Press Releases

AUSTIN – The reward for Margaret Lorrain Smith, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and this month’s featured fugitive, has been increased to $8,500 for information leading to her arrest if the tips are received during the month of September. Smith, 62, is wanted for capital murder.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking for the public’s help in identifying an individual who threw a Molotov cocktail against a church near the Capitol Complex on Aug. 31. A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the identification and arrest of this individual.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) encourages everyone to drive safely as they celebrate the unofficial end of summer during the long Labor Day weekend. The Texas Highway Patrol will be increasing enforcement from Sept. 3 through Sept. 6, looking for people not wearing their seat belts, speeders, people driving while intoxicated and drivers who fail to follow the state’s Move Over, Slow Down law, among other traffic violations.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has added Valentine Johnathan Price to the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders List. Price, 37, is wanted for failure to register as a sex offender and a parole violation. Texas Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $3,000 for information leading his arrest and capture.

AUSTIN – Two of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Fugitives are back in custody this week. Joshua Dee Daniels, of Midland, was arrested on Aug. 23 in Aransas Pass. David Ramirez Mojica, of Midland, was arrested on Aug. 24 in Midland. The arrests were not from tips, so no rewards will be paid.

AUSTIN – Two of Texas’ 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders are back in custody. Bryant Keith Martin Jr., of Amarillo, was arrested on Aug. 16 in Amarillo. Joseph Darwin Watson, of Hamilton, was captured on Aug. 18 in Stephenville. The arrests were not from tips, so no rewards will be paid.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) inspected 6,288 commercial motor vehicles as part of International Roadcheck 2021, a national inspection initiative that’s held annually and aimed at enhancing commercial motor vehicle safety. The three-day inspection effort included DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Troopers, specially trained Highway Patrol Troopers, civilian inspectors, compliance review investigators and local partner agencies.

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has added two men to the state’s Most Wanted lists. Joshua Dee Daniels is now on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list with a cash reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to his arrest. Joseph Darwin Watson is on the Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offenders list with a cash reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to his arrest.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) announces the retirement of Lt. Col. Randall B. Prince after more than 32 years of faithful service, along with three promotions to leadership positions. Prince currently serves as the Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Operations for DPS and will retire on Aug. 31. he promotions include current Texas Highway Patrol (THP) Chief Dwight D. Mathis to Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Operations, Regional Director Orlando Alanis to Texas Highway Patrol Chief and Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Major Jose Sanchez to Regional Director of the West Texas Region.

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Safety Commission (PSC) along with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw presented one Medal of Valor, the highest honor and award bestowed by DPS, two Lifesaving Awards and two Director’s Awards to department personnel at the PSC meeting on Thursday, Aug. 12, at DPS Headquarters in Austin. The Outstanding Women in State Government Award was also presented.

AUSTIN – With the school year beginning in person for many districts across the state, the Texas Department of Public Safety is reminding the public of steps they can take to keep students and staff members safe. This includes slowing down in school zones, staying off cell phones and being aware at all times while around school buses.

Corpus Christi – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is investigating a one vehicle multiple fatality crash that occurred on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at approximately 4:00 p.m. It happened on US 281 at the intersection of Business 281, approximately one and a half miles south of Encino, Texas, in Brooks County.

AUSTIN – Two of Texas’ Most Wanted are back in custody following arrests. Texas 10 Most Wanted Sex Offender Leonard Dee Taylor was arrested on July 23 in Houston, and Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive Dakevian Beniot Scroggins was arrested on July 24 in Tyler. A Crime Stoppers reward of $3,000 will be paid to a tipster for providing information leading to Taylor’s arrest.

MINERAL WELLS – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is asking for the public’s help in the investigation of a fatal hit-and-run crash that resulted in the death of a pedestrian in Parker County. The incident occurred on July 29, 2021 at approximately 10:10 p.m. on State Highway 199, in the area of South Drive, west of Springtown.

AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) commissioned 145 new Texas Highway Patrol Troopers from its A-2021 recruit class during a graduation ceremony on Friday, July 30. It’s the largest recruit school graduation in DPS history and also one of the most diverse. The keynote speaker at Friday’s graduation was Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.