Wednesday, November 15, 2017

BREAKING NEWS: BREAK-IN VICTIM WAS CITY COMISH NEECE; HIS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO HELPS BPD ID HOLDUP SUSPECTS

By Juan Montoya

A freelance social media news reporter has posted – and City of Brownsville Commissioner Ben Neece has confirmed – that he was the victim of a car break-in the predawn hours Monday where a
handgun was stolen from his car.

Police reported that the same handgun – used by the suspect identified through video surveillance at Neece's house/business address –  may have been used in at least two armed robberies of Stripes convenience stores since Monday.

Two other holdups were reported on Facebook by Arturo Treviño – owner of Los Trevis Drive-Thrus – who said he recognized the gunman as one of the men featured on the Brownsville Police Dept. video. He speculated that the criminals had already crossed into Matamoros after they found out they had been identified by police.

Neece said that the BPD detectives were able to identify the two men who broke into his car that was parked near the corner of Washington and 12th streets after viewing the recordings of his surveillance cameras which caught the duo in the act and a dash cam in a police car.

They were identified as Edxion Mata Gonzalez (19) (top picture) and Hector Zarate (22) (bottom).

Freelance social media reporter Enrique Lerma first posted on his site about the break-in and armed robberies.

Gonzalez has two warrants for Aggravated Robbery and Zarate has a warrant for Burglary of Motor Vehicle. Gonzalez is believed to have later committed the robberies of Stripes convenience stores using the same handgun.

"I feel saddened that my weapon has been used in this fashion," Neece confirmed in a written statement.

"I have a Concealed Handgun Permit and, as a Judge and former Judge, I felt safer having that protection. I keep a weapon in my vehicle and keep a weapon in my residence, which is where my vehicle was parked on 12th Street."

Neece said the break-in of his car parked in front of his home was an isolated, extreme incident.

"I don't want the public to have the impression that downtown is, normally, a dangerous place," he wrote. "I have lived there since July of 2016, and this is the first time I've had any issues. This is an extreme case, as reflected by the brazen acts perpetrated by these individuals."

The use of video cameras to improve downtown safety has been a mainstay of Neece's platform since he was elected as commissioner last May.  He said he and city administrators have already begun to work on the project in conjunction with the Health Dept, BPD, Brownsville Fire Department, Brownsville Historical Assoc., and Main Street to create a unified video surveillance system for downtown.

While he sat as judge, he recalled that police use of video was  an important tool for law enforcement, since video footage was used as part of the evidence justifying probable cause.

"I provided detailed video footage of the two perpetrators, which had been captured on my surveillance cameras," Neece said.
That, combined with the dash cam video from a patrol car which had stopped them (as suspected prowlers, an hour and a half prior to the burglary at my residence) and the store videos, the two were easily identified, and warrants obtained.

"The police, including the Chief (Orlando Rodriguez and Detective Parker and his associates deserve praise for their quick identification of the two," he wrote.

"I would encourage to the two individuals to turn themselves in before they do something tragic and make their problems harsher than they already are," he wrote.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

Neece is so fucked-up, man. Guy has no common sense, or what?

Anonymous said...

A Democrat with evil guns! The horror, oh the horror!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if marijuana was also reported as stolen.

Anonymous said...

Neece knows he broke the law. He is covering his ass again. He left the gun in a public location not on his premises. He left the gun in his car on 12th street. And leaves it there always. That is illegal. He needs to have control of the gun or have the car parked in his garage or on his residential property. Ben does NOT own all of downtown and does NOT own 12th street. He left the gun in a public area where it was not under his control. That is illegal. Will BPD do their job and arrest him? Will DA do his job? No.

Anonymous said...

Pinche Caitlyn Jenner pendejo left his pistol in his car very smart.

Anonymous said...

There is nothing illegal about leaving a legal pistol locked in your car. Are you supposed to carry it into a friend's house you visit, or to drop off your laundry, or go have a drink in a bar ?

Anonymous said...

You are required to secure your weapon and, as I recollect, you can not leave it unsecured with ammunition. If he had a gun safe in his car then he is cool but if he left a loaded weapon in his car he is in violation. Don't hold your breath waiting for him to be held responsible. the same rules that apply to you and me don't apply to everyone.

Anonymous said...

But it sure is stupid!!!!

Anonymous said...

Car is part of the castle law.

Anonymous said...

Yes, it is not illegal to leave your gun in a parked and locked car. The guy who said otherwise is an idiot!

Anonymous said...

What luck. Wasn't the commissioner abducted by Africans recently?

Rufus Reefer said...

Don't you know man, the dog ate the stash!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

one of the negatives of open carry or concealed carry, there's always that one place you can't take it and have to leave it in a car. for the record, i'm not against either, i'm for it than against it, but it is a big negative.

Anonymous said...

Lets get a comment from State Rep Rene who tried to get on a plane in Harlingen with his gun. As Rene said it was a simple mistake and nothing happened to him. Ah laws for them laws for us!

Anonymous said...

It is completely irresponsible to leave your fire arm behind in your vehicle over night for this exact reason. He claims to be an intelligent man, well he should have known better than to leave it in the vehicle. Careless with a fire arm from this guy does not surprise me. As for being a concealed handgun carrier, I wonder how often he illegally carries it into his bar since it is his "home" also. Its amazing how he has been arrested for assault and possession and charges get dropped, he's a supporter of a racist and he's walking around with a handgun. Why does Brownsville continue to elect such trash? No its not illegal, but it is not responsible to leave your firearm in your vehicle on private property. In this case, leaving it in a car and on public property does constitute a violation and should result in at least the loss of his license to carry. His ignorance and carelessness could have cost someone their life. As a previous judge and as a city commissioner he should know better. BPD and DA come on, enough is enough already. Stop slapping this losers hand and letting him get away with everything.

Anonymous said...

A bar owner can carry a concealed weapon..as long he doesn't consume alcohol...get ur facts straight

Anonymous said...

Arrest Neece! No freeloaders!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Yea might not be illegal but careless as fuck.

Anonymous said...

He's only intelligent when he isn't high, and he is high all the time..

Anonymous said...


Although it is not illegal to let a handgun live in your car, it is not smart for the reason Neece has come to understand. I have a CHL and my concealed handgun is with me whenever I leave the house. I do not go to those places where it is statutory illegal for me to carry it and I do not patronize businesses who disallow concealed carry on their promises.

Having a handgun on your person also brings with it tremendous responsibility for it use and safety from improper hands.

I have every reason to believe that Ben Neece is a dickhead of the highest order.

Anonymous said...

"I keep a weapon in my vehicle and keep a weapon in MY RESIDENCE, which is where my vehicle was parked ON 12th STREET." That should shut critics of his residence status. And if not, how about: "I have lived there SINCE JULY OF 2016, and this is the first time I've had any issues." Yes, we get it, you lived on 12 street since July 2016. Got it. We'll call you if we have any more questions. Gbye.

Anonymous said...

If The Judge we're to die today, he would go down in history as our best city commissioner ever. Many crooks down so far, and more to go. Clean house Judge. We need it.

Keep up the good work Judge.

Pedro Picapiedra said...

THE DOG ATE THE STASH!

Anonymous said...

Este bato necesita una bartida, cuando vallas a África otra vez, dile que te hagan santeria.

Anonymous said...

Tell me, who has actually gone down! Everyone gets away scott-free! Peter Gilman messed up the last trial that was a winner. Nobody in Brownsville gets convicted especially if you are in the "in group." Every conversation in Brownsville revolves about the corruption that is so evident and disgracing.

Anonymous said...

You say that when he's sucking the biggest one the Mayor,will see if he turns it around.

Anonymous said...

Necesita una limpia con un huevo.. pero que sea un huevo de Cabler. Tiene suerte ese carbón.. no jail and $22,000 walking money.

Anonymous said...

The dog ate the stash and the dude is still a major d*ck!

Anonymous said...

You would think the former judge and now city commissioner would know better than to leave his gun in a unattended car. How many autos are stolen or broken into in Brownsville, he sould know? That was unfortunately careless and stupid.

rita