Local law enforcement is responding to a bomb threat at the Devon gas plant west of Bridgeport on U.S. 380. The road was shut down west of town just before 9 a.m., and traffic is being rerouted. A Messenger reporter and photographer are headed to the scene. We’ll post more information as it’s available.

Messenger photo by Joe Duty

A fire destroyed a home and killed two dogs early this morning in south Wise County. The fire was first reported shortly after 2 a.m. at a home located on County Road 3791 near the intersection of CR 3690. By the time firefighters arrived more than half the home was in flames and other nearby structures were threatened. The volunteers contained the fire to the home, but it was a total loss. Within an hour nothing was left but smoldering remains and thick clouds of smoke billowing into the cold, night sky, under a low-hanging pale moon. Tommy Alley, 46, lived at the home with his two dogs, Cooee and Sheba. Alley was not home when the fire started. He thinks a candle he left burning might have started the fire, but the exact cause is unknown at this time. “Those dogs were like his family,” said Marti Wise, who lives at a nearby home on the property. “My stomach is still churning thinking about those dogs being in there.” Volunteer firefighters from the departments of Cottondale, Paradise, Salt Creek and Springtown and Wise County Medics all responded. “He lost everything,” said his brother Donny Alley. “All he’s got left are the clothes on his back.”

A 79-year-old man from Greenwood was killed this morning when a large tree he was trimming fell and struck him. Bill Maxwell was trimming trees by a creek bed on his property, just down the hill from his home, when the accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. The farm is located in the 1200 block of Farm Road 1204, a couple miles west of Farm Road 51. Family, friends and neighbors gathered on a rolling hill of the farm as emergency responders investigated the accident. Greenwood/Slidell Volunteer Fire Department, Wise County Medics and members of Wise County Sheriff’s Office all responded. Wind was gusting from the west up to 22 miles per hour. Maxwell lived at the home alone, and according to family, stayed busy working and tending the property where he also raised a small herd of goats.

Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Jeffrey Curry, 25, of Fort Worth was airlifted to a Fort Worth hospital Thursday afternoon after falling from U.S. 380 into Sandy Creek between Decatur and Bridgeport. Curry called 9-1-1 at 1:04 p.m. complaining of back pain and numbness in his legs after he fell into the shallow, rocky creek. Wise County EMS responded and medics were able to get him on a backboard and manually carry him up the slope to the roadway. Wise County Sheriff’s deputies shut down westbound traffic and the helicopter landed on Highway 380. No more details were available Thursday afternoon.

A man was injured after falling off the Big Sandy Creek bridge on U.S. 380. Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

It took a Wise County jury only 15 minutes to return the maximum sentence in a sexual assault case Thursday morning. A day after finding Richard Lee Sherman, 37, guilty of indecency with a child by sexual contact, the jury listened to about 30 minutes of testimony and arguments in the punishment phase of the trial before deliberating the sentence and then returning with a verdict of 20 years and a fine of $10,000, the maximum punishment for the second degree felony charge. Because the victim in the case was under 14 at the time of the offense, Sherman was not eligible for probation. The offense happened two years ago at Sherman’s home in Rhome. The victim was his 11-year-old daughter.

After deliberating for just more than two hours Wednesday afternoon, a Wise County jury found Richard Lee Sherman, 37, guilty of indecency with a child sexual contact. a second degree felony. The punishment phase of the trial will begin in the morning in 271st District Court. Sherman faces a sentence of 2 to 20 years in jail. Because the victim in the case was under 14 at the time of the offense, Sherman will not be eligible for probation. The jury did not return a guilty verdict on continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, which would have carried a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The offense happened two years ago at Sherman’s home in Rhome. The victim was his 10-year-old daughter, who did testify during the trial.

An older white male was flown to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth after the grey pickup he was driving collided with a rock hauler around 4 Monday afternoon.

Larry Givens, 70, of Dallas was traveling southbound on U.S. 287 south of Decatur when his pick-up crossed a grass median into northbound traffic, striking the rear axles of the trailer and the trailer itself, according to Department of Public Safety officials.

Givens sustained head injuries. The driver of the semi was transported to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur with non-lifethreatening injuries.

Messenger photo by Jimmy Alford

After deliberating since 9:30 Wednesday morning, a jury in 271st District Court in Decatur returned a verdict of two years in the criminal negligent homicide case of Danny Nalley. The jury had a range of punishment options including 180 days to two years in state jail or probation. The verdict was announced just after 5 p.m. Thursday. Nalley, 19, of Fort Worth was the driver in a fatal accident two years ago that killed four teenagers. Nalley pleaded guilty on Tuesday and elected to have the jury assess his punishment.

A Boyd man has died as a result of injuries sustained in an early morning wreck Monday.

Toby Baker, 39, was transported via ground ambulance to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur following an accident about 6:40 a.m. near the intersection of Texas 114 and County Road 3241, one mile west of Paradise.

According to DPS Trooper Bridgeman, Baker was traveling westbound on 114 when his Hyundai Elantra collided with an International truck, described by the trooper as a “pump vac” truck that sprays water on construction zones.

The truck was driven by John C. Harvey of Fort Worth, according to Trooper Lonny Haschel, and had just pulled onto 114 from CR 3241 when Baker’s car struck its passenger side.

Bridgeman said Baker was conscious immediately following the accident. One of the first emergency responders on scene said over the police scanner that Baker was trapped and appeared to have injuries to his lower extremities and possibly his chest.

A helicopter was called to the scene and landed in a nearby field, but Baker was transported via ground ambulance. The highway was shut down for at least an hour.

Trooper Haschel said Baker died at WRHS at 8:40 a.m. The accident remains under investigation.

The second suspect in Sunday’s trailer theft, which led to a manhunt near Chico, was arrested Sunday night in Tarrant County, according to Captain Kevin Benton with the Wise County Sheriff’s Department.

David McMurry, 28, of Chico was found hiding in a motel room in Blue Mound, Benton said. He was booked into Wise County Jail and charged with theft of property greater than $1,500 and less than $20,000, criminal mischief less than $1,500 for tearing down a fence where animals are kept, and evading arrest with a vehicle, all of which are felonies. He was also charged with evading arrest, a misdemeanor. Bonds were set at $50,000 for each felony and $10,000 for the misdemeanor.

David McMurry

McMurry and his cohort, Shannon Hood, 36, of Sunset stole a trailer and welder Sunday morning from an oil lease on Farm Road 1655. A pursuit began when they refused to stop for officers, and the chase ended with a fiery crash in a pasture off County Road 1560, northeast of Chico.

Shannon Hood

Hood and McMurry fled on foot, and a manhunt ensued. Hood was found about two hours later hiding in a nearby wooded area, but McMurry caught a ride and ended up in Tarrant County.

Benton said Hood has now also been charged with escape because at one point he was in the custody of an officer but got free when the fire began to spread. Bonds have not yet been set for Hood. Read more in the midweek Messenger on newsstands Wednesday.

Messenger photo by Joe Duty

One person was seriously injured in an accident at Texas 114 and County Road 3341 between 6:30 and 7 a.m. Monday morning. The Messenger is still gathering information related to this wreck, but according to the police scanner, the driver of the car was trapped and suffered injuries to their lower extremities and chest. A helicopter was called to the scene and landed in a nearby field, but the patient ended up being transported by ground ambulance to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur. The highway was shut down for at least an hour. More information will be posted as it’s available.

One suspect is in Wise County Jail Sunday night after stealing a trailer near Chico, leading sheriff’s deputies on a frenzied chase in which all the vehicles caught fire and then hiding in the LBJ National Grasslands.

Shannon Hood, 36, of Sunset was charged with theft of property greater than or equal to $1,500 but less than $20,000, criminal mischief less than $1,500 for tearing down a fence where animals are kept, and evading arrest with a vehicle, all of which are felonies. He was also charged with evading arrest, a misdemeanor. No bond has been set at this time.

Hood and another suspect stole a trailer and welder Sunday morning from an oil lease on Farm Road 1655. A pursuit began around 9:45 a.m. when they refused to stop for officers.

Sgt. Clint Caddell and Sgt. Mike Neagle with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office were close behind as the chase sped down County Road 1560, northeast of Chico, when the pickup suddenly left the road, plowing through a fence in the 2000 block.

The pickup with the trailer bumping behind it tore across a pasture, which is part of the LBJ National Grasslands and almost made it to the tree line before hitting a culvert and catching fire.

Two suspects, one of which was Hood, fled on foot, and Caddell and Neagle also abandoned their vehicles to pursue the suspects. In the meantime, the grass caught fire, and it spread quickly, burning the patrol vehicles.

Benton said when Caddell and Neagle realized their vehicles were about to catch fire, they attempted to return to them but were unable to move them in time.

Caddell, who was driving an Expedition, suffered second-degree burns to his arms and hands and first-degree burns on his face and head. He was treated at Wise Regional Health System in Decatur, and Benton said he was released late Sunday afternoon. Neagle was driving a Crown Victoria.

Chico, Alvord, Crafton and Decatur firefighters extinguished the fire while a manhunt ensued in the meantime. Benton said a perimeter was set up with patrol officers and highway patrol, and initially officers were searching for three suspects.  But once Hood was caught, he told officers there was only one other person with him in the pickup.

The sheriff’s department dispatched a helicopter to search from the air and called in tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Corrections Allred Unit in Wichita Falls.

About two hours after the crash, Hood was found by the dogs hiding in the brush about a mile southeast of the crash site. Benton said they have reason to believe the second suspect received a ride about 30 minutes before Hood was found, and that he is no longer in the area.

The name was released Sunday of a motorcycle rider who was transported to a Metroplex hospital Saturday. Daniel Masten, 65, of Alvord was seriously injured when he crashed his motorcycle on the U.S. 287 service road in front of Decatur Arby’s about 5:45 p.m. Saturday. Officer Keith Hilton with the Decatur Police Department said there were no witnesses to the accident, but it appeared that the man hit the curb and fell over. When emergency responders arrived on scene, the motorcycle was in the service road, laying against the curb, and the rider was laying in the grass. He was not wearing a helmet. The rider was transported to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur and then flown to a Metroplex hospital. His condition was not available Sunday afternoon.

Wise County sheriff’s deputies are searching for three men northeast of Chico. The trio fled after their pickup crashed in the midst of a pursuit Sunday morning in the 2000 block of County Road 1560. Captain Kevin Benton said the pickup was pulling a trailer believed to be stolen and during the pursuit, the driver plowed through a fence and into a pasture. 

The pickup almost made it to the tree line when it hit a culvert, catching fire, which quickly spread to the grass and the two patrol vehicles in pursuit. Chico Assistant Fire Chief John Hobbs said one deputy suffered burns to his left arm and was transported to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur. In addition to Chico,  Alvord, Crafton and Decatur firefighters worked to extinguish the vehicles and the grass fire.

Benton said a helicopter is in the air to aid with the search, and they have requested tracking dogs. One man was described over the police scanner as a “large, white male, shirtless with lots of tattoos.”

Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Two men are homeless after their house northeast of Boyd burned early Sunday morning. Residents Ricky King and Jesse Roberts were able to escape the blaze with their dogs, Buddy, Conan and Bear, but their belongings were lost.

Boyd, Rhome, Decatur and Paradise fire departments fought the fire on County Road 4358, but the home could not be saved. Boyd firefighter Jonas McEntire said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Gail King, who lives across the street, owns the home, but her son, Ricky, and his friend, Jesse, live there.

“It’s just amazing how quickly something can happen that changes your life,” she said.

Between 3 and 3:30 Saturday morning, Jesse went into one of the home’s two bathrooms, and he saw a hole in the ceiling. He could see flames, and yelled, ‘Fire!’, according to Gail. Ricky was sleeping but was awakened by the commotion, and about the time he got to the restroom to see what was going on, the bathroom ceiling fell in.

Gail has owned the home since 2006, and her son has lived there three or four years, she said. The American Red Cross was called to the scene to assist the two men.

A man was seriously injured Saturday evening when he crashed his motorcycle on the U.S. 287 service road in front of the Decatur Arby’s. Officer Keith Hilton with the Decatur Police Department said there were no witnesses to the accident, but it appeared that the man hit the curb and fell over.

When emergency responders arrived on scene, the motorcycle was in the service road, laying against the curb, and the rider was laying in the grass. He was not wearing a helmet.

The rider was transported to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur and then flown to a Metroplex hospital. Decatur PD has not yet released his name.

An inmate supervisor with Wise County Sheriff’s Office was arrested today and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a child.

Jeff Shurbet

The sheriff’s office received a complaint on Tuesday, Jan. 29, that Jeff Shurbet, an inmate work crew supervisor, allegedly assaulted a child multiple times.

Sheriff David Walker immediately suspended Shurbet without pay and removed him from county property pending the investigation. Due to the allegation being made against a Sheriff’s Office employee, Walker contacted Texas Ranger Jim Holland, and requested he begin a criminal investigation.

Holland conducted numerous interviews and gathered physical evidence. Holland then interviewed Shurbet who confessed to the allegations and was subsequently charged with eight felony sexual offenses.

Shurbet was arrested and booked into the Wise County Jail for seven counts of sexual sssault of a child, each second degree felonies, and one charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, a first degree felony.

Justice of the Peace Terrie Johnson set bond at $75,000 for each second degree felony and $120,000 on the first degree felony charge. The case is still under investigation.

A two-story, wood frame duplex near downtown Alvord was destroyed by fire Tuesday night. The fire, in the 300 block of West Franklin Street behind Market Place, was reported around 8:15 p.m. Alvord, Decatur, Chico and Sunset fire departments responded to battle the blaze. An ambulance was also dispatched to provide rehab for firefighters. The home was occupied, but the resident was not at home at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire had not been determined late Tuesday.

Firefighters battle a fire at a duplex in Alvord Tuesday night. Messenger photo by Joe Duty

Communications Manager Susan Gomez with the Wise County Sheriff’s Office reported at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday that 911 service in Wise County is working as it should be. Service has also been restored to the cities of Bridgeport and Decatur.

There is no 911 service in Wise County at this time due to a down AT&T cable. This has also disrupted phone service to many other local land lines.  More information will be posted as it’s available.