@MarkDavis@ChadHastyRadio Very sad. He was instrumental in helping me in some legislation I was trying to pass a few years ago. He was a great guy and I'm glad I had the chance to know him. Prayers to his beautiful family.
There are 42 states that hold bartenders accountable if the customers they over serve kill someone but 0 states that hold Judges accountable if the criminals they release kill someone.
Insane.
UPDATE: 3/17 at 3:25pm
Today, after an exhaustive search, the Grand Prairie Public Safety Dive Team located Santiago in S. Cottonwood Creek adjacent the Ashton Park Apartment Homes. Due to the water having zero visibility, the divers were conducting a manual search when Santiago was located approximately 4 feet under the surface of the water and not visible from ground level.
The search for Santiago included police officers and civilians from the Grand Prairie Police Department, Grand Prairie Fire Department, Arlington Police Department, Garland Police Department, United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dallas Police, Texas Department of Public Safety Air Support, Search One Rescue K9’s, and Drones from the Grand Prairie Police UAS Drone Unit.
The Grand Prairie Police Department has met with the family of Santiago and offers our deepest condolences and will continue to support the family as needed.
While this case remains under investigation, no foul play is suspected.
Detention Supervisor Cassandra Simmons was presented with this Silver Torch today by @SOTexas in recognition of all her work with #SpecialOlympics Athletes. She and Sgt Dearing do an amazing job representing @GrandPrairiePD for such an amazing cause. #GPPDProud
We are excited to announce that the Grand Prairie Police Department received 3rd place in the National Association of Town Watch's 2024 National Night Out awards. We are so proud to be top 3 in the NATION!!
Thank you to our commUNITY for your support and participation. We are excited for National Night Out 2025!! #nno #Nationalnightout2024 #NationalNightOut
@IrvingPD So sorry for the loss of a brother. May his blood family and blue family receive the comfort of God while trying to make sense of such a tragedy. GPPD is here to support you in any way you may need.
Today we recognize our Grand Prairie Police Cold Case Detectives, with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety, for recently solving a 16 year old cold case.
On August 8, 2008, at around 6:15 p.m., the Grand Prairie Police Department responded to assist the Grand Prairie Fire Department with a structure fire in the 2600 block of Channing Drive. Inside the residence, firefighters located a deceased male who was identified as Raymond Hernandez, 45 years of age. Autopsy results determined Mr. Hernandez was the victim of a homicide. DNA from a possible suspect was collected at the scene and entered into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) in November of 2008. At the time, there was no matching DNA in CODIS to identify the potential suspect, nor were there any other cases where this suspect’s DNA profile matched any other victims.
In February 2022, Grand Prairie Police Cold Case Detectives began collaborating with the Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Rangers, to utilize the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI). Forensic genetic genealogical testing of the potential suspect’s DNA was searched through a third-party laboratory.
In September 2024, an investigative lead was developed through the genealogical search. Detectives were able to obtain a DNA sample and confirm the lead.
On October 4, 2024, Grand Prairie Police Cold Case Detectives, with the assistance of the Texas DPS-Texas Rangers and the Lufkin, Texas Police Department, arrested Jerry Lee Gardner, 44 years of age, at his residence in Lufkin, for the murder of Raymond Hernandez. He is currently in the Grand Prairie Detention Center on the charge of Capital Murder with a bond set at $1,000,000.