Latest news with #Dugas
NBC News
a day ago
- NBC News
Manhunt underway for Texas man 'mistakenly' released before serving 5 year prison sentence
Authorities are searching for a Texas man that was "mistakenly" released from jail before he was set to serve a 5 year state prison sentence. Troy Dugas, 36, was "mistakenly released from jail on Sunday" afternoon, the Harris County Sheriff's Office said Monday in a news release that included his mugshot. The sheriff's office said that Dugas was "due to begin serving a 5-year state prison sentence for assaulting a family member" and a 2-year sentence for evading arrest. Both incidents occurred in counties just outside of Houston, according to the release. Authorities added that Dugas was in the Harris County Jail since August 14 "on additional local charges that were subsequently dismissed" before his release on Sunday. 'A thorough investigation will be conducted to determine the circumstances that led to Dugas' erroneous release from jail,' the sheriff's office said in a statement. 'Preliminary indications are that jail staff did not properly document his state prison sentence in his file, leading to the mistaken assumption that Dugas was eligible for release once his Harris County charges were dismissed." The sheriff's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment seeking additional information. Authorities described him as a 6'1' 215 pound Black man, and said he has a tattoo on his neck. They advised anyone who is aware of his whereabouts or sights him to call 911.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Texas Jail Frees Convicted Domestic Abuser by Mistake, Manhunt Underway
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A manhunt is underway after a convicted domestic abuser was "mistakenly released" in Texas on Sunday afternoon. Troy Dugas was shown out of the Harris County Jail in downtown Houston at about 4:30 p.m. after a paperwork error, according to local media reports citing the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO). The 36-year-old was supposed to be starting a 5-year prison term, but instead walked free from the Harris County Jail after officials accidentally released him. Troy Dugas, 36, was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. Troy Dugas, 36, was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m., the Harris County Sheriff's Office said. HCSO/X The sheriff's office shared Dugas' mugshot on social media platform X, saying: "Please be on the lookout for Troy Dugas, 36. Deputies are searching for Dugas after he was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Please call 911 to report sightings." Please be on the lookout for Troy Dugas, 36. Deputies are searching for Dugas after he was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Please call 911 to report sightings. — HCSOTexas (@HCSOTexas) August 18, 2025 They added: "Dugas was due to begin serving a 5-year state prison sentence for assaulting a family member in Fort Bend County and a 2-year sentence for evading arrest in Brazoria County. He is a black male, 215 pounds, 6'1"." Newsweek has reached out by email to HCSO seeking further information and comment. This is a developing story and will be updated. Anyone seeking help should call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, a free and confidential hotline available 24/7 that can be reached on 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224. The Hotline also provides information on local resources. For more information, visit
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Invasive ant species known for ‘wicked' sting spreading in U.S. Here's why CT should be concerned.
The Asian needle ant, an invasive insect known for its painful and potentially deadly bite, is spreading across the United States, according to officials. The invasive ants were first discovered in Georgia in 1932 and over the following decades have since spread throughout much of the southern United States. Over the last few years, they have been moving north as far as Massachusetts, according to 'There is one record of an Asian needle ant in Connecticut in 1980, but when I looked at the report, it said Lewisboro, which is actually on the border in New York,' said Katherine Dugas, entomologist with the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. 'There are no reports of the ants in Connecticut at this time.' The insects – Brachyponera chinensis — roughly translated as 'short, wicked ant from China' are native to China, Japan and Korea. The ants are carnivorous, seeking out prey such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers and termites, according to officials. Asian needle ants are about 0.2 inches in length and dark brown or black with the end of the antennae and the legs being a lighter orange-brown. The invasive ants are known to prey on other insects and are capable of displacing native ant species that are critical for seed dispersal, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Because of this, the ants are considered an ecological threat, Dugas said. The dark brown ants live in colonies in leaf litter, rotted logs, firewood and mulch. They often appear in residential settings, including parks and urban areas, homes and under railroad ties, logs, bricks and pavers, according to officials. 'One of the other big issues with the needle ant, aside from the ecological concerns it poses, is that it is a home infesting ant known to cause structural issues,' Dugas said. 'What we would be concerned about is that the ants are brought here on an ornamental plant from the South or in soil used for planting. The ants can be moved hundreds of miles if there is an expansion in domestic trade or movement. Plants and soil imported from the South could risk the insects being transported up here inadvertently.' The ants are famously known for their painful sting, which may result in a life-threatening anaphylaxis shock. Stings are often reported to result in intense pain, much like a needle prick, at the site of the sting that comes and goes over the course of several hours. Some people experience pain away from the sting site. Redness of the skin and mild to severe hives have been reported as symptoms. 'They're really a triple threat,' Dugas said. 'The health issue, structural issue and environmental issue.' Dugas said that the needle ant is not considered an aggressive species like the more well-known invasive fire ant, but the ant will sting if accidentally stepped on or provoked, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The ant uses its mandible to grab on to the skin before curling its abdomen to reveal its stinger and inject venom into the body. Dugas said that it has the potential to spread into the Northeast. Connecticut's climate has been warming over the past decade, allowing invasive insects that previously couldn't survive the state's harsh winters to now have a greater chance of survival, she said. Several invasive species native to tropical Asia including the Asian tiger mosquito and Asian Longhorned tick have recently been recorded in Connecticut. 'Our climate is changing and we're warming up, so I think as a general rule of thumb, we can never say never,' Dugas said. 'We're noticing this with ticks that have had traditionally more southern ranges are now starting to expand. So the two native North American ticks such as the Lone Star and Gulf Coast tick have both been expanding their ranges in Connecticut. So we are seeing more tropical species expanding their range here.' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Cicadas are expected to reappear in the Northeast this spring, but will they be in CT?
They look like space aliens, they make a loud buzzing sound and the last time you might have seen one Barack Obama was President of the United States. Cicadas, one of the more unusual insect species in North America, are expected to emerge this spring after nearly 17 years underground, according to researchers. Brood XIV, the latest group of buzzing perennial cicadas, is the latest to appear in New England in over a decade. The last time this brood appeared was in 2008. The sizable insects have stocky bodies and short antennae. Cicadas have large red eyes and transparent wings that feature noticeable veins, according to University of Connecticut. The species is notable for having both annual cicadas, which emerge and mate every year, and periodical cicadas which emerge after 13 or 17 years. The insects come out of the ground when soil temperatures reach 64 degrees, which typically happens during the second half of May. While annual cicadas emerge worldwide each year, periodical cicadas can only be found in the eastern part of the United States, according to the Connecticut Agriculture Experiment Station. 'There's multiple broods of cicadas we track, but Connecticut is not expected to see cicadas emerge this year,' said Katherine Dugas, entomologist at the insect information office at AES. Cicadas are likely to make an appearance in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and in nine southern counties in Indiana, according to Cicada Safari, a website that gathers data on the insects. But while states in the Northeast will see cicadas, Connecticut is not mentioned on the list. 'It's funny that Massachusetts and Rhode Island will see them, but not here in Connecticut,' Dugas said. 'That could just be that populations are not present here historically or more likely they have gone extinct because they were extirpated. Because cicadas go underground for over a decade, that requires their host tree to be around for that long too. So any kind of development of older forests that may have these populations, if those trees are removed, that also removes the cicada population.' Connecticut's periodical cicada brood is Brood II, which won't emerge until 2030, according to Dugas. Brood II emerges every 17 years and last emerged in 2013. She said that the best place to see cicadas in 2030 will be in the middle of the state. Some tracts of land around power lines in Hamden are known to be where the brood is underground, she said. The insects emerge from the ground to mate and the females lay eggs in tree branches, she said. Around 6 to 10 weeks later, the eggs hatch and the babies drop to the ground. The juveniles then go beneath the ground and feed on grass roots and start the process all over again. The adults only live a couple weeks once they emerge, according to Dugas. The cicadas are able to correctly time their emergence based on linking with the roots of a mature tree and monitoring its growth cycles. This kind of relationship with their host tree leads to remarkable accuracy for emerging every 13 or 17 years, Dugas said. While the insects often emerge in swarms and can look menacing, they are harmless as they can't bite or sting, according to Dugas. Instead, their mouth parts are made for primarily sucking on plant sap. Cicadas are known to produce a loud, buzzing sound that they makes from a unique structure on their abdomen called a tymbal. Each brood typically contains multiple species, and different periodical cicada species have different calling songs they use in the mating process. Because individual cicadas can synchronize their sounds, they are known to produce choruses of 90 or more decibels, when hundreds are synchronized all together. 'Often times people don't see cicadas, they actually hear them first,' Dugas said. 'You'll commonly hear people say they can hear them in their yards when they emerge. They can be very loud and sometimes people will report them as a nuisance because of the noise. But they are ultimately harmless and will not really permanently damage a tree either, usually just some minor twig damage occurs. ' Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Woman arrested in connection with March 31 Crowley shooting
CROWLEY, La. () — A woman was arrested Thursday in connection with a shooting in Crowley on March 31, authorities said. Ashley Dugas is charged with three counts of principal to attempted second degree murder. Officials said Crowley Police officers responded March 31 to the 500 block of North Avenue A in Crowley, following reports of gunshots fired. Upon arrival, officers discovered a female victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Dugas was arrested Thursday and taken to the Acadia Parish Sheriffs Office, where she was booked on a $100,000 bond. Dugas has since posted bond and been released, authorities said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Crowley Police Chief Troy Hebert said additional arrests are forthcoming. The Crowley Police Department asks anyone with information related to this case to contact the department at 337-783-1234. The Masters 2025: How much do caddies make? Louisiana bill would end local sales taxes on groceries, soft drinks and other essentials Sheriff: Georgia Walmart employee kills co-worker, wounds another Woman arrested in connection with March 31 Crowley shooting FEMA cuts disaster mitigation program; Louisiana to lose $720M Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
