the situation but the group fled into a creek behind the homes where police temporarily lost visual contact. Police formed a perimeter and encountered the group about 30 minutes later in the 1200 block of Springbrook Drive. They continued to talk to the man who was holding the gun in his hand and tried to get him to drop his weapon and let the small child go but he remained uncooperative.

Fearing for their safety and that of the child, one officer who was armed with a rifle fired on the suspect striking him. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene by DeSoto Medical Personnel.

Police are still working to identify the deceased male. The two women who were with the suspect were taken in for questioning but were not successful in helping the police identify the suspect. The child was turned over to family members.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave per departmental policy. Grand Prairie Police are the outside agency investigating the officer-involved component of the shooting. The Public Integrity Unit of the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office was also notified and responded to the scene. The involvement of both agencies is routine after an officer-involved shooting and is designed to ensure an objective outside investigation.

The post BREAKING NEWS: Suspect Dead After Early Morning Officer-Involved Shooting in DeSoto appeared first on Focus Daily News.

DESOTO—Last week, Kim Britton, Deputy Executive Director of Star Transit, presented an update to the DeSoto City Council regarding the company’s services. Antonio Harris, the company’s Transportation Director, also attended the meeting.

During the presentation, Britton highlighted the increasing trend of monthly trips for demand-response services. In 2024, there were 5,762 trips compared to 4,886 in 2023. The presentation also noted a significant rise in ridership for same-day services, with a total of 10,329 trips reported. These rides included activities such as shopping, visits to senior centers, and medical visits.

Britton started by providing information on the services offered by Star Transit in DeSoto, then proceeded to discuss the budget for Fiscal Year 2025 and service improvements.

She mentioned that Star Transit does not have a dedicated sales tax but does receive grant subsidies.

Star Transit currently operates in DeSoto in a Demand Response Dial-a-ride format, offering service from Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Rides can be booked up to two weeks in advance.

Since 2018, rides can go anywhere in DeSoto or the service area, and even outside that parameter for medical services. The service area includes the Glenn Heights UNT Station, the Social Security Office, the DART Redbird Transfer and the Redbird Health Complex, as well as Glenn Heights Park and Ride and Cedar Hill or Duncanville.

Star Transit’s fares are based on distance and range from $1 to $12.

Service efficiency was measured using the information provided regarding the introduction of the STARNow app. Same-day service has improved rider experience, leading to 96% positive reviews. The average wait time for rides has decreased from 24 minutes in 2021 to approximately 15 minutes in 2024.

Star Transit also offers staff that can help riders with disabilities, however, staff does not go into the home or to doctor’s appointments.

This ride does not cost riders. These are part of the grant funds program.

Britton also reminded Star Transit offers promo codes for discount rides for trips like job fares or voting.

Over the last few years, Star Transit has been working with TxDot and NCTCOG on grants and ways to improve services.

Star Transit is now receiving grants and last year they received 60% of the cost of $539,125 from federal subsidies for 323,475 in DeSoto Star Transit costs. That left 40% of the city’s portion at $215,650 to be paid breaking down to a monthly amount of $17,971.

Currently, Britton said DeSoto operates 38 hours of service every day with Star Transit, and the company charges per hour. Every year, the Board of Directors determines the cost of service per hour. Last year, it was $55, and this year, FY 2025, it will be $56.75.

Britton mentioned the company’s Lyft Pilot Impact, which launched in DeSoto in December 2022. The Lyft pilot program has resulted in shorter wait times, reduced costs per trip, and better control over monthly expenses. The current service model now includes UberX Share as an option, enhancing service delivery, and Britton said it will go into the company’s service portfolio and will no longer be just a pilot program.

Councilmember Place 3 Nicole Raphiel asked Britton about the current capacity compared with demand.

Britton said it depends on the demand response threshold of 10%, which would be the case before they would come to the city and say they needed to add capacity.

Britton emphasized, “We ca

The Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) laboratory has confirmed that mosquito samples in DeSoto have tested positive for West Nile Virus. The samples were collected from mosquito traps from the DeSoto 75115 zip code. In conjunction with the Dallas County municipalities, mosquito abatement teams are responding by treating impacted areas. DCHHS has scheduled ground spraying in DeSoto on August 28, 2024, 9:00pm to 5:00am, and August 29, 2024, 9:00pm to 5:00am, weather permitting.

A map is attached and spray areas are posted online. For better resolution and the ability to zoom in and zoom out please reference the County’s online map at http://www.dallas.leateamapps.com/PublicMap/

Dallas County Health and Human Services encourages residents in affected areas to be a part of the solution by eliminating insect breeding areas and larvae before they develop into adult, flying mosquitoes. Standing water can be treated with EPA-approved larvicides (aka Mosquito Dunks) that are available for free to DeSoto residents with address verification from the Action Center in City Hall. The Action Center will also provide residents with insect repellent at no charge.

• DEET All day, every day: Whenever outside, use insect repellents that have the active ingredient DEET or other EPA-registered repellents and always follow label instructions.

• Dress: Wear long, loose, and light-colored clothing outside.

• Drain: Drain or treat all standing water in and around your home or workplace where mosquitoes could lay eggs.

• All Day long: Day, Dusk and Dawn. Limit your time outdoors mosquitos are active anytime day or night.

Residents should remain inside during the time sprayers are in the area. Spraying will not be conducted in the event of wind speeds more than 10 mph or during inclement weather. A detailed map of the spray area can be viewed below.

Please note that spraying is handled by Dallas County and NOT the City of DeSoto. If you need additional information about West Nile Virus and its prevention, visit the County’s website at https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/dchhs/communicable-diseases/west-nile-virus.php

The post Ground Spraying by Dallas County Scheduled in Parts of DeSoto Late Night August 28th & August 29th, Weather Permitting appeared first on Focus Daily News.

UPDATE FROM DESOTO POLICE – Omar Brown was located this afternoon (8/27/2024) around 3:15pm by police in the 200 block of E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, TX. He was unharmed and reunited with his mother. Thank you to the citizens that aided police with Omar’s safe return.

ACTUALIZACION DE LA POLICIA DE DESOTO – Omar Brown fue localizado esta tarde (8/27/2024) alrededor de las 3:15pm por la policía en la cuadra 200 de E. Pleasant Run Road, DeSoto, TX. Estaba ileso y se reunió con su madre. Gracias a los ciudadanos que ayudaron a la policía con el regreso seguro de Omar.

The post Missing DeSoto Man Found Safe by Police appeared first on Focus Daily News.

Editor’s Note: When covering City Council meetings, our goal is to provide a recap/overview, including citizen comments for those residents and interested parties who cannot attend or watch the meetings. We encourage everyone to watch the meetings themselves for additional information or context.

DESOTO – Place 6 Crystal Chism and Place 7 Letitia Hughes were not in attendance at Tuesday night’s city council meeting. Hughes was on a virtual call and able to comment and vote as necessary.

At the opening, Place 2 councilmember Pierette Parker wanted residents to be aware of a virtual public meeting on August 22 to discuss road construction off Parkerville and Hampton Road in the southern part of the city.

Resident Arthur Anderson spoke in public comment and said he had appeared before the council several times and was still waiting on answers he asked on April 16 and May 7. He said he has documented written correspondence “which has been routinely ignored.”

Anderson said, “We have a pattern of injustices being committed in DeSoto now with accountability and the lack of integrity on full display for the entire city. The officials who are responsible for serving the people ignore and deflect with no commitment to justice. Too many people in DeSoto have experienced injustices, and one of them is Dr. Dinah Marks, who is the rightful mayor pro tem.”

Anderson said, “Today, though, I want to address a repeated issue of people in this city being above the law and weaponizing the police.”

Anderson held up a document that was a police case where police were called for an allegation of assault that was listed as harassment. Names were not called, but Anderson said the document reported the incident was unfounded and the incident did not occur, and it appeared there was a false police report filed to have someone in the neighborhood arrested. He went on to explain this was similar to another case brought to the council based on a person who was claiming to be the victim of an assault with a gun, which was based on a false report on someone in the neighborhood to have them arrested after losing the election to the HOA Board of Directors.

“There was no evidence of any crime,” Anderson explained, as well as no motive, witness, or weapon, and the police report stated when they arrived at her 911 call, she was in the front yard watering her flowers. There was also another person in the neighborhood who said he had reported this same woman’s harassment on city property and at his home, and he was told he could not file a report against her and the police would “talk to her because they knew her.”

Anderson then asked why people with relationships with the chief of police, the mayor, and Councilmember Chism can make false reports, have people arrested, and not be held accountable?”  He wanted to know what steps would be taken on this matter.

Tracy Nelson spoke during public comment and said she was discussing the possibility of the city partnering with Vesper to affect an energy storage facility at the corner of Eagle Drive and Westmoreland. “We are extremely opposed, so we have to speak to you and let you know we are going to do that at every opportunity.”

Bernadine Harrison spoke and mentioned she would be referring to Councilmember Place 5 Dr. Marks as the mayor pro tem “because you are the mayor pro tem under Roberts Rules of Order, and what I don’t quite understand is we have a city attorney here and I am sure we the people pay his salary and I do not understand why, if there is an issue, the attorney does not clarify that issue and share with us where we have gone wrong or perhaps where the mayor has gone wrong. As I said, this issue is not going to go away. We are still very upset about it, we followed the rules, came to a conclusion and then certain members of this body chose to change those rules at will. Again, I say you cannot do that.”

Harrison