This interview was recorded at the Henderson County Justice Center with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's report, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about shutting down three game rooms in the Mabank area and a construction theft case that points to the importance of law enforcement agencies working together.

I. Stats (:42)

Summary: There are currently 457 prisoners in the Henderson County Jail with 83 of those being contract inmates. The average for the year is 444, which is the highest it has ever been in the county.

Quote: "(The jail) is crowded and it sounds like it is that all throughout the state," Sheriff Hillhouse said. "Everybody is needing bed space right now. It sounds like county jails are full."

II. Game Rooms (1:32)

Summary: The Sheriff's Office worked with the Mabank Police Department on an investigation into illegal gambling at game rooms. The investigation resulted in search warrants being executed at three game rooms last Friday. There were eight people arrested with an arrest warrant pending for a ninth. In total, there were 28 charges including 10 felony charges. Law enforcement seized $50,000 in cash, two vehicles, and a firearm. There were two arrested for possession of suspected methamphetamine.

Quote: "These cases are very work intensive as far as putting all the pieces of the puzzle together," Sheriff Hillhouse said.

Remember: Game room operations take time because the machines themselves are not illegal. The Sheriff's Office charges these owners with engaging in organized criminal activity, a felony offense.

III. Construction Theft (8:19)

Summary: Last Friday, July 15, the Sheriff's Office received a call about a possible theft in progress outside of Gun Barrel City. Because deputies were not near the area, the Sheriff's Office contacted the Gun Barrel City Police Department. GBCPD sent out officers who caught and detained a suspect. After deputies arrived and investigated, they arrested the suspect for attempting to steal the metal from the construction site.

Quote: "I want to thank the Gun Barrel Police Department," Sheriff Hillhouse said. "They didn't have to go out there in the county to detain the individual, but because they did, and we worked so well together with the other agencies around, we were able to catch him."

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

CORRECTION: The first time this was sent out without the podcast attached. We apologize for the mistake.

This interview was recorded Wednesday, July 13, at the Henderson County Justice Center with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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This week, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about the law enforcement labor shortage and the opportunities at the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. He also congratulates the Deputies of the Quarter and the new deputies who were sworn in last week.

I. Statistics (:54)

Summary: There are currently 449 inmates in the jail with 85 of those being contract inmates. The average for the year is 443.

II. Deputies of the Quarter (4:42)

Summary: Wednesday, Sheriff Hillhouse presented the Deputy of the Quarter awards. Communications Officer Sarah Kidd was awarded Communications Officer of the 2nd quarter. Detention Officer Madyson Daille was awarded Detention Officer of the quarter. Deputy Meagan Hogan was awarded Deputy of the quarter

III. Swearing in New Deputies (8:18)

Summary: Sheriff Hillhouse swore in four detention officers as deputies last week after they graduated from the Police Academy and passed their State exam.

Quote: "It is nice to have a pool of detention officers who do want to go farther in the career," Sheriff Hillhouse said.

IV. Sheriff's Office Career Path (10:20)

Summary: The Sheriff's Office offers a path for those looking for a career in law enforcement. An individual can join the Sheriff's Office as a detention officer and go to work immediately. The Sheriff will help them get their jailer's license and then, if the individual wants, help them get their peace officer's license.

Remember: For more information on joining the Sheriff's Office, call 903-675-5128.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded at the Henderson County Courthouse on Tuesday, July 5, with AgriLife Extension Agent Angela Hemphill and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this episode of the AgriLife Report, Extension Agent Angela Hemphill discusses the upcoming Micro Mysteries STEM camp and results from the State 4-H Competition.

I. Micro Mysteries STEM Camp (:57)

Summary: The 4-H STEM Camp called "Micro Mysteries" begins July 12 and will run every Tuesday and Thursday through the month. The group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Henderson County Courthouse meeting room on the third floor. The target age is grades 3 through 8, but high schoolers are welcome. The cost is $30 for 4-H members and $40 for nonmembers.

Quote: "We are going to be diving into micro science," Hemphill said. "So we're taking it from a detective standpoint."

Remember: To register, contact Angela Hemphill at 903-675-6130 or [email protected].

II. 4-H State Competition (4:45)

Summary: Henderson County performed well at the Texas 4-H Roundup and the Horse Judging Team came home as State Champions. Others competing for the County at the state level were the Livestock Judging, Livestock Quiz Bowl, Andrew Childress in the food show, and the Robotics Team.

Quote: "It went amazing," Hemphill said. "We took a very large crew. We took 12 kids to state this year, which is the most we've taken in quite a while.

Remember: The Henderson County 4-H Horse Judging team will compete in Nationals in October. Students making up that team include Karli Rayburn, Elley Chiesl, Bella Bridges, and Kurtlee Smith.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded Wednesday, June 29, at the Henderson County Justice Center with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's episode, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about a manhunt Thursday, June 23, that prompted online rumors about an active shooter and a deputy getting shot.

I. Statistics (:45)

Summary: There are currently 445 inmates in the County Jail with 87 of those being contract inmates. The average for the year is 443.

Notable: On Monday, there were 462 inmates in the County Jail, the highest number in the history of the facility.

II. June 23 Manhunt (3:11)

Summary:

Sheriff's Investigators went to a residence off West College Street in Athens to recover a stolen vehicle where a suspect confronted them with what appeared to be a long rifle. The suspect pointed the weapon at Investigators and an Investigator fired a shot at the suspect, who fled the scene on foot prompting a manhunt.

The Sheriff's Office contacted several agencies -- including APD, DPS, the Texas Rangers, and the TDCJ canine team -- and began a search for the suspect. During the search, multiple other individuals not connected with the original incident were arrested.

Eventually, the suspect -- Raymond Loden -- was found and arrested for outstanding warrants, Aggravated Assault With A Deadly Weapon, and numerous other charges. When officers found the suspect's weapon it turned out to be an air rifle.

Sheriff Hillhouse said the entire incident took about four hours.

Notable: While law enforcement searched for the suspect, rumors began circulating on social media. Those rumors included saying there was an active shooter and also that a deputy had been shot. Another rumor claimed a store had been broken into. None of these rumors were true.

Quote: "I will put out the information the public needs to know as quickly as possible," Sheriff Hillhouse said. "If an active shooter was to happen, that information is going to be sent out very, very quickly."

Notable: Sheriff Hillhouse said dealing with these types of rumors can actually hinder an investigation.

Quote: "Unfortunately ... as we were trying to conduct the investigation," Sheriff Hillhouse said, "we spent a lot of time also trying to put out fires of an active shooter, of a deputy being shot."

Remember: If there is a dangerous situation, the Sheriff's Office will make a public announcement.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded at the Justice Center on Wednesday, June 6, with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's Sheriff's Report, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about the bomb threat against the County Courthouse and a Monday that included a juvenile held against her will, a stabbing, and an unusual drug arrest.

I. Stats (:38)

Summary: There are 455 inmates currently in custody at the Henderson County Jail with 95 of those being contract inmates. The average for the year is 441 inmates.

Remember: Henderson County gets paid to house contract inmates.

II. Bomb Threat (1:07)

Summary: The Henderson County Courthouse, Courthouse Annex, and Judicial Complex were shut down and evacuated Tuesday morning because of a bomb threat. The buildings reopened around 1 p.m. after being searched by ATF bomb-sniffing dogs brought in from Brock(outside Weatherford). The Sheriff's Office has a suspect in this case.

Quote: "I really do appreciate all the help we received from all the other agencies," Sheriff Hillhouse said.

Remember: A bomb threat like this is a felony offense. In the interview, Sheriff Hillhouse also reviews what happens when there is a bomb threat.

III. Juvenile Held (8:14)

Summary: Early Monday morning, the Sheriff's Office received a report of a juvenile being held against her will. The residence was outside of Malakoff. The Sheriff's Office sent a tactical unit and those inside the residence gave up without incident. The initial arrest was for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The ensuing search also turned up a large amount of narcotics leading to a second arrest. The juvenile victim is doing OK.

III. Stabbing Victim (10:38)

Summary: While the Sheriff's Office was dealing with the juvenile being held against her will, a call came in about a stabbing in the Seven Points area. A man called in saying he had been stabbed. While deputies were en route, a second man called in saying he had mistakenly stabbed his brother while trying to murder his mother. He was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries but it looks like he is going to recover.

Quote: "We'll file the case with the DA's Office and then put it to the Grand Jury and see if the Grand Jury wants to indict on other charges," said Sheriff Hillhouse.

IV. Postal Drug Bust (12:30)

Summary: The Sheriff's Office Narcotics Team became aware of a suspect with an arrest warrant for possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was an employee of the U.S. Postal Service and was a mail carrier with the Athens Post Office. Investigators discussed the case with DPS and a DPS trooper was able to locate the suspect while on his mail route. The trooper made an arrest on the warrant and a subsequent search of the U.S. Postal Service vehicle turned up a substantial amount of methamphetamine.

Quote: "It appears that while he was doing his mail-carrying, he was also delivering meth to certain residences," said Sheriff Hillhouse.

Other: The Sheriff's Office turned the vehicle over to the U.S. Postal Service with all the mail in it so they could distribute the mail.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded on June 1, 2022, at the Henderson County Justice Center with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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Sheriff Botie Hillhouse discusses a manhunt and a murder investigation in this episode of the Sheriff's Report.

I. Stats (:38)

Summary: There are currently 453 inmates in Henderson County Jail with 95 of those being contract prisoners. The average population for the year is 441.

Remember: We've taken a break from the podcast so the last time we reported the stats was in April.

II. Manhunt (1:58)

Summary: The Sheriff's Office conducted a manhunt for Ryan Phillip Rasch Tuesday, May 31, off CR 3603 south of Brownsboro. He was wanted for a felony arrest warrant. He evaded police initially, but Sheriff Hillhouse called in support, and between law enforcement and information from local residents, Rasch was apprehended.

Quote: "We just surrounded the area," Sheriff Hillhouse said. "He didn't have anywhere to go and we were able to apprehend him with the community telling us which way they last saw him. It came together great."

Also: The new radios made a big difference during this manhunt.

III. Murder Investigation (5:10)

Summary: The Henderson County Sheriff's Office arrested three men in connection with a murder on Friday, May 27. Arrested were Dalan Clowdus, Steven Clowdus, and William Hux.

Thursday, May 26, Investigators received information about a missing persons case which led to the discovery of the body of the missing person in a shallow grave on property off of Green Tree Acres Road. The investigation led to arrest warrants for the three men.

Saturday, May 28, Investigators were able to locate the location of the murder and collect physical evidence from the scene.

Quote: "We were able to gather a lot of physical evidence there tying everything together," Sheriff Hillhouse said.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded Wednesday, April 27, at the Henderson County Justice Center with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's episode of the Sheriff's Report, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse talks about recovering several stolen vehicles and this weekend's Cops and Kids Picnic.

I. Stats (:55)

Summary: There are 457 inmates currently in the jail with 99 of those being contract inmates.

Remember: The Sheriff's Office is still looking for more jailers. You can join the Sheriff's Office and they will help you get your jailer's license and start your career in law enforcement.

Quote: "If you want to start a career in law enforcement, this is an excellent place to start," said Sheriff Hillhouse

II. Stolen Vehicles Recovered (2:15)

Summary: Earlier this week, the Henderson County Sheriff's Office received a request from the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force to check out a residence outside of Eustace. Two deputies were dispatched and as they were on the property two other vehicles pulled in. When the deputies tried to make contact, those vehicles drove off and through some dangerous driving escaped. Deputies were able to recover three vehicles, two trailers, two motorcycles, and a side-by-side ATV that had been stolen.

Quote: "We do have some leads and we will continue to work the case with the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force," said Sheriff Hillhouse.

Remember: The Henderson County Sheriff's Office has a deputy assigned to work with the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force on a daily basis. (Listen to the interview and hear the Sheriff explain how the task force works.)

II. Cops and Kids Picnic (8:37)

Summary: The 2nd Annual Cops And Kids Picnic is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at Kiwanis Park in Athens. There will be free hot dogs, chips, and drinks plus vendors, an auction, and giveaways. The Sheriff's Office and Athens PD will be on hand to meet with the public.

Quote: "It was a lot of fun last year," said Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.

Remember: This event was started by one woman, Susan Paul, and has grown into a large event.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded Tuesday, April 19, at the Henderson County Courthouse with AgriLife Extension Service Agent Angela Hemphill and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's Henderson County AgriLife Podcast, Agent Angela Hemphill talks about the upcoming 4-H District 5 Roundup and future plans.

Summary: Henderson County 4-H is in District 5 and will be having its "Come Alive in D5" district roundup April 28-30 in Tyler. The district includes 22 counties and there will be many contests like the Food Show, Fashion Show, Horticulture ID, Robotics Challenge, and Ag Products ID.

Quote: "We've been prepping our kids really hard," Hemphill said. "We've got just a ton of contests that these kids have been working hard towards."

Remember: There's still time to join 4-H in Henderson County and take advantage of special camps this summer. Just contact Angela Hemphill at 903-675-6130 or [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded at the Henderson County Justice Center on Wednesday, April 13, with Sheriff Botie Hillhouse and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this episode of the Sheriff's Report, Sheriff Botie Hillhouse discusses the graduating class from the Jail Academy, Telecommunicators Week, the Deputies of the Quarter, and the Henderson County First Responders PRCA Rodeo, which is just a week away.

I. Stats (:40)

Summary: There are 457 inmates currently in the Jail with 101 of those contract inmates.

Quote: "We have (U.S.) Marshal inmates, Van Zandt County inmates, and now we have more Rockwall inmates, which we haven't had in a while," Sheriff Hillhouse said.

Remember: The county makes money by housing contract inmates.

II. Jail Academy (1:28)

Summary: Henderson County graduated its most recent Jail Academy last week. This 3.5-week academy provides graduates with their state jailer's license.

Quote: "We still have some openings in the jail, so if you're interested please come and see us," said Sheriff Hillhouse. "If you want a career in law enforcement, we can definitely get you started."

III. Telecommunicators Week (3:52)

Summary: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 10-16. Telecommunicators Week honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

Quote: "That's one of the most stressful positions in law enforcement," said Sheriff Hillhouse.

Remember: Last year, Henderson County Sheriff's Office dispatchers handled 57,131 calls for service plus another 35,718 calls through 9-1-1 for other agencies.

IV. Deputies of the Quarter (5:47)

Summary: Sheriff Hillhouse recognized three outstanding employees this week. Deputy Mitchum Patterson was named Deputy of the quarter. Communications Officer Shelby Hill was named Communications Officer of the quarter. Cpl. Stewart Jock was named Detention Officer of the quarter.

Quote: "I was honored to be able to recognize them," said Sheriff Hillhouse.

V. First Responders Rodeo (7:35)

Summary: The Henderson County First Responders PRCA Rodeo is scheduled for April 22 and 23. Both nights will include PRCA rodeo action and the Bullfighters Only show.

Friday will also be Go Blue Day in the county and include lots of activities for the kids, the Go Texan Fish and Crawfish Boil, and finish with a concert by the Wesley Pruitt Band.

Saturday will feature the Go Texan BBQ Cookoff and a concert by Jason Boland and The Stragglers.

You can get tickets for these great events here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com

This interview was recorded Tuesday, April 12, at the Henderson County Courthouse with Extension Agent Carolyn Tyler and Michael V. Hannigan.

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In this week's AgriLife Report, Carolyn Tyler talks about how to participate in the Walk Across Texas program.

According to the website, Walk Across Texas "is an eight-week program designed to help Texans establish the habit of regular physical activity. Each adult team may include up to 8 team members, all working together to reach the 832-mile goal to make their way across the state of Texas."

"The whole idea behind this program is if we establish weekly walking habits that we will continue those," Tyler said.

Tyler -- along with the Anderson County extension agent -- created a Facebook group called Commit to be Fit to help residents organize teams and participate in Walk Across Texas. You can join that group here.

"The group is amazing, encouraging, and uplifting and a good thing to be a part of," Tyler said.

The 8-week challenge begins May 1, but join the Commit to be Fit group now to get important information.

You can learn more by calling Tyler at 903-675-6130 or emailing her at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hendersoncountytexas.substack.com