NCSO News

On Wednesday, July 3, 2019, at approximately 1:30 PM, a Patrol Sergeant with the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) initiated a traffic stop on a white Chevrolet pickup after observing it traveling eastbound on West Broadway at a high rate of speed. The driver of the white pickup then suddenly executed an illegal U-turn which nearly caused a crash with another motorist that was in the area. The Sergeant pursued the white pickup until it stopped in the parking lot of a convenience store located in the 600 block of West Broadway.

Before the Sergeant could contact the driver, she observed him discard an object from his hand onto the parking lot and then speed away from the location of the traffic stop. A brief pursuit then ensued and ended in the 1300 block of West Broadway when the driver drove the pickup into an open bay door of a large metal building. During the pursuit, a Department of Public Safety (DPS) unit responded to assist.

Once parked inside the building, the driver stayed inside the pickup and refused to comply with the numerous orders given by the Sergeant to exit the vehicle, which eventually led to a standoff. In addition to DPS, units with the Sweetwater Police Department, Texas State Technical College Police Department, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Rangers all arrived and assisted in the incident. During the standoff, the driver was identified as John Underwood Gunter, of Sweetwater.

The NCSO Criminal Investigations Division (CID) also responded and after conducting an investigation in the 600 and 1300 block of West Broadway, an affidavit for a search warrant and arrest warrant for Mr. Gunter was submitted and warrants were issued. A DPS Special Response Team (SRT) was then activated, arrived and eventually extracted Mr. Gunter from the vehicle. He was taken into custody at approximately 6:35PM after a 5-hour standoff with law enforcement.

Mr. Gunter was then taken by ambulance to the Rolling Plains Emergency room and after being evaluated and medically cleared, he was transported 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. We are very appreciative of all the area agencies that assisted in this matter.” – Sheriff David Warren

Sierra “Bree” Darnell was sworn in Thursday afternoon at the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office as the newest Deputy Sheriff. In attendance at the swearing in were a couple of her new colleagues including, Sheriff David Warren.

Bree is a native of San Angelo, Texas, and is currently enrolled at Howard College majoring in Criminal Justice. Bree is a 2017 graduate of the Concho Valley Regional Law Enforcement Academy and looks forward to serving the citizens of Nolan County.

We wish Deputy Darnell the best and look forward to her service.

On Thursday November 1, 2018, Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stacy Villanueva was promoted to the rank of Sergeant at the NCSO. Her husband, James Villanueva, was present at the ceremony and pinned the badge on her. Stacy has been with the Sheriff’s Office for over 11 years and has worked her way up from Jailer, Telecommunicator, Courthouse Security Deputy, Patrol Deputy, Civil Process Deputy and now the level of Sergeant over Deputies and Telecommunicators. Stacy assumes the Sergeant slot vacated by long-time NCSO employee, Angie Collier, who recently was appointed to the Nolan County Justice of the Peace.

Angie was with the NCSO nearly 13 ½ years. Family, friends and co-workers gathered to honor her dedicated service with a farewell party held on October 31, 2018.

 

 

Angie Collier was sworn in as Justice of the Peace on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Justice of the Peace Collier took the oath of office in the presence of family, friends and co-workers, to commemorate this special occasion.

 

Nolan County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigator Stephen F. Smith II assumed the new role of Civil Process Deputy (lateral transfer) and is also the newly appointed DARE instructor. Smith worked as a reserve deputy with the Sheriff’s Office for over 5 years before taking on the full-time role as Criminal Investigator. Smith also serves as the elected Constable of Nolan County, a part time position.

 

On Thursday November 1, 2018, Sheriff David Warren swore in Brian Davis. He will be assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office. Investigator Davis graduated in 2005 from the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy, in Abilene. He has been in law enforcement for 12 years, including working as a patrol officer for the Sweetwater Police Department for 11 years. We wish him the best and look forward to his service.

Sheriff David Warren swore in a new deputy on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Brian Davis took the oath of office and received his Deputy Sheriff badge in the presence of friends and co-workers, to commemorate this special occasion. Brian will be assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division of the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigator Davis graduated in 2005 from the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy, in Abilene. He has been in law enforcement for 12 years, including working as a patrol officer for the Sweetwater Police Department.

We are excited to have Investigator Davis as part of our team. We wish him the best and look forward to his service.

Sheriff David Warren swore in a new Deputy Sheriff on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. Clay Bradshaw took the oath of office and received his Deputy Sheriff badge in the presence of his new co-workers, to commemorate this special occasion. Deputy Bradshaw will be assigned to the Courthouse Security Section of the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Bradshaw attended the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy, in Abilene and was among a total of 17 cadets who graduated training on September 27, 2018, acquiring the title, Texas Peace Officer.

We are excited to have Deputy Bradshaw as part of our team. We wish him the best and look forward to his service.

Sheriff David Warren swore in a new deputy on Monday, October 8, 2018. Deputy Jeffery Reed took the oath of office and received his badge in the presence of family and friends to commemorate this special occasion. His wife was present at the ceremony and pinned the badge on him.

Deputy Reed was hired by Sheriff David Warren in April 2016, and was assigned to the jail section of the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office where he worked as a jailer. He was then reassigned to the communications section and worked as a telecommunicator while attending the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy, in Abilene. Deputy Reed was among a total of 17 cadets who graduated training on September 27, 2018, acquiring the title, Texas Peace Officer.

We wish Deputy Reed the best and look forward to his service.