The Lamar County Sheriff’s Department and local and neighboring law enforcement agencies used trained tracking dogs to capture two fleeing theft suspects who were seen stealing a trailer from a residence, Lamar County Sheriff Scott Cass said.
At around 5:40 a.m. Monday, the sheriff’s office responded to a “theft in progress” call at a residence on FM 137 just west of the Roxton community.
Christopher Scott Wilson (Sheriff’s Department photo)
“A homeowner called 911 reporting that while getting ready for work they heard something outside of their residence and found unknown persons stealing their trailer and leaving the residence with it,” Cass said.
“The complainant said that her husband was chasing the suspects and they were headed east on FM 137.”
The suspects fled into a cultivated field at FM 137 and FM 2675, where they lost the trailer from the vehicle. They then continued into the field and got stuck about 300 yards from the roadway, officials said.
From there the suspects fled on foot into the field until the complainant could no longer see them.
“Sheriff deputies, the Precinct 2 constable and neighboring law enforcement worked to contain the area until the Choice Moore Complex tracking dogs got to the scene,” Cass said.
Christopher Scott Wilson, 29, was captured shortly after receiving a ride out of the area. Deputies arrested him at his residence in Roxton.
Robert Joe Haller (Sheriff’s Department photo)
Robert Joe Haller, 38, was located in a deep wooded creek area after the tracking dogs picked up his trail and surrounded him, holding him effectively until officers took him into custody, the sheriff said.
Both subjects are charged with felony theft over $1,500 and taken to the Lamar County Jail.
Haller also had an outstanding warrant for violation of parole.
The truck the suspects used in the commission of the crime was found to be stolen out of Paris, resulting in additional charges filed by detectives with the Northeast Texas Auto Theft Task Force.
“The response from the Choice Moore Complex was timely and successful in aiding to get the second suspect located and placed in jail,” Cass said.
“The sheriff’s office appreciates the support from nearby citizens and outside law enforcement agencies that helped us keep perimeters and watch such a large scene area. The end result was the capture of both of these suspects who were out committing crimes in our communities.”
By Josh Allen, eParisExtra