Texas Headlines

LONGVIEW, Texas (AP) - The search is on around downtown Longview for a handcuffed 31-year-old drug suspect who broke away from deputies today outside the Gregg County Jail. Sheriff's Lt. Mike Claxton says Michael Dantae Fagan was ran out of the booking area of the county jail and deputies couldn't catch him as he ran throughout the lunchtime crowds in downtown Longview.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas law enforcement officials are warning homeowners to beware of home alarm system scams amid reports of aggressive door-to-door sales by unlicensed workers in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin. Officials said legit home-alarm salespeople, companies or installers should be licensed and carry a photo ID provided by the state Private Security Bureau.

HOUSTON (AP) - Waller County Justice of the Peace Dewayne Charleston was arrested today after being indicted in an alleged bribery scheme, making him the latest official in the Southeast Texas county to face federal corruption charges. The U.S. attorney's office in Houston said he's charged with two counts of federal program fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit such fraud.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A state judge in Corpus Christi has ruled a cell phone containing videos of abuse at a state facility is inadmissible. State District Judge Sandra Watts won't allow the video as evidence in the trial of the man who allegedly filmed the staged fights. Appeals will delay the start of the trial.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)