Civil Process Scam Alert

October 23, 2019 |   |  General

On Wednesday, October 23, 2109, the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office received a telephone call from a concerned citizen, who told us that they just received a telephone call from someone claiming to work for the “Nolan County Civil Department.” The concerned citizen went on to say that their caller ID displayed “Nolan County Sheriff’s Office.” The concerned citizen told us that they were suspicious, almost immediately, for several reasons. The concerned citizen said that the caller spoke with an accent that was very hard to understand. Thankfully this concerned citizen listened to their instincts and called us to verify the legitimacy of the call.

We informed the concerned citizen that we had no civil papers for them. We want to remind you all that we do not call people to inform them of a warrant, of civil process, or any other legal process.

This phone call was a SCAM, and the Nolan County Sheriff’s Office telephone number was “spoofed.” These con artists are very sophisticated and had the technology to make it appear that they are actually calling from our phone number. When these scammers get you on the phone, they will tell you that you have a warrant or civil papers, but then “give you a chance to pay the fine/fee” over the phone. They may ask for a credit/debit card, or they may ask you to send the money via Western Union/Money Gram, or they may ask you to purchase a pre-paid money card and send it to them. We urge you to contact our office if you receive such a call and definitely don’t give the caller any personal information or payments. 

Remember, if you have a warrant, we will come to you unannounced; we will not call you, and if you have civil papers, we will mail you a postcard and then attempt to serve those papers to you at home, where we will leave a door hanger, if you’re not home when we come. (see photo below)

If you have any questions, give us a call at 325-235-5471.

Sheriff David Warren sworn in as new Director of SAT

August 9, 2019 |   |  1 Comment  |  General

Nolan County Sheriff David Warren was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas at their 141st Annual Training Conference held in San Antonio, July 27 – July 30, 2019. More than 1,500 participants were in attendance at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center where they heard outstanding speakers, had opportunities for significant and timely training sessions, and visited more than 240 exhibits showcasing some of the latest technology in law enforcement.

Sheriff Warren has been the Sheriff of Nolan County since January 2009. He distinguishes himself in his county and throughout the State as he assumes this leadership tole in the Sheriffs’ Association of Texas.

The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas is one of the oldest law enforcement associations in the nation. The Sheriffs of Texas met for the first time on August 14, 1874, in the courthouse in Coriscanna, Navarro County, Texas. The meeting was called to order by Sul Ross, Sheriff of McLennan County, who later became a notable part of Texas history. The Sheriffs of Texas began annual training conferences in 1878. These training conferences today are the largest composite gathering of law enforcement officers in Texas. Sheriffs and other county and local law enforcement officers, federal and state officers, and major industry security personnel attend. In addition to the annual training conferences, the Association conducts training throughout the year for law enforcement officers. The Sheriffs’ Association of Texas serves a liaison with federal, state, county and municipal agencies and associations to promote cooperation, training, education, and more efficient services to the citizens of Texas.

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.