Teen Faces Murder Charges; Mailbox Blown Up
The Brenham Banner-Press
• A 17-year-old from Navasota who is facing murder and assault charges in Washington County has been released on bond. Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak confirmed that Tru’Von Sweed posted an $80,000 bond and was released from custody on July 29. Sweed was certified last week to be tried as an adult on charges stemming from a fatal shooting in Old Washington on March 15, 2020. 20-year-old Derrick Anthony Davis, Jr. of Hempstead was killed, and two others were wounded. Sweed, who was a juvenile at the time of the shooting, will be tried for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit assault with a deadly weapon, and deadly conduct.
• Two Washington County residents, including a juvenile, were taken into custody after being accused of blowing up a mailbox. According to a release from Washington County Sheriff Otto Hanak, deputies responded to a home in the 4000 block of FM 332, southwest of Brenham, just before midnight on July 29 . Deputies met with the homeowner, who told them that unidentified suspects had placed an explosive device inside his roadside mailbox, causing a loud explosion and total loss to the mailbox. The suspects then fled the location in a vehicle. Deputies followed up on information provided and identified the suspects as 19-year-old Dustin Michael Hunter and a 16-year-old. After obtaining an arrest warrant, authorities arrested Hunter for criminal mischief. He was booked into the Washington County Jail with bond set at $1,500. The juvenile was also charged with criminal mischief and taken to Washington County Juvenile Probation.
Hallettsville Tribune-Herald
• On July 26 one accident took place around 7 a.m. when a black Honda motorcycle traveling north on Hwy. 77, approximately three and a half miles south of Hallettsville, collided with a silver Ford F-350 truck pulling a Trav LS trailer. The motorcycle, driven by Bryan Baumann, 30 of Victoria, struck the front of the truck. Which was turning into a private driveway at the Hallettsville Municipal Airport. Baumann was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the pickup, Dillon Reeh, 27 of Fredricksburg, and passenger, Trapper Burkett, 42, were uninjured. Conditions at the time were very foggy and visibility was reduced with the accident taking place on a small hill near the airport.
• Just an hour and 45 minutes later on July 26, another fatality took place on FM 531, approximately four miles south of Shiner. The accident occurred when a 2013 International Dura Star Truck towing a 2006 CFWS Pole trailer traveled off the side of the road for unknown reasons. The driver Kevin Ramos, 25 of New Braunfels, overcorrected causing the truck and trailer to go into a sideways skid and roll left over right. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected. Ramos was transported to the Yoakum Community Hospital where he later died from his injuries. An investigation into the accident is ongoing.
The Navasota Examiner
• A vehicle-robbery suspect from Bryan, 18 year old Erwin Cruz Guzman, led Grimes County Deputies on a multicounty pursuit reaching speeds up to 130 miles-per-hour. Grimes County Sheriff Deputy Kevin Harris said on July 24 he observed a black Toyota Camry traveling southbound at a highrate of speed on N. LaSalle St. in Navasota. He turned around and initiated a traffic stop. Harris stated the vehicle pulled into the parking lot of Carroll’s Giant Burger momentarily then fled. The vehicle turned onto Texas State Hwy. 105 W. toward Brenham. Harris said Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies engaged spike strips three times, but those attempts failed. The pursuit continued onto Texas State Hwy. 290 E. into Waller County. After two unsuccessful attempts to disable the vehicle by Waller County Sheriff’s Deputies, Hempstead Police performed a PIT maneuver to disable the vehicle just west of FM Rd. 362. Harris said four suspects were surrounded at gunpoint. Officers learned the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Antonio. Officers recovered an ounce of marijuana, 20 shell casings, and a level 4 tactical bullet proof vest. Harris said after being mirandized, none of the suspects claimed ownership of the marijuana, so they were all charged with possession of marijuana. The driver, Guzman, was arrested and charged with evading arrest with a vehicle, and possession of marijuana. Jose Cardoza, 18, and Eldridge Chase Seagroves, 17, both of Bryan and John Michael Juarez, 18, of San Antonio were charged with possession of marijuana. Grimes County Sheriff’s Office also stated the suspects are persons-of-interest in three-armed robbery cases in Bryan.