Early Morning Chase Leads to 10 Arrests in Suspected Theft Ring
By: Melissa Foy
Updated: January 10, 2013
It's been a busy day for Wichita County Sheriff's Office deputies and District Attorney Drug Enforcement investigators.
Their day started at about 3:45 this morning with an attempt at a traffic stop and then running down leads and suspects for hours afterward, netting at least 10 arrests.
Sheriff David Duke says all of those arrested could potentially be involved in a car theft and burglary ring.
He says most of the burglaries and thefts occurred in the City of Wichita Falls in the past several days.
All the arrests started around 3:45 this morning.
That's when two Wichita County sheriff's deputies were attempting to stop a pick-up truck for no front license plate, and that stop later led them to a house on Burnett.
"The vehicle took off from them," Duke says. "Then a short car chase [occurred]. The vehicle stopped. It was occupied by three people. Two males exited the vehicle and began to run. One of the deputies stayed with the vehicle as well as the third passenger which is a female and detained her, while the other deputy did catch one of the other males."
Duke says the truck had been stolen from the country club addition of Wichita Falls last last night or early this morning.
The investigation led authorities to a home in the 13-hundred block of Burnett where stolen property was recovered, and another arrest was made.
Investigators then received information which led them to the Circle Inn Motel off Seymour Highway.
They were told that's where they could find more people involved in the burglaries.
Duke says his deputies along with Wichita County district attorney drug enforcement investigators found meth in the motel room they were told to search.
"It was accurate information that we worked off of. Once again, another pit bull dog as well here, so we had animal control come pick the dogs up just for our safety and they'll take care of the dogs until somebody can claim them," Duke says.
Another four arrests were made at the motel.
While investigators were there, one man fled in a vehicle.
Authorities caught up with him down the road and say he had crystal meth in his vehicle.
The man deputies say led them on a foot chase this morning, 33-year-old Jason Martin, was arrested late in the day.
Deputies were looking for him all day and picked him up late this afternoon, along with another female, at the Econo Lodge off Brook and Seymour Highway.
Formal charges and the identities of all those arrested are expected to be released tomorrow.
Their day started at about 3:45 this morning with an attempt at a traffic stop and then running down leads and suspects for hours afterward, netting at least 10 arrests.
Sheriff David Duke says all of those arrested could potentially be involved in a car theft and burglary ring.
He says most of the burglaries and thefts occurred in the City of Wichita Falls in the past several days.
All the arrests started around 3:45 this morning.
That's when two Wichita County sheriff's deputies were attempting to stop a pick-up truck for no front license plate, and that stop later led them to a house on Burnett.
"The vehicle took off from them," Duke says. "Then a short car chase [occurred]. The vehicle stopped. It was occupied by three people. Two males exited the vehicle and began to run. One of the deputies stayed with the vehicle as well as the third passenger which is a female and detained her, while the other deputy did catch one of the other males."
Duke says the truck had been stolen from the country club addition of Wichita Falls last last night or early this morning.
The investigation led authorities to a home in the 13-hundred block of Burnett where stolen property was recovered, and another arrest was made.
Investigators then received information which led them to the Circle Inn Motel off Seymour Highway.
They were told that's where they could find more people involved in the burglaries.
Duke says his deputies along with Wichita County district attorney drug enforcement investigators found meth in the motel room they were told to search.
"It was accurate information that we worked off of. Once again, another pit bull dog as well here, so we had animal control come pick the dogs up just for our safety and they'll take care of the dogs until somebody can claim them," Duke says.
Another four arrests were made at the motel.
While investigators were there, one man fled in a vehicle.
Authorities caught up with him down the road and say he had crystal meth in his vehicle.
The man deputies say led them on a foot chase this morning, 33-year-old Jason Martin, was arrested late in the day.
Deputies were looking for him all day and picked him up late this afternoon, along with another female, at the Econo Lodge off Brook and Seymour Highway.
Formal charges and the identities of all those arrested are expected to be released tomorrow.
