Monday, October 27

Breaking News

Latest breaking news and developing stories from Houston Stringer, covering major incidents and local stories across the U.S. and worldwide.

HPD, TX DPS and SWAT officers serve warrant in Humble
Harris County

HPD, TX DPS and SWAT officers serve warrant in Humble

HUMBLE, TX – Houston Police Department officers, including members of the SWAT team, along with Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers, served a warrant Thursday morning in the 17800 block of Alpine Brook. https://youtu.be/DMGq6ieT6Mc The location is within the Claytons Park subdivision in Humble. Several people were detained at the scene, but no information has been released about them. We will update if more information becomes available.
Man alleges he was wrongfully detained outside downtown Houston apartment after neighbor’s false accusation while streaming
Houston

Man alleges he was wrongfully detained outside downtown Houston apartment after neighbor’s false accusation while streaming

HOUSTON, TX – A man, who also goes by nsy.chino on Instagram, alleges he was wrongfully detained by police outside his downtown Houston apartment Monday evening while he was live streaming, and the encounter was captured online, after a neighbor described him as “suspicious.” https://youtu.be/B8ReefBt8UE The encounter occurred around 5:20 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. when officers responded to a call from a woman who reported someone was knocking on her door and attempting to enter. When she later saw the man, she told officers he looked suspicious even though he had just come out of his apartment. Video from the livestream begins after the man was already in handcuffs and shows him arguing with the neighbor while denying involvement in the initial complaint. He noted that he does not have...
DEA Houston uncovers major marijuana warehouse in Stafford, 18 arrested
Texas

DEA Houston uncovers major marijuana warehouse in Stafford, 18 arrested

STAFFORD, TX – DEA Houston Division executed a search warrant this morning at 4003 Greenbriar Drive, uncovering a significant illegal marijuana warehouse. Photo Credit: DEA Houston Division According to DEA Houston, agents along with Stafford Police and other local law enforcement agencies discovered several undocumented individuals working inside the warehouse. A total of 18 people were arrested, identified as nationals of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. They are now being processed for deportation by ICE. Photo Credit: DEA Houston Division DEA Houston and Stafford Police seized more than 1,000 pounds of marijuana during the operation. Photo Credit: DEA Houston Division The DEA Houston Division credited the assistance of Stafford Police Department, Houston ...
Man arrested in Louisiana confesses to 2024 fatal shooting in Houston
Houston

Man arrested in Louisiana confesses to 2024 fatal shooting in Houston

According to the Houston Police Department Homicide Division, a man has confessed to killing 27-year-old Willie James Whitlock in a 2024 shooting on Guadalcanal Road in Houston. https://youtu.be/4fsFVW7SiXA Kedar Andrey Smith, 28, was identified as the suspect in the August 17, 2024, shooting. He was arrested in Louisiana by the Louisiana State Police and Alexandria Police Department and remains held at the Rapides Parish Jail. Smith is charged with murder in the 488th State District Court in Harris County, Texas. Police said officers found Whitlock lying in the street with gunshot wounds. He was transported to Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, where he was pronounced deceased. Smith later confessed to his role in Whitlock’s death after being taken into custody. He remain...
Houston Airports opens integrated coordination center at IAH
Texas

Houston Airports opens integrated coordination center at IAH

HOUSTON, TX – Houston Airports has opened its first Integrated Coordination Center (ICC) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, bringing together federal security, police, and airport operations into one unified hub for the first time. Photo Courtesy of HAS The ICC centralizes the Airport Operations Coordination Center, TSA Security Operations Center, Houston Police Department, gate control, maintenance dispatch, and terminal operations. The facility is designed to streamline communication and improve public safety by monitoring landside, airside, and terminal operations around the clock. It can also shift into emergency command mode during severe weather, major events, or security incidents. “This is about keeping Houston safe, prepared and connected,” said Houston Mayor John W...
Serial child predator charged and arrested in Harris County
Texas

Serial child predator charged and arrested in Harris County

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Detectives with Constable Mark Herman’s Special Victims Unit arrested Christopher Ballard, 34, after an investigation revealed multiple cases of sexual abuse involving children. The investigation began on August 26, 2025, following a report that led to the discovery of multiple victims. According to Constable Herman’s Office, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office accepted multiple first-degree felony charges, including continuous sexual abuse of a child, aggravated sexual assault of a child, and indecency with a child. Ballard was taken into custody by members of the Special Victims Unit and the Special Operations Unit without incident in the 15500 block of Aldine Westfield Road. He was transported to the Harris County Jail, where he was booked and char...
Firefighters respond to grass fire along Little White Oak Bayou
Houston

Firefighters respond to grass fire along Little White Oak Bayou

HOUSTON, TX – Firefighters responded to a grass fire in the 2800 block of North Main Tuesday afternoon around 1:30 p.m. https://youtu.be/amvbd7hroIk The fire was located next to Little White Oak Bayou. Smoke from the fire was visible from the Eastex Freeway and the 610 North Loop interchange. The cause of the fire and whether there were any injuries is not known at this time.
Bicyclist fatally struck by pickup truck on Watonga
Houston

Bicyclist fatally struck by pickup truck on Watonga

HOUSTON, TX – A bicyclist was fatally struck by a pickup truck in the northbound lanes of Watonga Boulevard Tuesday morning. https://youtu.be/HJnFeqndgkc The collision occurred around 10:15 a.m. in front of the Bend @ Oak Forest apartments in the 4000 block of Watonga. According to Houston police, a GMC pickup truck was exiting the apartment complex when the bicyclist collided with the vehicle. The cyclist, described as a man possibly in his 60s, was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased. Police confirmed the driver of the pickup truck was not intoxicated. If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Houston Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Harris County residents speak out against budget cuts, long-term spending increases
Harris County

Harris County residents speak out against budget cuts, long-term spending increases

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Community leaders gathered Tuesday for a press conference to denounce proposed Harris County budget decisions they say will harm residents while increasing long-term costs. https://youtu.be/fpVeb4vY8iY The event, titled “Harris Co. Residents Refuse to Pay the Price for Bad Budgets,” centered on concerns over cuts to housing, health care, and community programs while funding for permanent police spending increases continues to grow. Speakers criticized what they described as irresponsible long-term spending and unrealistic fiscal assumptions that could leave Harris County residents bearing the consequences for years to come. Leaders urged officials to prioritize sustainable investments in housing, health, and essential services rather than shifting costs onto ...
Judge Hidalgo warns of $220M budget deficit, criticizes “smoke and mirrors” fixes
Harris County

Judge Hidalgo warns of $220M budget deficit, criticizes “smoke and mirrors” fixes

HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo held a press conference Tuesday to address confusion surrounding the county’s budget deficit, which she placed at $220 million. She presented documents outlining expenditures that add up to the deficit and detailed which budget recommendations were not followed. https://youtu.be/Kj9SSKOVY4I Hidalgo said the claim that the deficit has been reduced to $48 million is inaccurate, pointing out that Commissioners Court has yet to finalize any cuts and will not do so until the September 9 meeting. She accused some commissioners of using “doublespeak,” such as calling cuts “efficiencies” or “vacancy control.” Hidalgo said the current proposal relies on $64 million in one-time funding, which she described as unsustainable. She warned t...