Park Cities Crime

Man who raped SMU student arrested for second college-area sexual assault

University Park police report that a man has admitted to raping an SMU student on September 7. Torey Jamal Harris, 23, allegedly confessed to the crime while in custody for a second sexual assault in Corsicana.

At 11:15 pm on September 7, an SMU student was jogging about a half mile east of campus when a suspect approached her from behind in the 6700 block of Willard Drive. She told police that the man who raped her at knifepoint was a black male in his early 20s with a crown tattoo on the left side of his neck.

Navarro College police arrested Torey Harris on September 15 — the same day UP police released a sketch of the SMU suspect.

Navarro College police officers arrested Harris on September 15 — the same day UP police released a sketch of the SMU suspect. Navarro College law enforcement noticed Harris resembled that suspect sketch and contacted University Park police.

In addition to both assaults occurring on or near a college campus, the victims each reported that their attacker wielded a small, sharp object, alternately described as a knife and an ice pick. Harris led officers on car and foot chase before being apprehended.

While being interviewed by UP detectives at the Navarro County Jail, Harris confessed to raping the SMU student on September 7. According to UP police chief Greg Spradlin, Harris provided details about the attack that only the perpetrator could know.

"It is our hope this arrest can bring a sense of peace to this community," Spradlin said.

Harris is being held on a $200,000 bond for charges of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping.

Torey Harris, 23, is charged with two sexual assaults.

Photo courtesy of UPPD

Torey Harris, 23, is charged with two sexual assaults.

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Fun times in the city

Dallas swings a spot on new list of most fun cities in U.S. for 2024

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Dallas just wants to have fun, according to WalletHub's new ranking of the most fun cities in America in 2024.

The annual report ranked Dallas No. 31 out of 182 U.S. cities.

WalletHub's experts compared each city using 65 metrics to determine their level of "fun." Metrics were split among three main categories: entertainment and recreation, nightlife and parties, and cost.

According to the study's findings, Dallas was 24th nationally in the category for nightlife and parties, and ranked No. 39 in the "entertainment and recreation" category. That may be especially alluring for anyone who wants to explore the city's vast entertainment opportunities (especially during the holiday season), family-friendly recreational activities, top dining destinations, and more. Plus, Dallas is home to entertainment juggernauts like the State Fair of Texas and TopGolf.

Dallas performed poorly in the overall cost category, earning No. 114 out of all 182 cities. However, this category mostly compares flat costs rather than affordability based on local cost of living.

Potential new Dallasites should do their research before deciding to move here, rather than basing their decision on short trips and vacations alone. But we won't blame them for wanting to live in one of the best cities in the world.

"The top cities offer affordable options for year-round fun for their residents, which is good for residents’ wallets and their mental health," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo in the report.

Austin (No. 6) and Houston (No. 9) were the only Texas cities to earn a spot in the top 10 most fun U.S. cities list. Austin moved up one spot from last year, while Houston made a 10-place jump.

Other fun-filled Texas cities that made it in the top 100 are El Paso (No. 53), Fort Worth (No. 55), Plano (No. 78), Arlington (No. 79), and Corpus Christi (No. 99).

The top 10 most fun U.S. cities are:

No. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada
No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
No. 3 – Miami, Florida
No. 4 – Atlanta, Georgia
No. 5 – New Orleans, Louisiana
No. 6 – Austin, Texas
No. 7 – San Francisco, California
No. 8 – Chicago, Illinois
No. 9 – Houston, Texas
No. 10 – New York City, New York

Cities were evaluated based on the number of attractions per capita, nightlife activities per capita, the average prices for eating at a restaurant or buying a movie ticket, and more. Data was sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, The Trust for Public Land, and the Council for Community and Economic Research, among others.

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