According to Early Police Chief David Mercer, approximately 11:00am on Monday, an ambulance from Lampasas was transporting a 15-year-old patient to a psychiatric hospital in Abilene on a court ordered commitment.
When the ambulance stopped at the red traffic light at Early Blvd and Hwy 183S, the juvenile got away from the medic and jumped out of the back door of the ambulance, Mercer stated. The medic chased the juvenile but was unable to catch him.
Early PD officers along with assistance from the Brown County Sheriff’s Office began searching the area between Early Blvd. and Old Comanche Road toward the Early City Park. Mercer reported that after several hours of searching, the K9 Tessa found signs pointing toward the west but was unable to maintain a track. At approximately 1:30pm, police received a citizen’s report of a juvenile matching the description of the juvenile near Heartland Mall. The juvenile was reported to have traveled back toward the east near the 400 block of Early Blvd.Officers observed the juvenile in the parking lot of Early Blooms in the 400 block of Early Blvd, and the juvenile ran into the brush behind the business, Mercer said. Officers surrounded the area and began searching the brush. Approximately 45 minutes later, the juvenile was located, taken into custody and transported to the Juvenile Justice Center. Arrangements were eventually made to transport the juvenile to Abilene, according to Mercer.
Other unrelated law enforcement arrests and reports released Monday, April 16, 2012:
Friday, April 13
*10:06am-Brown County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence regarding the theft of a cell phone and six plastic chairs valued at $160. According to the report, an elderly male’s caretaker borrowed his plastic chairs and did not return them. He provides a cell phone so that he can call his caretaker when he needs them; however, when the man asked the caretaker about the chairs, she quit and took the cell phone with her, the report states. According to the report, when the man stopped by the caretaker’s home and asked for the phone and chairs, the caretaker told him the phone broke so she threw it away and the chairs had been stolen out of the back of her truck.
*11:11am-Brown County Sheriff’s deputy was called to the Brown County Precinct 1 yard regarding theft. According to the report, several shredder blades for the tractors had been taken along with a 5 gallon plastic gas can which was full at the time of the theft. The value of the stolen items was estimated at $2500.
*12:54pm-Brownwood Police responded to the 1500 block of Indian Creek Drive regarding an assault at a local nursing home. According to the report, the complainant advised that she and another staff member had been assaulted by 73-year-old Clarence Carver. Carver was arrested and charged with Assault Threat or Offensive Touch and Indecent Exposure.
*2:35pm-Brownwood Police made a traffic stop in the 700 block of Booker Street regarding a defective tail light and failing to signal a turn. According to the report, the driver, identified as 59-year-old Billy Calvin Gatlin, had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on his breath. After performing standard field sobriety tests poorly, Gatlin was arrested for Driving While Intoxicated.
*7:43pm-Brownwood Police received a call in reference to sex offender registration requirements. According to the report, the caller believed that a registered sex offender was staying at a nearby residence for approximately 3 weeks without updating or reporting a change of address. Contact was made with the subject and an investigation has started.
*10:54pm-Brownwood Police made a traffic stop in the 1500 block of 2nd Street. According to the report, the driver identified as 17-year-old Joshua Todd advised that he did not have a license or insurance for the pickup. Todd was arrested for Driving While License Invalid and Failure to Maintain Financial Responsibility.
*11:26pm-Brownwood Police received a report of possible child abuse. According to the report, an officer met with a social worker of Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth who reported a 1-year-old child had been transferred to their facility from Brownwood with an unexplained head injury. Little information was available at the time of the call; however, the social worker had contacted Child Protective Services and an investigation is continuing.
*Early Police arrested 31-year-old James Bryan Schlegelmilch for Driving While Intoxicated.
Saturday, April 14
*1:18am-Brownwood Police responded to the 2800 block of Avenue B regarding a female subject passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. According to the report, the female, identified as 33-year-old Keri C. Kleypas, was found by officers to have a smell of alcoholic beverage coming from her breath when she spoke. Kleypas was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated after performing standard field sobriety tests (SFST).
*1:39am-Brownwood Police were called to the 2200 block of Coggin Avenue regarding a hit and run. According to the report, the call led to the arrest of 31-year-old Timothy Knox for Public Intoxication.
*11:39am-Brownwood Police were dispatched to the intersection of W. Austin Avenue and W. Commerce regarding a hit and run. According to the report, a possible license plate number of the suspect vehicle was provided; however no contact was able to be made with the suspect vehicle. An investigation is ongoing, the report states.
*1:26pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 1100 block of Crothers regarding a physical domestic disturbance which had taken place at another location. According to the report, physical injuries were present on both parties; however, no arrests were made at the time of the report. An investigation is ongoing.
*2:15pm-Brownwood Police were called to Wal-Mart regarding theft. This call led to the arrest of a 16-year-old juvenile charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (K-2) Penalty Grade 2A and Theft $50-500; and arrest of 35-year-old Jeremy Lavender of Comanche who was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (K-2) Penalty Grade 2A, Theft $50-500 and Failure to Identify-False Information.
*2:41pm-Brownwood Police were dispatched to Wal-Mart regarding theft. According to the report, an off duty Brownwood Police officer was currently chasing after two juveniles who had stolen items from the business. The off duty officer caught up with the juveniles and met another officer at a separate business where the suspects were arrested for Theft less than $50, the report states.
*3:49pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 100 block of Center Avenue regarding a stolen purse. According to the report, the purse along with a debit card, check book, key ring, driver’s license and approximately $100 cash was stolen. A suspect has been identified; however, no arrest had been made at the time of the report.
*8:16pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 300 block of Bluffview Drive regarding a noise nuisance at an apartment complex. According to the report, during the investigation, a quantity of a dangerous drug and a quantity of a controlled substance were discovered. 43-year-old Amy Bailey was arrested and charged with the possession of a dangerous drug and with the possession of a controlled substance in a drug free zone.
*8:30pm-A Brown County Sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop on Main Street in Brownwood. According to the report, during the traffic stop evidence of a theft was observed. During the investigation, one of the occupants told the deputy that the driver of the vehicle tried to give her crack cocaine to hide and that she would not take the drugs from him so he gave the drugs to the other female occupant to hide on her person, the report states. Upon a consent search, 13.7 grams of crack cocaine was located on the female’s person, according to the deputy’s report. The driver, identified as 48-year-old Kenneth Wayne Coplin of Fort Worth and passenger 29-year-old Martha Dabney were charged with Manufacture and Delivery o f a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 greater than 4 grams less than 200 grams. Dabney was additionally charged with Tamper/Fabricate Physical Evidence.
*9:20pm-A Brownwood Police officer, while patrolling on W. Austin Avenue, observed a vehicle run the stop sign at the intersection of Beaver Street. According to the report, a traffic stop was initiated and the driver, identified as 39-year-old Manuel Fuentes, was determined to be intoxicated. Fuentes was arrested, taken for a blood specimen and transported to the Brown County Jail.
*9:59pm-Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 3700 block of Savoy Drive regarding a fight in progress. According to the report, one of the suspects involved had already left the scene upon officers’ arrival. The suspect who had left the scene lives with a female who was also involved in the fight. The female stated that she keeps her prescriptions in a plastic coffee container in her bedroom and that she had taken her medications that morning and then left the apartment at 10:30am, the report states. When she went to take her medications at 8:45pm, she discovered some of her medications missing, according to the report.
*11:00pm-A Brown County Deputy was at Taco Bell when he observed a male leaning on the counter waiting for his food, not able to stand up without leaning on the counter. According to the report, the man, identified as 50-year-old Travis Alexander, stumbled outside very slowly after getting his food and walked out to his vehicle. The deputy followed Alexander outside and asked him to get out of the vehicle and determined that the male was intoxicated, the report states. When Alexander asked the deputy to call his wife to come pick him up, she refused but stated she would pick up the vehicle if he was transported to jail. Because he did not have a sober adult to take him into their custody, Alexander was arrested and charged with Public Intoxication, the report states.
*Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Daniel Aaron Burcham of Bangs for Driving While Intoxicated 2nd.
Sunday, April 15
*12:13am-Brownwood Police were called to Wal-Mart regarding theft. According to the report, a shoplifter, identified as 55-year-old Paula J. Young of Weatherford, was being detained in the Asset Protection Office. Numerous items were recovered and returned to the store, the report states. Young was arrested for Class B Theft.
*1:34pm-Brownwood Police were called to a residence at Blarney Drive regarding criminal mischief. According to the report, the complainant stated a known person threw a large rock through the back window of her vehicle causing approximately $400 worth of damage.
*3:53pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 2600 block of Crockett Drive, Brownwood Regional Medical Center, regarding assault. According to the report, the call led to the arrest of 27-year-old Callista Shiloh Fergason on two counts of Assault with Injury, Assault with Injury Family Violence and Assault on a Public Servant.
*4:26pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 1400 block of Austin Avenue regarding theft. According to the report, the store manager reported that she had detained two MHMR clients who had stolen $26.16 worth of Stride gum. The manager stated that she would not press charges until she spoke with the guardians of the suspects, the report states. So that the two would learn they cannot steal, the guardians stated they did want charges to be filed, according to the report.
*5:36pm-Brownwood Police were called to the 2600 block of Avenue B regarding an assault. According to the report, the complainant stated that her boyfriend had assaulted her during an argument and she did wish to pursue charges.
*Bangs Police Department arrested 19-year-old Jonathan Israel Sanchez of Coleman for Possession of Marijuana less than 2 ounces in a Drug Free Zone.
Monday, April 16
*12:18am-Brownwood Police made a traffic stop in the 1300 block of Coggin Avenue. According to the report, after an investigation, 21-year-old Morgan Banda was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Grade 1 Less than 1 gram in a Drug Free Zone.
All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.