Theft leads to manhunt and arrest

A theft at a Clarendon restaurant landed two people in jail Sunday after a chase and manhunt.

Donley County Sheriff Butch Blackburn said Grumpy’s Pizza was robbed about 4 p.m. March 25 when a tall, slender Hispanic-looking male with tattoos entered the establishment, forced open the cash drawer, took the money, and fled in a waiting vehicle driven by a white female.

An employee and customers gave officers a good description of the man and the vehicle as well as the tag number of the car.

Department of Public Safety Troopers later located the vehicle and stopped it near the eastbound rest area on US 287 near Giles. The male suspect then fled on foot into the pasture south of the highway.

Blackburn said his department was assisted in the ensuing manhunt by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office, Memphis Police Department, Gray County Sheriff’s Office, the DPS helicopter and troopers, dogs from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, and Andy Wheatly’s helicopter service.

A caller later reported the subject on their front porch asking for assistance at a residence two miles west of Memphis. The subject then ran east along the railroad. Sheriff Blackburn and Donley County Deputy Miranda Betts arrived within minutes, located the man in an abandoned travel trailer, and placed him under arrest.

Blackburn said the man, whose true identity had still not been determined at press time, is charged with Class B Misdemeanor Theft, Evading, Burglary of a Habitation, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

The driver was also being held in the Donley County Jail this week on charges of Theft and Possession of a Controlled Substance.