Pictured is a Missouri City Police Department vehicle.
A detective for the Missouri City Police Department said Wednesday it continues to investigate why a man was in the back seat of a patrol vehicle when a now-terminated officer responded to a robbery call last month and got into a wreck that killed a woman and her teenage son.
The 53-year-old man in the back seat of the patrol cruiser driven by Officer Blademir Viveros was found hours after the June 20 crash and transported to a hospital with serious injuries, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which is investigating the crash. Missouri City Police Chief Brandon Harris said during a news conference last week that department policy prohibits officers from responding to calls when people are in the back of their vehicles.
“As far as if he was under arrest or in custody, I do not know,” Det. Michael Medina said Wednesday. “That’s part of our internal investigation.”
Medina said Viveros, 27, was terminated last week. Whether Viveros will face any criminal charges has yet to be determined, according to DPS, which said it will present its findings to the Fort Bend County District Attorney’s Office for potential prosecution.
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Medina said the man in the back of the patrol vehicle has not been charged with any crimes since the night of the crash.
DPS said in a news release that Viveros was driving over the posted speed limit and did not have his emergency lights activated when he crashed into a 2005 Toyota Corolla driven by 16-year-old Mason Stewart at about 8:45 p.m. June 20 on Cartwright Road in Missouri City. Both Stewart and his mother, 53-year-old Angela Stewart, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Mason Stewart was pulling out of a private drive and failed to yield the right-of-way to Viveros, DPS said.
A Missouri judge upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification in order to vote.
What Is the Ruling?
The ruling, made by Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday, solidifies the 2016 voter-approved constitutional amendment enabling lawmakers to impose such photo ID requirements, despite pushback from voting rights advocates.
The Missouri law offers alternatives for voters without photo ID, allowing them to cast provisional ballots, which are counted if they return with proper identification the same day or if election officials verify their signatures.
In addition, to mitigate accessibility concerns, the state provides free photo ID cards to those who need them.
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Missouri joins 36 other states that either request or mandate identification for voters, with at least 21 specifically requiring photo IDs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem asks questions during a hearing in Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City, Missouri, on May 23, 2018. Beetem upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to… Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem asks questions during a hearing in Cole County Circuit Court in Jefferson City, Missouri, on May 23, 2018. Beetem upheld a law on Tuesday that requires voters to present government-issued photo identification at polling places.
Julie Smith/The Jefferson City News-Tribune/ AP
What Do Supporters of the Law Say?
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, praised the decision, asserting that photo ID requirements are integral to election security. “To maintain a secure system for voting, it only stands to reason that a photo ID should be essential,” Ashcroft said in a statement.
Supporters of voter ID laws argue that they prevent fraud and bolster public trust in elections.
What Do Critics Say?
Critics, however, contend that these laws disproportionately burden vulnerable groups, including seniors and people with disabilities, by creating hurdles to obtaining valid identification.
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Opposition groups—including the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters, along with two individual voters—challenged the law in 2022 filing a lawsuit, alleging it places undue obstacles in the path of voters and increases the likelihood of provisional ballots being rejected.
Despite these claims, Judge Beetem dismissed the lawsuit, emphasizing that none of the plaintiffs experienced specific harm since the law’s implementation.
“Their claim that their provisional ballots may be rejected is purely speculative,” Beetem wrote. “In addition, the evidence at trial confirms that rejection rates for provisional ballots are low, and the rates specifically for signature-mismatch are exceedingly low.”
In his ruling, Beetem argued that the photo ID requirement enhances election integrity, stating it “protects the fundamental right to vote by deterring difficult to detect forms of voter fraud.”
The plaintiffs, represented by the Missouri ACLU and the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, plan to appeal the decision.
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Marilyn McLeod, president of the Missouri League of Women Voters, criticized the ruling, saying: “The League believes the state should be making it easier, not harder, for Missourians to exercise their fundamental right to vote.”
“There’s no evidence of voter impersonation in Missouri, so these restrictions don’t make our elections any safer or more secure,” McLeod added.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
What Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz said about Arkansas
Arkansas football continues its 2024 season against No. 24 Missouri in just four days at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, and Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke to the media Tuesday to preview the matchup.
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Missouri hasn’t quite had the year it hoped for entering the season, but the Tigers still sit with a 9-3 (4-3) overall record with wins over teams like Boston College, Vanderbilt, Auburn, Oklahoma and Mississippi State.
Under Drinkwitz’s leadership, Missouri has accumulated a 36-24 (21-20 SEC) overall record in five seasons. This year, the Tigers boast the No. 61 total offense (393.4 YPG) and No. 73 passing offense (224.6 YPG) in the country.
This will mark the 16th meeting between the two teams, as Missouri leads the series 11-4. The Tigers have won the last two meetings, which includes a blowout last year in Fayetteville, 48-14. Arkansas last won in 2021, a 34-17 victory at Razorback Stadium. The Hogs have never triumphed in Columbia.
Here’s everything Drinkwitz had to say about Pittman, the Razorbacks and the game this weekend:
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On Arkansas and and its coaching staff:
Drinkwitz: “Now to the game this week, Arkansas, the Battle Line Rivalry. It’s a great rivalry and a really good football team. I think Coach [Sam] Pittman has done a tremendous job at the University of Arkansas. I just saw a stat today where I think he’s the first coach in their history that’s gone to four bowl games in the first five seasons that he’s been there. He’s done an excellent job recruiting and reshaping that roster from last year.
“They’re very talented, went into the transfer portal, got the right pieces, continually makes great hires. When you look at the hires that Coach Pittman has had in his coordinator positions since he’s been there, he’s done an excellent job. Coach [Barry] Odom, who did a tremendous job while he was there as the DC and obviously now at UNLV. Coach [Kendal] Briles while they were there.
“Coach [Scott] Fountain, his special teams coordinator, who I worked with at Auburn, has been consistently good. Travis Williams, now the defensive coordinator. They play fast, they play physical, they play inspired football. They beat Tennessee at home, a top-10 team this year. They did an excellent job. Then obviously Coach [Bobby] Petrino on the offensive side of the ball. One of the best play callers in college football, one of the best offensive minds in college football. There’s really not a scenario or situation that’s going to be new or unique to him. So, it’s a really, really challenging football game.”
On possibly playing in snow against Arkansas:
Drinkwitz: “Well, the first thing we do is we practice in the weather that we play in. So, we’ll be outside all week instead of in the indoor (practice facility) and try to get used to the bodily temperature. There are two different types of snow. There’s dry snow (and) wet snow. Wet snow sticks and compacts (and) makes it a little bit more difficult to throw, catch, make a slicker ball.
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“You have to be more cognizant of the way that you’re utilizing your cleats and running because the snow will clamp and be a factor in route running and slippage. So, there are some things as a staff that we’ve already put in place to prepare for, but the reality of it is, that’s just part of the game.”
On Arkansas’ best players:
Drinkwitz: “They’ve got a really good quarterback, Taylen Green, running back Ja’Quinden Jackson, the tight end Luke Hasz, the wide receiver Andrew Armstrong. I mean, really, really good skill positions, and Coach Petrino uses them in the right way. Defensively, Landon Jackson is one of the best defensive ends in our conference. I think the linebacker group plays really well downhill. Xavian Sorey is a guy that bounces off the tape at you.
“In the back end, Hudson Clark, we’ve played him for five-straight seasons. I remember playing him as a true freshman out here during the COVID season. A lot of these guys, similar to South Carolina, we’ve played a lot and have a lot of respect for them as a football team and as a program.”
On how Drinkwitz has seen Arkansas’ program change through the years:
Drinkwitz: “Obviously, last year they were going through some coordinator stuff and changes within their team. But I do think the defensive identity under Coach [Sam] Pittman has been consistent. Relentless pursuit to the football. They’re playing a little bit more of a three-safety defense the last three games, which is very similar to what they did with Coach [Barry] Odom. So, you can tell there’s a program style, complimentary football. Coach [Travis] Williams does a tremendous job getting those guys playing hard, playing fast.
“Since I’ve been here coaching, Arkansas has had really, really good linebacker play, and that’s consistent through Coach Williams, who was an elite linebacker himself at Auburn, and so those guys really stand out. Their defensive line has continued to improve. They retained some really good players and then added some players, so they’ve got more depth there.
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“On the offensive side of the ball, Coach Petrino is well known for his quarterback prowess, and he’s done a tremendous job with their quarterback. And Ja’Quinden Jackson – Coach Petrino has always believed in having a big [running] back. They really establish the run and then are explosive in the passing game. So, it’s complimentary football.”
On containing Andrew Armtrong:
Drinkwitz: “I think contain is the wrong word. I think you’ve got to limit yards after catch. I think he is an explosive route runner. Obviously, he’s got great length and can get over the top. So, you’ve got to do a great job of keeping on top of the routes and then we need to do a good job of tackling. They do a really good job of creating yards-after-catch through some of their crossing schemes.
“So, we’re going to have to do a really good job of tackling. The weather could be an intriguing factor in this game. I haven’t played in a snow game and it’s looking like we might get one of those. I don’t know if anyone here is a weather person but it’s looking like that, right? So, it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”
**JOIN THE CONVERSATION WITH ARKANSAS FANS ON THE TROUGH, HAWGBEAT’S PREMIUM MESSAGE BOARD**
The Missouri Tigers (5-1) will be looking to extend a five-game home winning streak when hosting the Lindenwood Lions (2-4) on Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at Mizzou Arena. It airs at 6:30 PM ET on SEC Network+.
In its most recent game, Missouri beat UAPB, 112-63, at home. Its top scorers were Mark Mitchell (20 PTS, 72.73 FG%) and Caleb Grill (14 PTS, 55.56 FG%, 4-8 from 3PT).
Lindenwood lost on the road to Valparaiso, 77-64, in its last game. Its top performers were Markeith Browning II (20 PTS, 2 STL, 56.25 FG%, 2-4 from 3PT) and Jadis Jones (17 PTS, 9 REB, 4 STL, 46.67 FG%).
Ahead of watching this matchup, here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s college basketball action.
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Check out: USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll
Watch college basketball on Fubo!
Missouri Tigers vs. Lindenwood Lions
Game day: Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Game time: 6:30 PM ET
TV: SEC Network+
Live stream: Log into ESPN using your Fubo account to access SEC Network+
NCAA Basketball Odds and Betting Lines
Spread: Missouri -28.5
Total: 148.5
College basketball odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Wednesday at 3:59 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Watch college basketball on Fubo!
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