LECSmA burglary of a vehicle was witnessed by an alert citizen Thursday and a Bangs man was quickly arrested due to information provided by the witness.

According to Brownwood Police Department, a woman returned to her vehicle which was parked in the Kroger parking lot around 2:20 p.m. on Thursday to find that someone had broken into it and stolen her wallet.   A BPD officer was dispatched to the scene and spoke to the complainant who was crying and upset because the wallet contained $40 which was all the money the woman had to her name, the report states.

A person standing nearby stated that they had seen a man, later identified as 49-year-old Gary Wayne Laird of Bangs, walking around the vehicle, which seemed suspicious.  The witness said that Laird had fumbled as if he was looking for his keys, then reached into an opening in the window and unlocked the door from the inside, the report states.  The witness also saw Laird take a wallet from the vehicle and then walk to a dark green SUV and drive away according to the report.  The witness then called the police department and provided dispatch with the information on what she had observed, the report states.

The return on the suspect vehicle’s license plate came back to a local address and an officer who was in the area of the address was able to locate the vehicle and initiate a traffic stop.  Upon making the stop, Laird was identified as the suspect and admitted to this burglary as well as another burglary at 600 N. Center Avenue, the report states.  The officer also during the stop located hydrocodone and tramadol which were unlawfully possessed.  Laird also admitted that the forty dollars that was stolen from the burglary at Kroger had been placed into a blue bank bag with other money that was recovered from the vehicle.

Laird was arrested and charged with burglary of a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance penalty group 3 less than 28 grams and possession of a dangerous drug.

With Laird’s confession, he also described where he had discarded some of the stolen property from the burglary at Kroger.  The Brownwood City Marshal went to the location and was able to retrieve most of the stolen property, including the $40 and $7.60 in change, which was returned to the victim.

The victim of the Center Avenue burglary also retrieved belongings which were recovered during this incident.  These items included a purse, various keys, an address book and other miscellaneous belongings.

According to Assistant Chief James Fuller, the investigation is continuing.

In other unrelated law enforcement arrests and reports released on Friday, October 11, 2013:

Thursday, October 10

*3:19 AM – Brownwood Police were called to the 1600 block of Belle Plain regarding a weapons offense.  According to the report, damage to a window on the residence was located; however no evidence was found that a firearm had been discharged into the residence.  A possible suspect was identified and the incident is pending further investigation, the report states.

*9:26 AM – Brownwood Police received a report of theft.  According to the report, the complainant stated that his wallet was taken from his pocket by a friend.  The complainant wished to pursue criminal charges.

*1:31 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 4200 block of US Hwy 377 South regarding terroristic threat.  According to the report, after an investigation, the complainant’s son was taken into custody for terroristic threat family member.

*7:53 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 1400 block of Coggin Avenue, Wes-T-Go regarding an intoxicated person.   According to the report, the subject was located across Coggin Avenue from the store and was identified as 35-year-old Bobby Morgan Wallace and was found to be intoxicated.  He was determined to be a danger to himself and others and was placed under arrest for public intoxication.

*9:51 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Brady Avenue regarding a burglary which had just occurred.  According to the report, the complainant stated that a male that was known to the victims entered their residence with force and displayed a knife.  The male victim was able to repel the attack and forced the suspect, along with another male who had accompanied the suspect, to flee the residence the report states.  They then fled the scene in a vehicle, according to the report.

*20-year-old Melissa Palacios turned herself in on a warrant related to theft of services equal or greater than $500 less than $1500.

*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 46-year-old Charles Ross Turner of Coleman for possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 less than 1 gram in a drug free zone and possession of marijuana less than 4 ounces.

Friday, October 11

*27-year-old Ashley Shay Harvey of Snyder was arrested for possession of a controlled substance penalty group 1 less than 1 gram.

*18-year-old Lane Clark Hutchins of Bangs was arrested by Bangs Police for evading arrest/detention.

All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Blotter information compiled from local law enforcement reports and jail records.