BRENHAM POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE PRIVATE LAB TO TEST EVIDENCE FROM RECENT BURGLARY CASES

  

The Brenham Police Department will utilize a private laboratory to determine whether two recent burglary cases are connected to one another.

The Brenham City Council today (Thursday) authorized the department to spend $6,536 in felony forfeiture funds, or money seized during investigations into criminal activities, for forensic DNA testing services.  The department will send evidence obtained from an attempted burglary at a washateria on South Austin Street on November 13^th and another attempted burglary this past Sunday at United Rentals.

Captain Lloyd Powell explained that shots were fired at a citizen who interrupted the November 13^th burglary.  He said investigators believe the firearm used on that day is the same firearm found by police when they arrested the suspect in Sunday’s burglary.

 

Sergeant Seth Klehm said the department will send five shell casings and one live round to Signature Science, a forensics lab in Austin, to obtain touch DNA and log the data into the FBI’s Combined DNA Index System (CODIS).  He said the lab offers technology above what is normally available to the department.

 

The suspect arrested on Sunday, 40-year-old Patrick Dion Hurd of Brenham, remains in the Washington County Jail.  He was initially charged with Evading Arrest/Detention, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, Criminal Trespass and Attempted Theft of Property between $30,000 and $150,000.  However, online jail records show he is now also being charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Deadly Conduct – Discharge of a Firearm and Burglary of a Coin Operated/Collection Machine.

In other items today, the council:

• Met in executive session to consider a cancellation agreement with Dreamliner Diner, formerly known as Canion Kountry Bakery and Restaurant, related to the lease for the restaurant portion of the terminal building at the airport.
• Held executive session discussion regarding the appointment of a presiding judge and associate judge for Municipal Court for two year terms ending December 31, 2024 and determining their compensation.
• Deliberated in executive session on utility matters pertaining to the city’s gas utility system; and legal matters concerning the raw water intake structure at Lake Somerville, as well as City of Brenham v. WTG Gas Marketing, Inc.; Cause No. 37573; 335^th Judicial District Court, Washington County; Aviators Plus, LLC v. City of Brenham, Texas; Cause No. 37896; 21^st Judicial District Court.
• Tabled action on changing the zoning at 1150 Dixie Road, which belongs to Brannon Industrial Group/Premier Metal Buyers, from Local Business Residential Mixed Use to Industrial Use. The Planning and Zoning Commission gave a recommendation to approve the zoning adjustment at its meeting November 21^st.  The council moved to table in order to allow more time to weigh potential impacts to surrounding properties and further evaluate the extent of the city’s authority in the extraterritorial jurisdiction.
• Accepted a bid for improvements to the Hohlt Park nature trail, including a boardwalk, educational signage, a 0.59-mile granite looped trail, benches and plants. The bid is from Collier Construction for $291,517.  Public Works Director Dane Rau said work should start after the beginning of the new year and is expected to be complete by the spring.
• Approved an ordinance amending the city’s adopted budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22.
• Held work session discussion on the Nancy Carol Roberts Memorial Library and the recent Texas Recreation and Parks Society Rodeo at Hohlt Park.

Click here to view the agenda packet for Thursday's meeting.