September 13, 2006
PEDESTRIAN FATALITY UPDATE
Midland Police are now releasing the name of the victim in last night’s Pedestrian fatality.
25-year-old Paul Inya Ondieki, a foreign national living in Midland, was pronounced dead on scene at the accident in the 2600 block of Loop 250 North, across from Best Buy.
Midland Police were called to the scene at approximately 9:10 p.m. on September 12, 2006.
A 2005 Red Suburban, driven by 75-year-old Travis Goree of Valera, Texas, was headed westbound on the Loop after just entering from the on ramp in front of Office Depot. Once on the Loop, still in the outside lane, he struck a Ondieki. It is believed the victim was headed northbound across the Loop on foot and alone. He was carrying food from a nearby restaurant.
An autopsy has been ordered and will be performed in Dallas. No charges have been filed.
This is the second Pedestrian Fatality this year. There have been no Traffic Fatalities in 2006.
FIRST ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
The Midland Fire Department will host its first annual Awards Banquet on Thursday, September 14, at 7:00 p.m. The event will take place at the Midland Country Club.
Ten people, including civilian employees, citizens, and a firefighter will be honored. The media is encouraged to help make this a special time for the award winners and their families.
Civilian Award of Commendation
Lee Porter
Dennis Yates
Christine Montgomery
Andrea Tillett
Citizens Award of Exemplary Action
Wade Perry
Oscar Villa
Bob Baskett
Marvis Dickens
Gary Dickens
Award of Commendation
Eric Smith
Eric Smith is an MPD Fire Driver. He is being honored for a selfless act. Earlier this year, a US Marine was returning home to West Texas from Camp Lejune, N.C. following shoulder surgery. He was looking forward to recovering at home and enjoying time with his family. Instead, when the Marine arrived at Midland International Airport, he was told that his family had been in an auto accident that killed his one-year-old daughter and sent his wife and another child to a Lubbock hospital. Smith was working at the airport fire station at the time when they received a call of a hysterical man in the terminal. They found the man who had just learned of the tragedy. Smith reached into his own wallet to pay for a private plane to take the man to Lubbock. The Midland Fire Department employee also arranged for his own family member in Lubbock to pick the man up and take him to the burn unit to be with his injured family members.
The MFD hopes this event will grow to include more awards honoring sworn personnel. In the future they look to have awards honoring Firefighter of the Year, Paramedic of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and Supervisor of the Year.
Media Contact: Chief Russ Conley/MFD at 685.7330
ENFORCING UNDERAGE DRINKING LAWS
The Midland Police Department, in conjunction with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), will host a press conference to announce the receipt of a grant to fund a program aimed at increased enforcement of underage drinking laws (EUDL). The event will take place on September 14, 2006, at 10:00 a.m. on the front steps of the Midland Police Department, 601 N. Loraine.
TABC Commissioner Jose Cuevas, Jr. and TABC Administrator Alan Steen will be in attendance to present the grant award. The MPD will receive $35,000.
The EUDL Program is a three-prong project. First, the Midland Police Department will partner with the TABC to conduct undercover operations using volunteer minors to make buys at local stores that sell alcohol.
Secondly, MPD patrol officers are specifically assigned to focus on DWIs and underage drinking parties. They will patrol city streets, parks, sporting events, and other known teenage hangouts for possible DWIs and Minors in Possession/Consuming Alcohol. When officers become aware of a party in progress, they promptly shut it down. Those minors who test positive for alcohol consumption are identified, have charges filed against them, and are turned over to their parents. If the parents cannot be located, the violator is transported to the juvenile detention center or placed under arrest. If adults are present at the party, they will be arrested and charged with making alcohol available to minors.
And thirdly, MPD will partner with the Midland Coalition to educate minors and adults on the effects of underage drinking. Coalition staff members will seek opportunities to talk about the underage drinking problem with community groups and organizations to raise the level of awareness in the community. The coalition will work with local schools to make presentations to students about underage drinking laws and policies as well as the negative physical effects of adolescent alcohol abuse; and, seek opportunities to work with the local media to make the general public aware of the facts and issues related to underage drinking and the negative effects it has on our community.
The MPD is among nine Texas nonprofits, colleges, law enforcement, and community coalitions to receive the grants totaling $248,326. Other city police departments include Austin and Corpus Christi.
Can't find what you're looking for? Try our search engine.
