Heavy Rain Expected in East Texas This Weekend

Thunderstorms and up to three inches of rain are possible today through Saturday afternoon. A flood advisory also is possible for East Texas later today.

The National Weather Service has placed Houston, Austin and San Antonio under a flood watch, and it forecasts possible flooding in more than 20 counties. Rain is expected throughout today, as a low-pressure system is slowly moving across the state.

Tyler Auto Burglar Caught on Camera

TYLER – A Game Camera set up to try and catch an auto burglar in the act has done just that, and now Tyler Police are asking the public to help identify the suspect who they believe is responsible for more than 25 auto burglaries in a two night period.

On Tuesday, February 14, 2012 and into the early morning hours of Wednesday a suspect broke into numerous vehicles on the following streets: 5900 blk. Hollytree, 4900 blk. Barclay, 4800 blk. Forestwood, 4500 blk. Richmond, 700 blk. Timberwilde, 4900 blk. Trenton, 4400 blk. Richmond, 4600, Trenton, 800 blk. Trenton, 3800 blk. Top Hill, 3800 S. Broadway.

The suspect broke out several windows to gain entry into vehicles and found several that were left unlocked.  The suspect stole mostly electronic items such as laptop computers, cell phones, iPods, car stereos and women’s purses.

On February 16 -17, Police believe that the same suspect or suspects then broke into numerous vehicles on the following streets: 800 blk. Joel, 1100 blk. Beth, 600 blk. Pam, and the 600 blk. of Whiteoak Ln.

One of the victims had set up a wild game camera facing his vehicle parked in his driveway.  The camera was able to detect the suspect breaking into his vehicle at 3:35 a.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2012.

If you recognize this suspect or have information about the suspect(s) involved in these crimes please contact the Tyler Police Department at, 903-531-1000, or Crimestoppers at 903-597-CUFF (903-597-2833).  Crimestoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information that leads to the arrest and charges filed against the suspects in this case, or any felony case.

Man Killed after Being Struck by Car

LUFKIN — A Lufkin man attempting to move his stalled SUV out of traffic was struck and killed Thursday night as his family helplessly looked on.

Lufkin police say 29-year-old Saul Moreno-Gracia died of his injuries after he was taken to a local hospital. The driver of the other vehicle was not ticketed. The fatal accident occurred on the loop in Lufkin shortly before 7:30 p.m.

The accident remains under investigation, according to police.

Jurors Hear Confession in Kidnapping Case

WEATHERFORD — Jurors have heard an audio recording of a Texas man telling investigators that he kidnapped his former neighbor, then sexually assaulted her on a homemade lift for cleaning hogs.

Prosecutors played the recording Thursday during the trial of Jeffrey Allan Maxwell. The 59-year-old faces up to life in prison if convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault.

The woman says Maxwell kidnapped her at gunpoint from her home last March, then drove her 100 miles to his home in Corsicana, about 50 miles south of Dallas.

Missing Deadly Snake Finally Found

BROWNWOOD — The search for a cobra in a small West Texas Town is over after police found the sunset monocle snake in the bedroom of the house where it lived.

Brownwood Police said the snake reported missing Jan. 18 never actually left home.

Sarah Strom-Kieschnick of Abilene-based For the Love of Nature told the Brownwood Bulletin that police were called to the house Wednesday night after the snake was found on a glue board beneath a bedroom dresser. Strom-Kieschnick said she advised the officer how to handle the snake, how to free it from the glue board and how to get it into an aquarium to turn over to her nonprofit wildlife education group.