Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs reported a drug investigation and arrest Friday morning that by chance led to another separate drug arrest, resulting in the arrest of 4 people.
Around 9am, BSCO investigators with the assistance of Brownwood Police Narcotics Investigator Aaron Taylor executed a search and arrest warrant in the 1800 block of 4th Street according to Sheriff Grubbs. The case had been under investigation of BCSO Investigator Jason Benefield.
Grubbs said that deputies waited for the suspect, 25-year-old Brody Byrd, to leave the residence Friday morning. Once he was away from the residence, they stopped his vehicle in the parking lot of a store located at 2nd and Coggin Avenue and took him into custody. A search of his vehicle resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine, marijuana, and smoking pipes according to Grubbs.
Officers then executed the warrant on Byrd’s residence where additional evidence of methamphetamine and marijuana use was located Grubbs said. Byrd was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Drug Free Zone and Possession of Marijuana in a Drug Free Zone.
After leaving the location Captain Tony Aaron and Investigator Carlyle Gover returned to the location of where the traffic stop occurred in order to insure that no evidence had been thrown onto the ground. When pulling up to store parking lot, Grubbs said that deputies noticed three individuals getting into a vehicle. Grubbs said that Gover recognized one of the individuals as 19-year-old Bryan Penn from prior dealings. Grubbs said that Penn looked at the officers as if he had been caught “doing something wrong.” Law enforcement received consent to search the vehicle after speaking to the individuals in the vehicle.
Upon searching the vehicle, a small quantity of marijuana was located in the ashtray according to Grubbs. When confronted about this, one of the individuals, later identified as William Covington, took off running from the location Grubbs said. Investigator Gover gave chase while Captain Tony Aaron secured the other two suspects at the location. Another officer with the Brownwood Police Department and the city marshal’s office responded to assist. Investigator Gover lost sight of Covington who was believed to be hiding in the area, and numerous officers began looking for the suspect at the time.
Officers began questioning the other two occupants of the car, Penn and 19-year-old Erica Madrid, about the identity of Covington, and according to Grubbs, they responded by stating that they had just picked him up and barely knew him. Covington was soon caught and taken back to the location of the initial encounter.
Covington told officers that he was very close to Penn and Madrid, and when confronted with this they admitted to lying to officers Grubbs said.
William Covington was arrested for Evading Arrest and five outstanding warrants. Erica Madrid was arrested for Hindering Apprehension and Bryan Penn II was arrested for Possession of Marijuana under 2 ounces and Hindering Apprehension.
