A weekend trip to Abilene for school shopping ended with the theft of one Brownwood family’s car which showed up in their own town and led to two arrests.
The family had taken an overnight trip to Abilene to do school shopping, but when they woke up to leave the hotel, they found their car had been stolen.
On Tuesday, a relative of the family saw the vehicle and reported it was traveling west up Bangs Hill on Hwy 67. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Martin Molotsky, he happened to be in the area and stopped the vehicle at the intersection of County Road 153. When running the vehicle’s tag with dispatch, it was confirmed that the vehicle was in fact the car reported stolen with Abilene Police Department, said Molotsky.
A male and female, identified as 32-year-old Erica Ordaz and 23-year-old Ricky Lee Rodriguez, both of Sweetwater, were the only occupants of the vehicle according to Molotsky. He explained that the couple had stopped at Long John Silver’s and were eating while they were driving toward Bangs on Hwy 67. They were not allowed to finish their lunch before they were arrested for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Ordaz was additionally charged with two counts of possession of a dangerous drug.
“It was kind of funny that the vehicle showed up in their own home town,” said Molotsky.
In other unrelated law enforcement arrests and reports released Wednesday, August 28, 2013:
Monday, August 26
*8:50 AM – Brownwood Police were called to the 1500 block of Melwood regarding theft. According to the report, the complainant stated that his grandson had stolen 3 used car batteries and 43 pounds of aluminum cans and had sold them to a local recycling business. An investigation is ongoing, the report states.
Tuesday, August 27
*2:04 PM – A Brownwood Police officer was contacting the list of registered sex offenders that live within the City of Brownwood to verify the correct information. The officer reported that while checking on one of the subjects, he was told by the homeowner and his family that the subject never lived at the residence. A report was filed regarding the sex offender’s duty to register annually for life. The offense is a 3rd degree felony, the report states.
*7:39 PM – Brownwood Police were called to the 2800 block of 4th Street regarding a domestic disturbance. According to the report, the complainant stated that his father-in-law arrived at his house and assaulted him by kicking and striking him in the face. The suspect, 55-year-old Darrell Cumpton, admitted that he did assault the complainant, the report states. After an investigation was completed, Cumpton was placed under arrest for assault with injury family violence.
*11:45 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1500 block of Magnolia regarding disorderly conduct. According to the report, the complainant stated that a known subject had entered her apartment without permission and would not leave. The subject was allegedly yelling at the complainant’s house guest, the report states. No arrest was made at the time of the report.
*9:56 PM – Brownwood Police were dispatched to the 1200 block of Austin Avenue regarding theft. According to the report, a witness reported that two males had stolen 30-packs of beer; however, the witness was not able to give officers a direction of travel. No arrest was made at the time of the report.
*Texas Youth Commission arrested 17-year-old Cynthia Bernice Flores for assault on public servant.
*Brownwood Police arrested 21-year-old Stephanie Prado for possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces.
*Brown County Sheriff’s Office arrested 36-year-old Chance Don Schaefer of Mesquite, Texas for motion to adjudicate/delivery of a controlled substance in a drug free zone.
All arrestees are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Blotter information compiled from local law enforcement reports and jail records.
