Here's a daily list of crimes across North Texas compiled on March 17, 2009.
DALLAS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAGUED BY SPIKE IN BURGLARIES
Over the past two weeks, the number of residential break-ins has continued to rise in the Walnut Hill and Webb Chapel area of Dallas, police said. Police said they are flooding the area with a specialized team of marked and unmarked units who go actively looking for criminals, trying to catch them in the act. Tuesday, as a direct result of their work, police said they arrested a prolific burglar that may be responsible for up to five break-ins in the area. Click here to read this story on NBCDFW.com.
MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN 2007 HIT-AND-RUN
A 23-year-old man's guilty plea Monday wrapped up the criminal cases of six people charged in a fatal hit-and-run on April 7, 2007, the Star Telegram reported. On that night, three vehicles struck 18-year-old Gerardo Bencomo as he chased a man across Texas 121 and Sylvania Avenue. Nicholas Kyle Whitaker was the only driver that did not stop, authorites said. Instead, he ended up driving to his girlfriend's house and getting his friends to help him burn up the hit-and-run vehicle. Whitaker was sentenced to four years of probation.
TEEN THROWING ROCKS INJURES TODDLER, POLICE SAY
A 15-year-old boy, who was among several people standing on a sidewalk throwing rocks at passing cars, injured a toddler who was in the backseat of a Chevrolet Tracker, Fort Worth police said. The 2-year-old girl's mother was driving in the 3000 block of Las Vegas Trail at about 5 p.m. Monday when the rock flew through the open window and struck the toddler on the cheek. The toddler's cheek was red and swollen from the impact. The teenager admitted to throwing the rock and was arrested, the Dallas Morning News reported.
MAN SENTENCED IN CHILD PORN CASE
An ex-North Richland Hills resident who was found with child pornography during an undercover investigation into peer-to-peer file sharing networks has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison, the Star Telegram reported. Officers found more than 100 images during a raid of James Randall Madewell's house. Madewell admitted that he downloaded pictures of children engaging in sexual conduct, according to the U.S. Attorney in Dallas.
DALLAS COUNTY INMATES GET NEW DIGS
Between 100 and 200 inmates will be the first to settle into the new Dallas County jail Tuesday. The facility is the first in the county to have guards inside the housing area with the inmates, providing around the clock supervision.
