Dallas, TX
Man who recently tried to enter Dallas church with rifle facing federal weapons charge
A man who recently attempted to enter a Dallas church with a tactical rifle was charged with a federal firearm crime stemming from a 2022 shooting, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the North District of Texas announced.
Russell Alan Ragsdale, 25, was arrested Friday and made his initial appearance Monday on a possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance charge.
On Nov. 2, a church reported to Dallas police that Ragsdale was at the location with a gun, according to federal court documents. The church was not named in the filing.
Based on surveillance footage and witness interviews, officers determined Ragsdale arrived at the church about 5 p.m. while Mass was being celebrated with about 100 church members, according to an affidavit. He entered about 5:05 p.m.
“At 5:07 p.m., [Ragsdale] stood from his front row seat and approached the priest, embraced him and kissed him on both cheeks,” the affidavit says. Ragsdale “handed the priest a note that said, ‘May peace be with you.’”
Ragsdale remained in the church for about five more minutes before returning to his car. He put on a black and white poncho, retrieved a rifle from the trunk of the car, and then closed the three gates to the church parking lot, according to the affidavit. Ragsdale tried to reenter the church with the gun about 5:35 p.m., but parishioners had locked the doors.
A parishioner talked to Ragsdale outside after he placed the rifle on the ground. Officers arrived a few minutes later and arrested him.
The arresting officer noted “an odor of alcohol” coming from Ragsdale, the affidavit says.
During this investigation, police learned Ragsdale had been arrested two years ago as a suspect in a Seagoville slaying. He had faced a felony murder charge in the February 2022 killing of his roommate, but the case was later dismissed.
At the time, Ragsdale told police his roommate attacked him so he “shot him many times” in self-defense, according to court documents.
“Officers recovered three firearms, including a 10mm Glock and an AR-15 rifle, and almost two grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms from the residence,” the news release said. ” An analysis of Mr. Ragsdale’s phone showed a history of drug use dating back to November 2021, as well as evidence of purchasing and using hallucinogenic mushrooms on Feb. 2, 2022.”
Pursuant to a search warrant issued, earlier this month Dallas police received copies of information, including messages, from Ragsdale’s phone that indicated he used illegal drugs leading up to the February homicide, according to court documents.
If convicted, Ragsdale faces up to 15 years in prison.
Dallas, TX
Woman arrested near downtown Dallas with 39 bags of crack cocaine, police say
Dallas Police Central Business District officers recovered 39 bags of crack cocaine during an arrest Tuesday.
The officers, working with the U.S. Marshal’s North Texas Fugitive Task Force, seized the drugs when they arrested 40-year-old Velisa Purvis, who was wanted on four outstanding felony warrants.
Officers spotted Purvis in the 1500 block of Garrett Avenue near Old East Dallas and took her into custody.
In addition to the cocaine, officers recovered two bags of suspected methamphetamine, drug packaging, money and marijuana.
She now faces additional charges of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between four grams and 200 grams and manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance between one and four grams for the crack cocaine, methamphetamine, currency, and individual packages with the intent to distribute.
Dallas, TX
Anti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
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Dallas, TX
Dallas Weather: Changes on the way for North Texas
DALLAS – The warm and muggy weather will give way to much cooler temperatures in the Dallas-Fort Worth area over the next few days.
Thursday Forecast
According to the FOX 4 Weather team, rain chances return on Thursday as a disturbance moves through the Plains.
The best chance for showers and storms will be north of Interstate 20. There’s a marginal risk for severe storms for the areas northwest of DFW and along the Red River.
A southwest wind will also keep things very warm throughout the day. Expect highs to climb into the upper 70s to 80s. Wind gusts may reach as high as 25 to 30 mph.
Weekend Forecast
The next cold front swings through on Friday afternoon. Ahead of it, there are rain chances, especially southeast of DFW.
Behind this front, noticeably colder air moves in for the weekend. Expect lows in the 30s and afternoon highs in the 50s.
7-Day Forecast
A slow warm-up is expected heading into early next week.
The Source: The information in this story comes from FOX 4 Weather Meteorologist Ali Turiano’s weather report.
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