August Activity Report Highlights Houston County Sheriff’s Office Workload
By Greg Ritchie
Messenger Reporter
HOUSTON COUNTY — The recovery of stolen construction equipment in Ratcliff was one example of the wide range of work handled by the Houston County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) during a busy August, according to monthly activity numbers released by Sheriff Zak Benge.
On Aug. 28, patrol deputies responded to the 1300 block of County Road 4700 in Ratcliff after representatives of a construction company reported finding property that had been taken from their worksite.
Deputies and criminal investigators identified the equipment as stolen by examining identifying marks and identification stickers attached to the items. During the investigation, a bumper-pull travel trailer was also determined to have been stolen from Angelina County.
Area residents were interviewed during the investigation, and the construction company was allowed to reclaim its equipment. The travel trailer was removed from the property and placed on hold until the Angelina County Sheriff’s Office could contact the rightful owner.
The case remains under review by the HCSO Criminal Investigations Division.
The investigation was part of a month that saw HCSO personnel respond to calls, conduct patrols, make arrests, transport inmates, provide courthouse security and complete hundreds of hours of training.
Patrol deputies responded to 504 calls and generated 63 reports during August. They also handled 49 animal or estray calls, made 39 arrests and conducted 217 traffic stops.
Deputies issued 43 citations and 174 warnings during those traffic stops. They completed 45 building checks, 25 school checks and eight agency assists.
HCSO patrol units traveled 15,120 miles during the month. Deputies completed four transports covering 490 miles and served 23 civil process papers.
The HCSO Dispatch Division handled 2,112 calls, including 1,023 calls made through 911.
The transportation division completed 39 transports and traveled 3,460 miles. Those figures are separate from the transports completed by patrol deputies.
The Houston County Jail booked in 99 people and released 92 during August. The jail reported an average daily population of 124 inmates and completed five Texas Department of Criminal Justice transports.
Training remained a significant part of the department’s monthly activity. Deputies completed 71 hours of training, dispatchers completed 76 hours and jail personnel completed 786 hours.
Benge said the jail training total included six new jailers who completed the monthlong jail school administered by HCSO.
Courthouse security personnel received 11 court warrants during August and made two arrests. They also completed 51 patrols of the courthouse annex.
The department’s administration division conducted 11 sex offender checks or check-ins and processed 45 bonds.
The monthly report reflects the department’s responsibilities across Houston County, from responding to emergency calls and investigating property crimes to monitoring traffic, transporting inmates, securing county facilities and preparing personnel through continuing education.
“We continue to be very busy with all aspects of responsibilities in an office of this size,” Benge said. “After a long hot summer we are looking forward to the cooler months ahead.”
Greg Ritchie can be reached at [email protected]
