On Monday, January 21, 2013 at approximately 6:30AM, Nolan County deputies responded to assist Mitchell County law enforcement who were engaged in a high-speed vehicle pursuit traveling eastbound on Interstate 20. It was reported that a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper who was working stationary radar on Interstate 20 in Mitchell County had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a speed violation. The vehicle was described as being a small teal colored, SUV with Oklahoma plates occupied by three men. As the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver exited and began firing at him. After firing three shots at the trooper, the driver re-entered the vehicle and fled eastbound at speeds exceeding 100 mph. The trooper was not injured in the gunfire and initiated a vehicle pursuit as the suspects continued to fire at him. The trooper lost sight of the vehicle near the community of Loraine in eastern Mitchell County, but it was later located abandoned on Farm to Market Road 1230 near mile marker 230 of Interstate 20, just inside Nolan County. The Texas Rangers arrived on scene and led the investigation as residents in the immediate area were contacted, and a search of all buildings, structures and vehicles was conducted. Tracking dogs, horses and a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft were all utilized to search the area near the abandoned vehicle, but the suspects managed to elude detection and remained at large. Just after 2:00PM, a tip was received from citizens when three males arrived at a house in southeast Colorado City in Mitchell County. After conducting an investigation, the three suspects were found to be hiding and barricaded inside the house. A perimeter was set up and several houses nearby were evacuated as a safety precaution. Law enforcement officials from around the area including the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office and Sweetwater Police Department assisted and supported the Texas Department of Public Safety and Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office on the scene until the three suspects were ultimately apprehended. After a near 10-hour standoff, entry into the house was made by DPS SWAT just after midnight and all three suspects were found hiding. Two suspects from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma were transported to the Mitchell County Jail and a 16-year-old boy from Edmondson, Oklahoma was transported to the juvenile facility in Taylor County. Myron McDonald Jr., 22, is being held on charges of attempted capital murder, felon in possession of a firearm and evading arrest. Christopher Deshawn Johnson, 24, is being held on charges of attempted capital murder and felon in possession of a firearm. Charges are pending against the juvenile suspect. The Texas Rangers are investigating the incident and their findings will be presented to the Mitchell County District Attorney’s Office. McDonald and Johnson both have criminal records in Oklahoma including gun violence.
NCSO Employees honored with service awards
Annelle Hill, Lucile Taylor and Stacy Villanueva were honored with service awards during the Nolan County Commissioners’ meeting on Monday morning, January 14, 2013. Annelle Hill who is currently assigned to the jail section was honored for her five years of service to the county as a Sheriff’s Office county jailer. Lucile Taylor and Stacy Villanueva who are also currently assigned to the jail section were honored for five years of service to the county as Sheriff’s Office booking and dispatch officers.
Report of suspicious activity results in arrest
On Tuesday, January 1, 2013, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two men loading metal into the bed of a black Ford truck near the 100 block of Farm to Market Road 608, Maryneal, Texas. Deputy Daniel King responded to the area and located the reported vehicle traveling east on Farm to Market Road 608 near State Highway 70. After initiating a traffic stop, Deputy King contacted the two men and conducted an investigation, which resulted in an arrest and the recovery of 568 railroad tie plates, property of Texas Oklahoma Railroad
The property recovered is estimated at over $17,000.00.
The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office actively solicits and encourages the cooperation of all citizens to reduce and limit the opportunities for crime and to assist bringing to justice those who violate the law.
‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over’ Holiday Crackdown
Nearly 10,000 people die on the road each year due to drunk driving; 1,075 people died in Texas in 2010 in impaired driving crashes where at least the driver of a vehicle or a rider on a motorcycle had a BAC of .08 or higher. In order to stop this deadly epidemic, raise public awareness about the dangers of impaired driving, and most importantly, to save lives and prevent injuries on our roadways, a nationwide impaired-driving enforcement crackdown, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” will be conducted mid-December through New Year’s Day.
Sheriff David Warren would like to remind the citizens and visitors of Nolan County that deputies along with local and state law enforcement will be out in force and aggressively looking for impaired drivers. Driving impaired is not worth the risk, so don’t take the chance. ‘Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.’
I20 scheduled for temporary closure
The two main westbound lanes of Interstate 20 at the US 84 overpass between Sweetwater and Roscoe are scheduled for a temporary closure starting Wednesday, November 28.
The closure is expected to last approximately one week to allow crews to demolish and remove the bridge that was damaged after a collision in late September.
Traffic will be detoured to Business US 84 and routed around the overpass, then directed back to westbound Interstate 20. The ¾-mile detour is the same route that was used immediately following when the collision occurred. The Texas Department of Transportation will have signs, cones and message boards will be in place to direct drivers.
The westbound Interstate 20 lanes will reopen after the work is complete. Future closures, however, will be necessary as “work progresses to replace the bridge.
Sheriff David Warren recently swore in two newly approved Reserve Deputies
On Tuesday morning, October 2nd, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office added two more members to its roster. However, these two men won’t get paid a salary for their efforts. Stephen Smith II and Chad Mitchell were sworn in as Reserve Deputies for the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office.
Both men recently completed their training and graduated from Academy #88 of the West Central Texas Law Enforcement Academy in Abilene. Smith and Mitchell endured weekly night classes and Saturday classes over a 7 ½ month period to obtain the 796 classroom hours needed to finish the academy. Both took and passed their state licensing examinations and are now fully licensed peace officers.
What sets these two apart is they both have other careers and are entering law enforcement in a volunteer capacity. “This is rare these days and very encouraging” said Sheriff David Warren. “Volunteerism is something that has declined in recent years and reserve officers used to be able to take a much more abbreviated amount of training to achieve their “reserve deputy” status. Now they must take the same full amount of training as any full-time officer.” said Warren. “We actually sponsored Stephen Smith through the academy and Chad Mitchell just chose us as his agency to volunteer for. These guys will be placed with experienced Deputies and go through a field training program and orientation with our Sheriff’s Office” explained Warren.
Stephen Smith II is the eldest son of local residents Steve and Jan Smith and works for U.S. Airways. Chad Mitchell lives in Abilene and is lead pastor for Mission Abilene and was instrumental in starting the program Stop the Violence now entering its sixth year.
Both men have a genuine passion to be involved and help people in this area. Sheriff Warren emphasized, “I am proud to have these two additional Deputies and certainly appreciate their unselfish attitude and willingness to risk their own lives to serve folks here in Nolan County in an un-paid capacity.”