From the Desk of Chief Ray Schultz

Bicycle Safety – Bunker Hill Elementary School. Thursday was, ride your bike to school Day for Bunker Hill Elementary School. Officer Torres and Sergeant Pavlock joined kids and parents riding to school on their bicycles, while officer Silliman joined them on the electric motorcycle. Spring Branch Police Officers covered the intersections along Taylorcrest ensuring a safe ride for students. 

Senior Parade – Last Saturday morning the 2023 Senior Class from Memorial High School held their Annual Car Parade. Over two hundred students decorated their vehicles in the school colors of the college they will be attending next year. Most popular were Texas A&M University and Texas Tech, LSU was third and Ole Miss a distant fourth.   Congratulations to this year’s senior class. Check out a short video of the parade here. https://youtu.be/trWKmJZQ5nI

Police Week – This week has been National Law Enforcement Week across the country. National Police Week is celebrated on whatever week May 15 falls in, under President Kennedy’s decree to honor the men and women who risk their lives every day in the line of duty — it takes place from May 15 to 21 this year. It is also a time for police officers to honor their fallen colleagues, make sure those surviving them are supported, as well as to remember their commitment to keeping people safe. On Wednesday Bunker Hill Mayor Robert Lord presented the MVPD with a proclamation honoring the men and women of the department.

Thank you to the residents who provided Astro’s tickets and tickets to a play at the Under the Stars Theater this week.  We held drawings and sent the lucky winners to the events.  As always, your generosity is very much appreciated.

We continue to see a very disturbing trend of unregistered vehicles traveling across the Houston community. Often these vehicles display fake, fraudulent, or unregistered license plates. This week we have been targeting these specific vehicles with enforcement.  You will see below how long some of these vehicles have been driving around without being properly registered. Several have not been registered for years, and one has never been registered. Vehicles that are not registered for more than 6 months and non-insured are subject to being towed.

On Wednesday and Thursday, Officers Baldwin, Ortega and Vasquez joined officers from across the state as they ran in the 2023 Special Olympics Torch Run.  The MVPD was well represented and helped raise funds for the Special Olympics. Great Job Team MVPD.

The newly updated and remodeled 911 emergency dispatch center continues to be fine-tuned. Our dispatch personnel are ensuring that all equipment is operating properly and efficiently. A video showcasing the new technologies is being put together so we can show you the completed center in the next week or so.

Yesterday several of you called asking what was going on S. Piney Point Road at the Bayou. Someone had called Houston about possibly seeing what they thought might be a body floating in the bayou upstream from the villages.  HFD placed staff on the bridge and monitored the area, however nothing was located. The roadway was reopened a short time later.

Last week I forgot to include a picture of Officer Vasquez teaching a bicycle safety class at BHE. Officer Vasquez is finishing up her first year as our new SRO/D.A.R.E. officer and what a terrific job she has done. Officer Vasquez has been active at all our schools in the villages, even where D.A.R.E. is not currently part of the curriculum. She stops by regularly to meet with students and staff, eat lunch with students, read to students, drive through the parking lots, and walk the hallways. Thank you Officer Vasquez for keeping our kids safe.

Have a great weekend. Chief Ray Schultz rschultz@mvpdtx.org

Weekly Crime Report

Operating a non-registered and non-insured vehicle cases/incidents. Vehicle(s) towed.

5/13/23 at 0645. 900 Bingle. Non-registered since 7/2022.

5/13/23 at 0730 Hours. 400 Voss. Non-registered since 10/2022.

5/13/23 at 0915. 10900 Wickwild. Non-registered since 5/2020.

5/13/23 at 0930. 500 Voss. Non-registered since 2/2020

5/15/23 at 1315 Hours. Warrenton at Memorial. Not-registered EVER.

5/18/23 at 0700 Hours. 400 Blalock. Non-registered since 6/2022.

Hunters Creek

5/13/23 at 1030 Hours. 900 block of Huntington Cove.  Unlawful Use of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle entering the villages on Voss Road.  Officers were nearby and located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. The driver was observed to be sitting on shattered glass that was on the seat and floorboards of the vehicle. When asked about the vehicle, he stated that a friend who he only knew as “Little-D” loaned him the vehicle.  When asked why he had borrowed the vehicle he stated he was going to sell some shoes, however the subject had no shoes with him. The victim was contacted, and he stated that his vehicle was stolen from his driveway and that a window had been busted out when it was stolen. The victim stated he did want to file charges against the unknown male. The DA’s Office was contacted and accepted the charges. The 19-year-old male suspect was transported and booked into the Harris County Jail. The vehicle was towed, and the victim notified.  On May 14, 2023, at 0251 hours, Officers were notified that a Harris County Judge released the suspect without bond stating that probable cause did not exist for the detention of the suspect ???.  MVPD detectives will refile charges on the suspect who was in possession and driving the stolen vehicle, sitting on glass, who had borrowed the car from Little-D and ask for the court to have the suspect post bond, wear a GPS ankle bracelet and not commit any additional crimes while on release.  

5/13/23 at 1215 Hours. 10900 block of Wickline. Burglary of a Vehicle. The victim (a contractor) stated that shortly after arriving at the job site his vehicle was broken into, and money and tools were stolen. (Window punch) The victim had just left the Wells Fargo Bank on Long Point Road before arriving at the job site. The victim had made a withdraw from the bank. A check of area ALPR cameras located a Gray Mazda CX5 with Texas Plate RKV2934 following the victim from the bank to the job location. Information was collected and provided to detectives who have taken over the investigation.

5/13/23 at 1330 Hours. Voss at Memorial Drive. Failure to Stop and Give Information (FSGI). The victim reported that a silver BVMV had struck his vehicle but failed to stop and provide any information about the driver or insurance. A review of a nearby ALPR located the suspects’ vehicle and license plate.  Information was provided to detectives for their follow-up investigation. An accident report was completed.

5/18/23 at 1100 Hours. 8400 Block of Katy. Fraud.  The victim located several business account issued checks that had been washed and reissued to unknown persons. The checks had gone out through the U.S. Mail. Information about the checks and cashing parties was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

Piney Point

5/16/22 at 0800 Hours. 1-100 block of Stillforest. Identity Theft. The victim reported that they received notice of a fraudulent tax return being filed utilizing their personal information from the IRS. The victim confirmed that a fraudulent filing had occurred. Information about the fraud was collected and provided to detectives for their follow-up investigation.   

5/17/23 at 0830 Hours. 200 Block of Blalock. Driving While Intoxicated. Several people called in a possible DWI driver traveling on Blalock Road.  Officers were in the area and located and stopped the vehicle. Officers observed signs of intoxication on the driver. Due to the level of intoxication EMS was called to check on the health of the driver. The 61-year-old male was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County Jail. His vehicle was towed.

5/17/23 at 1730 Hours. 11400 Block of Memorial. Fugitive Arrest. Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle that had an expired registration since June of 2021. Upon identifying the driver officers learned that the 26-year-old female driver had an outstanding felony warrant for criminal mischief over $30,000.  The female weas placed under arrest and transported to the jail. The vehicle was towed.

Bunker Hill

5/18/23 at 1645 Hours. 11700 Block of Flintwood. Fraud.  The victim reported that a check that he had issued and mailed to pay his utility bill had been intercepted, washed, and reissued to a person who he does not know. The check had been mailed at a mailbox located near Echo and the I-10 frontage road. Information about the check and the cashing bank, was obtained and provided to detectives for their follow up investigation.

5/18/23 at 1900 Hours. 11500 Block of Memorial. Unlawful Use of a Motor Vehicle. Officers were alerted to multiple hits of a stolen vehicle driving around the villages. Officers located the vehicle traveling on Memorial and initiated a traffic stop. A 24-year-old female was taken into custody and booked into the Harris County Jail. The stolen vehicle was recovered.

5/19/23 at 0115 hours. 11600 Block of Taylorcrest. Fugitive.  Officers initiated a traffic stop after observing a traffic violation.  Upon approaching and identifying the driver, the 56-year-old male was found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest for possession of narcotics.  The male was placed under arrest and booked into the Harris County Jail. The vehicle was towed.