Traffic Stop leads to an arrest and seizure of suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, Nolan County deputies stopped a red Mazda 6 in the 100 block of McCauley for minor traffic infractions. Contact was then made with the driver, of Sweetwater who was accompanied by two passengers, one being Torionno Terrell Taylor, also of Sweetwater.

While speaking with the driver, indicators of criminal activity were detected, and a roadside investigation ensued which led to the discovery of suspected methamphetamine, and paraphernalia used in its consumption.

Taylor was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where he was charged with the felony offense of Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance. This case will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Pursuit ends in an arrest of a wanted felon

On Friday, January 12, 2018, a Nolan County deputy observed a brown Chevrolet S-10 pickup that was driven by Pete Perez Gonzales, of Sweetwater, a person who the deputy knew had outstanding warrants. After activating emergency equipment, Gonzales refused to stop, fled the area in the pickup and a pursuit ensued. Gonzales led the deputy through several city streets before finally stopping at his residence located in the 1200 block of Campbell Street.

The Texas State Technical College Chief of Police and a Sergeant with the Sweetwater Police Department assisted the deputy in this incident.

Gonzales was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where he was processed on the outstanding warrants, and charged with the felony offense of evading arrest/vehicle. This case will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Criminal Mischief (Lake Sweetwater)

On Tuesday, January 9, 2018, a Nolan County deputy responded to a report of Criminal Mischief located at the end of Bitter Creek Road. It was reported that sometime between Monday, January 8, 2018 at 8:00 P.M. and Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at 7:30 A.M., an unknown person drove a vehicle into a heavy steel pipe bump gate, damaging it beyond repair. The gate is valued at approximately $1,000.00.

If you have information regarding this crime or any other unsolved crime, call the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office at 325.235.5471, or to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 325.235.TIPS (8477) or click here to submit a tip online. Nolan County Crime Stoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information that leads to the arrest and filing of charges against the person responsible for this crime, and a reward of up to $1,000.00 for any other unsolved felony crime. Remember, Crime Stoppers wants your INFORMATION not your name.

Investigation leads to an arrest and seizure of suspected methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and paraphernalia

On Saturday, January 6, 2018, a Nolan County deputy arrived at a residence in the 700 block of Hill Street, Sweetwater to conduct an investigation regarding a civil problem. After making contact with the homeowner, the deputy was allowed to check the back of the residence for an involved person. During this time, the deputy was overwhelmed by the strong odor of burnt marijuana.

After observing a white male inside a shed located behind the residence, the deputy instructed him to exit. The male was identified as Chad Eugene Parsons, of Sweetwater. As the investigation continued, two juveniles were also located inside the shed. A probable cause search was then conducted that led to the discovery of counterfeit money, suspected methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, and paraphernalia used in the distribution and consumption of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.

Officers with the Sweetwater Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety arrived and assisted in securing the scene.

Parsons was placed under arrest and transported to the Nolan County jail where he was charged with the felony offense of manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Parsons was also charged with the felony offense of endangering a child. This case will be filed with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Extended Pursuit – Nolan County, TX

On Tuesday, December 26, 2017, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding an individual threatening to kill another Nolan County resident over domestic relationship problems ongoing between the two parties. The same individual had threatened suicide over the last couple of days and was being sought by law enforcement for welfare reasons as well as a suspect in the recent threat.

At 7:12AM, Tuesday morning, Deputy Daniel King was dispatched to an address on East Bradford Lane, just east of Sweetwater regarding this subject. The suspect, Daniel Eller, was communicating via cell phone to the victim that he was threatening, stating that he was going to kill her. Deputy King responded to the victim’s address and spoke with the female party there. The suspect was not at or near the address at that point, but NCSO personnel began searching the surrounding area looking for Eller in the vehicle described. Sgt. Angie Collier, with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office did locate the suspect in the eastbound I-20 rest area near mile marker 256 in Nolan County at abut 9:00AM. The suspect was driving a dark blue colored Dodge truck with a work or utility type bed. Sgt. Collier and Nolan County Constable Stephen Smith began giving Eller verbal commands to exit his vehicle. The suspect, (Eller) was considered to be armed and dangerous. Eller refused directives given to him by officers at the scene. When officers began trying to evacuate the rest area of pedestrians, Eller decided to speed off and a law enforcement pursuit began.

Eller refused to stop for pursuing law enforcement units and continued in what turned out to be an extensive pursuit that extended into and around Tent in Taylor County and back into Nolan County, and at times reached speeds of up to 104 miles per hour. The suspect went all the way west on I-20 to Roscoe then back on I-20 eastbound. Eller exited just east of Sweetwater and actually drove by the residence where the victim lived. Eller did not slow down or stop at the victim’s house due to the heavy presence of law enforcement that had already been staged at the house. During this pursuit, the suspect continued to make cell phone calls to the victim and other parties. The suspect made statements like he wouldn’t be taken alive and made references to going out by “suicide by cop.”

The suspect got back onto the Interstate and headed east bound again. By this time there were numerous units of the Texas Department of Public Safety involved and assisting in the pursuit. Texas DPS Troopers was able to successfully deploy spike strips at about the 258 mile marker. As Eller’s tires were beginning to deflate, he actually increased speed and attempted to run into a bridge support column in an act of attempted suicide. Not being able to control his vehicle well, Eller missed the bridge support column and hit a guard rail that disabled his vehicle.

Eller was eventually taken into custody at 10:07AM after a 27 minute standoff with law enforcement. Sgt. Collier transported Eller to the Nolan County jail where he was booked in on Evading Arrest with Vehicle, a 3rd Degree Felony. Thankfully, nobody was injured in the pursuit or standoff and the investigation continues with additional criminal charges to be filed against Eller. We are very appreciative of all the area agencies that assisted in this matter, especially the many DPS Troopers that supported us.

Sheriff David Warren

Traffic Stop leads to three arrests and seizure of suspected marijuana

On Sunday, January 21, 2018 a Nolan County deputy stopped a black Dodge Dart in the in the 500 block of East Avenue A for defective equipment. Contact was made with the driver, David Renfro, of Sweetwater who was accompanied by Dylan Joseph Kirkpatrick, Kristopher William Cuellar-Garcia, and a female passenger, also of Sweetwater.

During a roadside investigation, Renfro was found to have no driver license, and no insurance and was arrested. Kirkpatrick was found to have outstanding warrants and was also arrested. During an inventory of the vehicle, the deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana which subsequently led to the discovery of suspected marijuana.

Renfro, Kirkpatrick and Cuellar-Garcia were all arrested and transported to Nolan County jail. Cuellar-Garcia will be charged for the misdemeanor offense of Possession of Marijuana.