Pursuit/Standoff ends in an arrest

July 5, 2019 |   |  1 Comment  |  General

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

Nolan County Narcotics Investigation – Drug Roundup

April 16, 2019 |   |  3 Comments  |  Community Awareness

“Nolan County Meth Meltdown”

On Tuesday, April 16th, 2019, several Nolan County, District and State law enforcement officers continued arrests on seventeen more co-defendants connected to an ongoing criminal conspiracy drug investigation that has already netted 13 arrests on January 22nd of this year and November 2nd of 2018.  The warrants and arrests were the result of a joint operation involving Nolan County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division (Abilene) and investigators with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division (San Angelo) also assisted with the arrests today by serving two of the arrest warrants on subjects located in San Angelo.

These latest arrests were co-defendants that have participated in “Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity”, a first-degree felony, involving the manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, in particular methamphetamine and heroin.

Of the 17 new arrest warrants issued, as of 5:00PM today, 14 have been arrested.  10 were arrested in Sweetwater, 1 in Roscoe, 2 in San Angelo and a hold was initiated on 1 subject already serving time in prison. One other individual was also arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant at one of the Sweetwater locations.  Law enforcement officers continue their search for three (3) remaining subjects with the warrants for the same charge.

Those arrested are as follows:

  • Chance Brooke BENSON, age 28, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in San Angelo. Benson is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Jason Lee COSBY, age 39, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Cosby is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Arnulfo DELGADO, age 32, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Delgado is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Adam Martin GARZA, age 32, white male, hold placed on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 as Garza is already serving prison time in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Garza is charged now with the additional charge of Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Christopher Joseph HAMM, age 29, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Hamm is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Jody Shane JONES, age 47, white female, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Jones is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Moses Jacob LARA, age 42, white female, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Lara is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Michael Alan LEDBETTER, age 49, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Ledbetter is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Douglas James MONDAY, age 45, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Monday is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Michael David MORGAN, age 51, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Morgan is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.  Morgan was also found in possession of heroin in a “drug free zone”, at the time of his arrest on the warrant, and was charged with an additional third-degree felony.
  • Francisco Javier PENA, age 29, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Roscoe. Pena is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Tyler Scott POLK, age 29, white male, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in San Angelo.  Polk is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Monica RODRIGUEZ, age 28, white female, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Rodriguez is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Helena Jade TOLLISON, age 29, white female, arrested on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 in Sweetwater. Tollison is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.

Those charged with 1st Degree Felony offenses could potentially face a penalty of 5 – 99 years in prison or life – and up to a $10,000.00 fine.

All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff David Warren stated, “We are proud to see this investigation continue to produce results.  Some folks that needed to go to jail – went to jail today.  Others are soon to go to trial; some are on bond pending trial and many others are in custody pending trial and additional arrests are expected.”

Nolan County Narcotics Investigation – Drug Roundup

January 24, 2019 |   |  Community Awareness

  • Sergio SALINAS
  • Jose Alberto SALINAS
  • Sierra Cheyann JONES
  • Mark Randall MURRY
  • Benito DELACRUZ III
  • Shawn Lucas GARZA
  • Katie Louise MCQUEEN
  • Curtis Mathis MAHULA III
  • Dusty Dakota SUTTON
  • Zachary Dewayne MCDONALD
  • James Allen PARKER
  • Lizette Ann ACOSTA
  • Matthew Lee MCQUEEN II

On Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 several Nolan County, District and State law enforcement officers continued arrests on seven more suspected Sweetwater area drug dealers.  The warrants and arrests were the result of a joint operation involving Nolan County Sheriff’s Office – Criminal Investigation Division, Texas Department of Public Safety – Criminal Investigations Division (Abilene) and investigators with the 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The latest arrests were defendants that have participated in Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity and Manufacture/Delivery of a Controlled Substance, in particular methamphetamine and heroin.

“Investigators have seized over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine and 12 grams of heroin so far valued with an estimated street value of at least $62,000.” said Warren.

According to Warren, “Other arrests have been made, as a part of this ongoing operation, beginning in late September of last year.  A total of thirteen (13) people have now been arrested in this series.”

Those arrested are as follows:

  • Zachary Dewayne MCDONALD, age 32, white male, arrested on September 19, 2018 at 100 Northwest Georgia in Sweetwater.  McDonald is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Sergio SALINAS, age 26, white male, arrested on November 29, 2018 at the 255-mile post on Interstate 20 in Sweetwater.  Salinas is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Jose Alberto SALINAS, age 20, white male, arrested on November 29, 2018 at the 255-mile post on Interstate 20 in Sweetwater.  Salinas is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, over 200 grams, less than 400 grams, 1st Degree Felony.
  • Matthew Lee MCQUEEN II, age 27, white male, arrested on January 8, 2019 at 307 East Arkansas Avenue in Sweetwater.  McQueen is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Sierra Cheyann JONES, age 24, white female, arrested on January 10, 2019 at 307 East Arkansas Avenue in Sweetwater.  Jones is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Mark Randall MURRY, age 55, white male, arrested on January 10, 2019 at 701 Southwest Georgia in Sweetwater.  Murry is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.

    Outstanding warrants that were served on Tuesday, January 22, 2019
  • Curtis Mathis MAHULA III, age 43, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 710 West Oklahoma in Sweetwater.  Mahula is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Katie Louise MCQUEEN, age 29, white female, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 1505 Robert Lee Street in Sweetwater.  McQueen is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Lizette Ann ACOSTA, age 33, white female, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 711 West 6th Street in Sweetwater.  Acosta is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • Shawn Lucas GARZA, age 27, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 900 Lubbock Street in Sweetwater.  Garza is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.
  • James Allen PARKER, age 48, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 100 Bradford Lane in Sweetwater.  Parker is charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity – 1st Degree Felony.

Also arrested during the roundup on Tuesday were:

  • Dusty Dakota SUTTON, age 22, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 605 West Arkansas in Sweetwater.  Sutton is charged with Manufacture and Delivery of a Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, over 1 gram, less than 4 grams, 2nd Degree Felony.
  • Benito DELACRUZ III, age 17, white male, arrested on January 22, 2019 at 605 West Arkansas in Sweetwater.  Delacruz is charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (methamphetamine) – Penalty Group 1, less than 1 gram, State Jail Felony.

Those charged with 1st Degree Felony offenses could potentially face a penalty of 5 – 99 years in prison or life – and up to a $10,000.00 fine.

Additional arrests are forthcoming.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Sheriff Warren emphasized, “I once again appreciate the help from local citizens that supplied a portion of the information on these drug dealers, but certainly the close working relationship between our office and the Texas Department of Public Safety – CID Abilene Division, along with the local 32nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, is proving to be a very effective combination in the battle against this type of criminal activity in our community.”

Sheriff David Warren

Sheriff David Warren swears in new Deputy

January 3, 2019 |   |  1 Comment  |  General

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.

Wanted Weekend – Have you seen this fugitive?

November 8, 2018 |   |  Crime Stoppers

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office is actively searching for Vincent Ray Jackson Jr., a fugitive who has been hiding to avoid detection by law enforcement. Jackson has an outstanding felony warrant issued out of Nolan County District Court for Possession of Controlled Substance.

The Nolan County Sheriff’s Office needs your help to bring Jackson to justice. He is a 36-year-old white male, 5’4”, 130 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Jackson will most likely be accompanied by his girlfriend, Rachelle Dawnielle Hill, a 27-year-old white female, 5’4”, 162 pounds with blonde hair and blue eyes. The duo was last known to reside at 508 West Broadway, in Sweetwater, Texas but are suspected to be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

If you have information on the whereabouts or activities of this fugitive, you are encouraged to contact the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office at 325.235.5471, or your local law enforcement agency. If you would like to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 325.235.TIPS (8477); you may also submit a tip online.

Promotions, Transfers and New Hires at NCSO

November 5, 2018 |   |  General

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.