Fugitive on the loose

DNA evidence shows same man committed 3 sexual assaults in Lake Highlands

Dallas police now know they are looking for only one suspect in a series of unsolved sexual assaults in Lake Highlands. DNA evidence released on March 22 linked one person to rapes committed on February 22, March 15 and March 19 in the upscale neighborhood.

Authorities believed they had arrested a serial rapist in the area when they detained Fernando Munoz on March 1. In addition to being charged with aggravated assault and burglary, Munoz was tied by DNA evidence to two sexual assaults in 2008 and one 2010. He was a suspect in the February 22 rape but was later cleared of that crime by forensic evidence.

The descriptions of the attackers were similar but not exactly the same, leaving police wondering if they were searching for two rapists or one. But the DNA profile proves that the same person has committed each of the three unsolved assaults.

In a statement, Dallas police said that the DNA did not match any person currently listed in state or national criminal databases. Authorities hope that the description of the attacker, as well as two police sketches, will help identify the serial rapist.

"The suspect may have multiple scratches on either one or both of his cheeks or neck," the statement said. "He may also have bite marks on one or more of his hands and fingers to include a deep laceration to at least one finger."

The attacker has been described as a Latin male in his 20s with short hair and a round face. Crimestoppers recently increased the award for information from $5,000 to $25,0000. Tipsters should call 1-877-373-TIPS (8477).

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E-Cigarette News

Dallas City Council places restrictions on vaping in public

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Man vaping

Vaping will now be banned exactly like smoking, thanks to a new ordinance from the Dallas City Council.

At their December 11 meeting, the council passed an ordinance to ban vaping in all the same areas where smoking is not allowed. It'll go into effect on December 11, 2025 — giving everyone a year to get into compliance.

Proposed by City of Dallas Environmental Commission (EVC) and the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS), the ordinance amends the definition of “smoking” in the Dallas City Code to include the use of vaping devices.

The ordinance does not ban vaping — it only bans where you can vape: no vaping in all indoor and enclosed spaces; within 15 feet of building entrances; and on park property. The ordinance also bans marijuana smoking in those same places.

In addition, the amendment requires restaurants, hotels, fitness centers and other businesses to update their signage to clearly state that both smoking and electronic smoking devices are prohibited.

The ordinance already earned widespread support from health organizations such as the Dallas County Health and Human Services, the American Lung Association, and the American Heart Association. These organizations, along with the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Surgeon General, have all raised concerns about the health risks of direct and second-hand exposure to vaping aerosols, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children and older adults.

Dallas is not the first city to impose such a ban: San Antonio enacted a similar ban in October. Theirs goes into effect on January 1, 2025.

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