Volume 62, Number 37
Azle News
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
THE
www.azlenews.net
Soccer teams in playoff position Page 15A
‘Lucky’ 7: Azle, Springtown residents indicted for Parker County crimes Page 1B
Robbery suspect confesses to additional crimes
Culvert Crash
Vehicle theft, Shoreline Drive house fire solved BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN Detective Sgt. Kevin Rogers picks An Azle man is in the Tarrant Coun- up the story at that point. Because Coffee began confessing to ty jail after he allegedly committed an aggravated robbery on Valentine’s other crimes while being arrested by Azle officers, Rogers and Azle Fire Day. While that’s a little out of the norm for Marshal Kenny Wilson interviewed Azle, what’s just as interesting are the the knife-wielding criminal the folcrimes to which the suspect confessed lowing day. “He confessed to setting the Shorebefore he ever made it to a jail cell. According to Azle PD Lt. Bill Rus- line Drive house fire” that occurred in sell, Joe Floyd Coffee, 40, entered a the early morning hours of Feb. 11, Rogers said. “He said convenience store his reason for setting in the 1500 block of the house on fire was Southeast Parkway because there was a late in the evening dog in the house that and began to play had no water.” one or more of the Coffee also told the electronic games inofficers he was about side the store. to rob a different conWhen Coffee tired venience store a few of playing games, he days earlier but happicked up a 12-pack pened to see a vehicle of Dr. Pepper and that was left running. set it on the counter, Coffee jumped in the which was staffed by vehicle and drove it to a male employee. Whitesboro to see his Coffee demanded girlfriend, then drove to be paid his win- Joe Floyd Coffee it back to Azle and nings from the game; parked it. but in the state of Texas, it’s not legal Azle police had already located that to pay those winnings monetarily, so vehicle – exactly where Coffee said he the clerk declined. had parked it. Coffee didn’t like that answer. Coffee also described items he adHe produced a long-bladed knife, according to Russell, and in a dramat- mitted to taking from both the Shoreic fashion, stabbed the Dr. Peppers, line Drive home and the vehicle. His causing them to spew liquid all over descriptions matched property reported missing from both, Rogers said. himself and the clerk. Coffee also told Rogers and Wilson The clerk responded to Coffee’s actions and his continued, loud demands he had his eye on a few other places by producing a large wooden club and he’d like to burn down if they let him out of jail. displaying it in a defensive stance. That’s not likely to happen anytime Coffee reacted to the clerk by storming out of the store, breaking the glass soon. Coffee, after spending several days in the door on his way out. The clerk pursued Coffee outside, in the Azle jail, is now in the Tarrant so Coffee threw the knife at him. The County jail with no bond for the aggravated robbery charge. clerk dodged it and was not injured. Bond is set at $150,000 for the arBut two of the store’s customers near the gas pumps saw Coffee hurl son charge, and he is expected to be the knife at the clerk, and took it upon charged with the vehicle theft, as well. Coffee is also the subject of four themselves to tackle Coffee. They detained him until police arrived mo- outstanding warrants out of Lakeside Police Department. ments later, Russell said.
Druxman pleads guilty to misdemeanor Counseling ordered by judge Moses Druxman, a former elected member of the Azle Independent School District’s Board of Trustees, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecent exposure Tuesday, Feb. 18 in a Tarrant County courtroom. Druxman, who resigned that position in January 2013, was charged with soliciting the sexual performance of a child, a third-degree felony, but pleaded guilty instead to the B misdemeanor charge. He was sentenced to two years’ deferred adjudication probation in exchange for his guilty plea, according to records obtained from the Tarrant County District Clerk’s Office. A spokesperson for the Tarrant County District Attorney’s Office said Druxman must undergo counseling, among other conditions of his probation. If he completes the probation period without violation of the probation conditions, the offense will not listed as a conviction on Druxman’s criminal record.
Druxman was initially charged with online solicitation of a minor; but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled on Oct. 30, 2013 that a portion of the 2005 statute that made sexually explicit online communication between an adult and minor illegal violates the First Amendment right to free speech. Tarrant County prosecutors dropped that charge but refiled the case against Druxman charging solicitation of the sexual performance of a child. Druxman was elected to public office just weeks before his May 2011 graduation from Azle High School, earning the distinction of being the youngest person ever elected to that board. He resigned his seat Jan. 8, 2013, citing time restraints related to his college schedule as well as a real estate career. But just a month later, on Feb. 9, 2013, Druxman turned himself in at the Tarrant County jail and posted $15,000 bond in response to warrants issued by the Azle Police Department.
Emergency personnel discuss how to get a vehicle out of its predicament while a crowd gathers around the vehicle’s two occupants, who were unharmed but a little shaken after this incident Thursday evening, Feb. 20. Mary Ann Stewart, 80, of Azle and Sandra Beadling, 67, both of Azle, had to have help from Azle firefighters getting out of the 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander after a tight turn from North Stewart Street onto Jarvis Lane landed them in a deep culvert. A large tree saved them from fully overturning. Photo by Carla Noah Stutsman
Burglaries solved: 8. Arrested: 5 ‘Bay PD executes search warrants in town, Reno BY CARLA NOAH STUTSMAN other during the commission of these Trussell posted bond and was released from the Parker County jail the Pelican Bay Police Chief Jason crimes,” Combs said. A subsequent search warrant ex- following day. Farris has publicly vowed to tackle Three juveniles were also arrested at the crime the tiny town by the lake ecuted Tuesday, Feb. 18, in the 1400 is known for, and thus far, he’s made block of Arvel Circle in the city of the Arvel Circle residence; per Texas Reno netted $5,000 in power tools, law their names will not be released. good on his word. Combs said the search warrants and Pelican Bay police executed a three 4-wheelers, computers, and jewarrests have enabled search warrant at a home in the Pelican Bay Police the 1400 block of Cardinal Department to close Trail on Jan. 31 after develeight burglary cases in oping information related the city. to a series of burglaries. He also noted that Inside the residence ofall three juveniles who ficers located property were at the Cardinal from as many as a dozen Terrace residence on burglaries and thefts along Jan. 31 were also preswith stolen bicycles and ent at the Arvel Circle lawn equipment. residence on Feb. 18. “There was so much of it “We believe these we had to enlist the help of adults were taking the city water department these kids out in the to trailer the property back middle of the night, to the police department,” giving them walkieWade Steven Machalica James Dean Trussell Farris added. talkies and having Three juveniles were at them break into homes,” Combs said. the residence at the time of the warrant elry, according to Combs. With assistance from Officer Eric “When they were ready, the kids would execution, however only a 13-year-old Chambless of the Reno PD, Pelican radio the adults who would come pick male was arrested. “The juvenile arrested at the scene Bay officers arrested James Dean them up, along with the stolen items. “This puts a major dent in the crimiis one of several suspects we have had Trussell, 20, of Reno and Wade Steven surveillance on since the investigation Machalica, 35, who resided at the Car- nal activity in Pelican Bay and shows that the police department is working started,” Farris said. “There are more dinal Terrace location until recently. Both Trussell and Machalica were diligently to provide the services this suspects and more arrests coming” recharged with theft of property $500- community deserves,” Farris said. lated to the same case, Farris added. Mayor Pro Tem Tom Petty accompaAssistant Chief Stephen Combs, 1,500 and transported to the Parker who obtained the warrant, said among County jail. A judge set bond for each nied Pelican Bay police officers as an the recovered property were sets of of the men at $2,500; however, Mach- observer when they executed the search alica was also held without bond for warrant on Arvel Circle and said he is exhandheld radios. “It appears the suspects were using an outstanding warrant out of Ellis cited to see the police department taking serious steps to reduce crime in the city. the radios to communicate with each County for violation of probation.
Reno rejects all petitions, including de-annexation BY NATALIE GENTRY Every petition presented to the Reno City Council Feb. 24 was rejected due to lack of required information – date of birth and voter registration number. And in the case of a de-annexation petition, additional violations were discussed. Reno City Attorney Walter Leonard, addressed the crowd at Monday’s City Council meeting.
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“At the last meeting I was given the job of reviewing and reporting on the various petitions which were filed by Mr. (Art) Johnson,” Leonard said. “One petition asked the Council to cease using Tarrant County for the collection of taxes, two of the petitions related to tax benefits essentially for seniors, and the last on called for de-annexation of what is essentially the western portion of the city.”
Leonard explained that in addition to reviewing the petitions himself, he also referred them for examination to the Texas Municipal League and the Office of the Secretary of State – essentially the State agency responsible for elections and petitions. “My analysis is based upon responses from them as well as my own PLEASE SEE RENO, PAGE 2A.
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In February 1974, former Azle High School grad and future Senior PGA Golf great Robert Landers was named the new manager of Azle’s Mitchell’s Department Store
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