Police release sketch of suspects who assaulted, robbed postal worker

Houston -- The United States Postal Inspection Services is asking for the public’s assistance in finding two men that assaulted and robbed a postal mover in midtown while delivering the mail.

The incident occurred on Thursday, June 20 at approximately 11:30 a.m. in the 1700 block of Tuam.

The mailman had just parked his truck and was about to distribute the mail to a row of boxes in front of a townhome when he said two men in their 20s casually walked up to him and began to chat.

The letter transporter said the men wanted whatever he had in his pockets. They eventually pulled out a gun and hit him on the right side of his face. Both suspects are describe as 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds.

Information which leads to the apprehension and filing of charges on the suspects involved can earn a reward of up to $5,000.

Call U.S. Inspector Shadowiness at (281) 512-8525 if you have any information regarding this case. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Crime and Punishment in texas

Texas laws currently recognize five types of felonies and three types of misdemeanors. Every crime in the TPC is classified as one of these eight types.

Felonies

The different types of felonies are capital, first degree, second degree, third degree and state jail. The most serious offense is capital felonies.

Misdemeanors                                           

The three types of misdemeanors are class A, B, and C. Misdemeanor sentences are serve in county jails.

Offense	Punishment
Capital Felony	Execution
First Degree Felonies	5 to 99 years, $10,000 Fine
Second Degree Felonies	2 to 20 years, $10,000 Fine
Third Degree Felonies	2 to 10 years, $10,000 Fine
State Jail Felonies	180 days to 2 years, $10,000 Fine
Class A Misdemeanors	Up to one year, $4000 Fine
Class B Misdemeanors	Up to 180 days, $2000Fine
Class C Misdemeanors	$500  Fine

For more information visit at: http://houstoncriminalattorney.com

Police warn about increase in car burglaries

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Crime Tracker alert -- Houston police say they're seeing a big jump in car break-ins in neighborhoods across the city. And it's particularly become a major concern for residents on the northwest side.

Right now police are warning you that locking your cars just isn't enough. Burglars are on the prowl, and they're hitting some northwest side neighborhoods pretty hard. Resident parked a Buick in Oak Forest. Its locks were popped with a screwdriver; crooks ripped out the stereo and stole speakers from the trunk.

"Well, it's scary," said Diane, a concerned neighbor. "It's definitely scary."Scary, since neighbors are learning the Buick is among a string of cars and trucks thieves broke into this week in areas across northwest Houston.

"We've had a significant increase here in The Heights," said HPD Sgt. Chad Wall. "It's actually a little over 50 percent."Sgt. Wall says some drivers are making their cars simple targets for thieves."The problem is they are leaving purses, computers, and all that kind of stuff in their vehicles," he said.

Using 13 Eyewitness News' exclusive Crime Tracker, we looked at reported motor vehicle burglaries across northwest side patrol beats, including neighborhoods like the Heights  Westport, Timbergrove, Oak Forest and Garden Oaks to name a few. The data shows police responded to 211 car burglaries in those areas between January and March last year, compared to the 368 break-ins during the same time this year. That's a 74 percent increase.

As for that Buick, it was later found abandoned about two miles away. Diane said, "It doesn't seem to matter what neighborhood you live in, it's going to happen."Police say car burglaries in some areas like Sunset Heights are actually down about 14 percent, but that doesn't mean you should let down your guard.

George Zimmerman Judge Orders Jury to Be Sequestered During Trial

The Florida judge presiding over George Zimmerman's murder trial reversed herself today and announced that the jurors will be sequestered for the trial. The Florida judge presiding over George Zimmerman's murder trial reversed herself today and announced that the jurors will be sequestered for the test.

In February 2012, Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., shot and killed 17-year-old  Trayvon Martin after a confrontation in the dark.

Judge Debra Nelson said that during the trial she will consider motions to admit details as evidence on a case-by-case basis, outside the presence of jurors who will decide if Zimmerman is guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin.

Earlier the judge had ruled that the six-member jury and four alternates would be anonymous, but declined to have them sequestered. The racially charged case has attracted national attention.

Jurors are rarely sequestered, isolated by the court away from their families and their homes, for a second degree murder trial. On Wednesday, a potential juror assigned the number E7 told the court he had little knowledge about the case. However on an earlier Facebook posting months ago the juror appeared to have written “I CAN tell you THIS. Justice…IS coming”.

An ABC News search of the Facebook page revealed that a person resembling E7 wrote on March 21, 2012 the same date as on the court record.

The posting also alleged a conspiracy involving Zimmerman and local police.Both counsels approached the bench, and the judge asked him about a Facebook post, and he confirmed it was his. Lawyers from both sides today were confronted with outright bias by potential jurors.

In four days of jury selection at least 24 jurors are in the potential jury pool and 85 have been dismissed. Lawyers on both sides are trying to find 40 potential jurors before they begin a more intense question-and-answer session known as voire dire.

Both sides are wary of potential moles, individuals who say they know little about the case that made national headlines because they are eager to be picked.

The stealth juror is one that says the answers that everyone wants to hear but inside has a secret, hidden agenda, said veteran defense attorney Mark Eiglarsh, a legal analyst. Analysts say Nelson's decision to sequester the jury could be to protect them from outside influence.

Suspect in Northwest Houston police chase wanted in connection to murder

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A murder suspect was arrested after police say he led them on a chase through northwest Houston Tuesday afternoon.

Police started chasing a white GMC Yukon around 6:15pm near the area of Hempstead and Antoine.

SkyEye HD was overhead as the suspect led authorities through several side streets for about 15 minutes. He finally came to a stop at an intersection in the 7800 block of Kempwood, where a spike strip had been laid out.

Officers quickly surrounded the car with their weapons drawn and pulled the suspect, identified as 35-year-old Lawade White, out. He was tackled, handcuffed and taken into custody.

Woman dies in Texas carjacking, attacker sought

A carjacking in a North Texas neighborhood has left an elderly woman dead and police looking for the attacker. Arlington police say the incident began around 8:30 a.m.

Tuesday as a woman described as being in her 80s pulled into her driveway. Police say a suspect approached and he assaulted the woman.

A man who saw the incident struggled with the suspect but the attacker drove off in the woman's car with her inside. 

Police say the woman's body was discovered around 10 a.m. Tuesday dumped a couple miles from her home.

The attacker and her car (a silver 2010 Lincoln MKZ with Texas license plate number 2GYDW) are missing. Her car was later found abandoned in an apartment parking lot.

Police say the victim suffered head trauma. An autopsy has been ordered. Her name wasn't immediately released.