Surprising Crime Twists

Dallas police reveal disturbing new details about shooting death of car chase suspect

Dallas police units flocked to the scene of a SWAT standoff at Southwest Center Mall.

Photo courtesy of Labelscar.com

Dallas police have released new information in the shooting death of an armed man in a mall parking lot on April 21. Michael Mayo, a 30-year-old white male, was shot and killed by police when he allegedly pointed a weapon at officers.

According to police, Mayo first aroused suspicion while parked outside a motel in the 3300 block of Marvin D. Love Freeway. Mayo and a woman were believed to be smoking marijuana in the vehicle. Police ran a check on the couple and discovered Mayo had active felony warrants.

Police say Michael Mayo nearly struck an officer with his car during the getaway.

When police backup arrived, Mayo started to drive away, and his female companion jumped out of the car. During his getaway, police say that Mayo nearly struck an officer with the car.

For about 30 minutes, Mayo toyed with the officers, pretending to stop and submit to arrest before starting up his car again and taking off. Around 2 pm, Mayo parked at Southwest Center Mall. Dallas SWAT unit arrived on the scene and attempted to negotiate with the armed suspect.

"Officers tried to get the suspect to surrender, but he got out with a gun pointed to his head," reads a police statement on the incident.

Police requested a flight restriction in the area and asked media helicopters to back away from the scene. Shortly after that directive, the suspect got back into his car. SWAT continued to attempt to negotiate with Mayo, and he exited his vehicle once more.

According to police, Mayo pulled out his gun and pointed it in their direction, drawing fire from the officers. Mayo was pronounced dead around 2:30 pm. No other injuries were reported. Lt. Max Geron said the incident would be investigated as an officer-involved shooting.

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Weed News

Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas files bill to legalize marijuana

Redheaded Blackbelt

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Texas Rep. Jessica González of Dallas has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana