Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs reported an incident that occurred on March 11th around 2:00am that began with a call of loud music that resulted in the eventual arrest of 49-year-old Stephen Newberry of Early, Texas.
According to Grubbs, BCSO received a call of loud music in the 3200 block of Highway 183N. Deputy James Stroope responded to the call and attempted to make contact with the occupants of the residence to tell them to turn down the music; however, they were unable to hear him knock over the loud noise according to the report.
Deputy Stroope was able to see through a glass door on the residence and was able to get the occupant’s attention by shinning his flashlight through the door into the residence Grubbs reported. A man, later identified as 49-year-old Stephen Newberry of Early, came to the door. Newberry refused to identify himself, shut the door in the deputy’s face, and began yelling profanities through the door at the deputy Grubbs said.
According to BCSO, Deputy Stroope had been able to get Newberry to turn down the music and left the scene to continue his patrol duties.
“Over the next two hours, Stephen Newberry made phone calls to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office threatening the life of Deputy Stroope or any other officer who came back to this house without a warrant,” said Grubbs. “The seriousness of this threat was not underestimated and Sgt. Lana Guthrie began an investigation into these threats.”
According to Grubbs, the threats had been recorded by the Brownwood dispatch and gave a clear account of Newberry’s actions which were in part to, “put a hole in his ‘explicit’ head,” referring to Deputy Stroope. After Sgt. Guthrie was able to get a warrant for Stephen Newberry’s arrest, deputies went to Newberry’s residence and arrested him for Retaliation, a 3rd degree felony. Deputies were given consent to search the residence where they located marijuana inside the home according to officials. Newberry was also charged with Possession of Marijuana under 2 oz. As of Monday morning Newberry was being held at the Brown County Jail on bonds totaling $51,500.
