City News Roundup

W Hotel in Victory Park has a new boss and more Dallas news

That's "W" for W Hotel.

Courtesy photo

UPDATE 11-20-2019: Interabang Books has re-opened. A release from the store says, "We are open for business at our new spot as of Wednesday afternoon, one month to the day after the October 20 tornado. To be very clear, this is the bookstore's NEW LOCATION in the Pavilion on Lovers Lane: 5600 W. Lovers Ln., between Inwood and the Dallas North Tollway, near Chico's and Eatzi's." The email says that the store's banner won't go up until Thursday morning, so customers should look for "the bright blue door" near the end of the shopping center close to the Tollway. "Shipments of books and gifts are still arriving, but the significance of the one-month milestone and our desire to see friends' faces like yours again was too strong to wait any longer. Interabang will be open from 10 am to 8 pm daily through December. We look forward to seeing you today, tomorrow, this weekend, and from now on!"

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A popular bookstore is recovering from the tornado, we're getting more scooters, and there's a pilot program for a new high-tech crime-fighting initiative by the DPD. Also, a luxury hotel in Victory Park has a new owner.

Here's what happened in Dallas this week:

Bookstore prevails
Interabang Books, the beloved bookstore that was among the businesses destroyed by a tornado on October 20, has found a new location: The store will re-open at The Pavilion on Lovers Lane, the shopping center near the intersection of the Dallas North Tollway, where it will move into the space near Eatzi's vacated by Capezio.

A spokesperson says that they'll do a light renovation of the space and hope to re-open by Thanksgiving.

Their original location was at the Preston Royal shopping center, which was decimated in the storm, and is still in flux.

More than 900 homes and businesses were damaged by the tornado, including 106 that were destroyed and 287 that were seriously damaged; 87 commercial structures sustained damages.

More scooters
Ojo Electric Corp. has expanded its electric rideshare scooter service in Dallas, increasing its fleet from 100 to 500 seated electric scooters.

The scooters can go up to 20 mph, the top speed for bike lanes, and, on a full charge, can go as far as 50 miles. The scooters also have GPS, and allow geo-fencing and automated speed throttling. In Dallas, Ojo has partnered with Shift Transit which oversees scooter deployment, balancing, service and repair, and 24/7 telephone customer service.

Bill bought the W
The W Dallas Victory Hotel has new owners: HN Capital Partners and Dunhill Partners, the company owned by Bill Hutchinson, who announced the purchase via an Instagram post, along with the news that they'll undertake a $21 million renovation. Dunhill is also a partner in the new Virgin Hotels Dallas, set to open in the Design District in December.

Starlight pilot
The Dallas Police Department have a new crime-fighting initiative that uses technology called Starlight. The program uses a state-of-the-art software and camera system to prevent crimes at stores, gas stations, and convenience stores. The equipment shows what's happening in real time, providing what they call a "virtual patrol." Each store is equipped with cameras, signage, and a blue light, to indicate that the store is being monitored by the DPD.

This is a pilot program being implemented in partnership with Safer Dallas and Motorola, and is launching at three locations that receive a high volume of calls for police services, including the 7-Eleven at 2911 E. Ledbetter Rd.; the 7-Eleven at 2503 Lemmon Ave.; and perhaps most significantly, the Ferguson Food Mart and Texaco Gas Station, the same gas station that the city filed a lawsuit against in July.

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Animal News

Wills Point, Texas man charged with cruelty for abandoning 18 animals

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Lucas Wayne Penrod, charged with animal cruelty

Another animal cruelty case has emerged from Van Zandt County, resulting in the arrest of a Wills Point man: Lucas Wayne Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

It began on Friday, October 24, when the Wills Point Police Department performed a welfare check at a mobile home within the city limits. Officers became concerned when they heard multiple dogs barking along with a foul odor of animal waste.

On October 25, after obtaining a search warrant, Wills Point PD and the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit entered the residence and found multiple animals living in deplorable conditions.

The mobile home was filled with trash and animal feces. The team discovered a total of 8 cats, 2 guinea pigs, 4 adult dogs, and 4 puppies, cruelly confined to the unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Two dogs were confined to filthy crates with no access to water.
Three puppies were in a small bathroom covered in urine and feces; one of the puppies was deceased and decomposing.
The guinea pigs were found in a cage without access to food or water.

Most of the animals showed signs of long-term neglect and were in dire need of urgent medical intervention. The animals were seized by the SPCA of Texas and transported to the organization's Dallas location for veterinary care.

Dog in cage Wills Point Lucas Wayne Penrod Dog abandoned in Wills Point by Lucas Wayne Penrod.SPCA

On October 26, Lucas Wayne Penrod, the owner of the animals, contacted an SPCA of Texas Investigator regarding the animals. The Investigator determined that Penrod had unlawfully allegedly abandoned the animals, failing to provide them with proper care, resulting in the death of one of the puppies and the critical state of the surviving animals.

On October 28, the SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations (ACI) Unit obtained an arrest warrant for Penrod, who was apprehended by Tyler Police Department and booked into the Smith County Jail with a $50K bond. Penrod was charged with Cruelty to Nonlivestock Animals, a 3rd degree felony.

On November 1, at a civil custody hearing at the Van Zandt County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 courthouse in Wills Point, Penrod relinquished custody of the 18 allegedly abandoned, cruelly treated animals to the SPCA.

"The squalid conditions these beautiful animals were living in were abhorrent--locked in spaces without food or water, in their own excrement," said SPCA of Texas ACI Unit Chief Investigator Courtney Burns, CAWA. "This is some of the worst mistreatment of domestic animals I've seen in my extensive career in animal cruelty investigations. In no small part, these pets owe their lives to the Wills Point Police Department. If it wasn’t for their quick thinking to involve us right away, I don't think the animals would have made it."

"This case perfectly illustrates the team effort that investigating and prosecuting animal cruelty cases in Texas is," Burns added. "We are extremely thankful to the Tyler Police Department for their efficient assistance in apprehending Penrod so that he can be brought to justice in the timeliest manner possible. And we are especially grateful to the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and court system with whom we continue to partner to get justice for abused animals in their jurisdiction."