Published: July 18, 2008 10:52 am         

Robbery suspect easy to spot by wearing shirt he allegedly stole

A Weatherford man was arrested Saturday and charged with robbery after allegedly stealing a T-shirt from a downtown merchant.

Mineral Wells police were dispatched at approximately 2 p.m. to Woly Board Co. in the 100 block of South Oak Avenue Saturday afternoon. According to police reports, a male person tried on a shirt at the store and attempted to leave while wearing the item under his other shirt.

When confronted, a police official said the suspect allegedly removed the shirt and attempted to pay for it with a credit card that didn’t work. When the man took the shirt off, the clerk noticed what appeared to be a handgun in the suspect’s waistband, police said. The subject reportedly walked out of the store with the shirt.

A police official noted that the suspect didn’t threaten the clerk though the clerk “was certainly in fear when he saw this thing.”

Shortly after 9 p.m. on the same day, the same police officer was dispatched to the 400 block of N.W. 3rd Avenue in reference to a subject with a gun. Upon his arrival, the officer identified the subject as Joshua Sean Rigstad, 21, a police official said. Rigstad was allegedly found with a black and silver air pistol tucked into his waistband and wearing a shirt identical to that reported stolen from Woly Board Co.

He was taken into custody and remained in Palo Pinto County Jail Wednesday with his bond set at $100,000.

Tased and subdued

Mineral Wells police deployed a Taser on a man Sunday morning after he reportedly attempted to flee and resist arrest.

Police officers were dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of S.E. 17th Street in reference to a domestic disturbance. Upon their arrival, officers encountered a woman who alleged her husband threatened to kill her and their children.

At the scene, police discovered Jose Luis Vazquez, 45, of Mineral Wells, who was intoxicated, officials said. Vazquez attempted to flee from the officers and was caught, police reported. A Taser was used to subdue Vazquez and he was placed into custody, charged with resisting arrest and evading arrest.

Fourteenth suspect in custody

Following the recent arrests of 10 individuals charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and another three people already jailed on other charges, another man turned himself in to authorities late Tuesday morning, Texas Department of Public Safety officials confirmed.

According to Palo Pinto County Jail records, Charles Alton Evans, 51, of Jacksboro, turned himself in at the jail at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. He is charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a first-degree felony. According to jail officials, Evans remained in custody Wednesday afternoon with a $40,000 bond.

Evans is one of 18 people indicted in sealed indictments earlier this month by a Palo Pinto County Grand Jury for their alleged involvement in a methamphetamine ring. With additional arrests in the offing, Evans remains in jail along with Donald Earl Downey, 58, of Graham, and Elzi Lee Noble IV, 32, of Graham, each with a $40,000 bond.

The other suspects arrested July 10 – David Paul Curtner, 24, of Jacksboro, Kimberlee Lee Forbus, 34, of Jacksboro, Kattie Louise Gilbert, 19, of Jacksboro, Darren Dwayne Green, 21, of Jacksboro, Darryle Wayne Green, 27, of Jacksboro, Jody Ray Rhoades, 20, of Jacksboro, Matthew Arlon Smith, 20, of Graford, and Jason Len Terry, 26, of Jacksboro – all bonded out of Palo Pinto County Jail within days of their arrests after each posting a $40,000 bond. Curtis Dale Lewis, 28, of Jacksboro,

Also facing charges are William Leon McColtin, 39, of Bridgeport, and Tanya Lynn Lewis, 25, of Jacksboro, who were in Jack County Jail on July 10. Lewis posted a $40,000 bond on the felony charge shortly after noon Wednesday from the Palo Pinto County Jail.

Burglary

• 900 block of N.W. 5th Avenue – A 1979 GMC van was reported burglarized July 9 with a window air conditioner unit valued at $700 was reported stolen.

Arrests

The Mineral Wells Police Department reported making the following arrests:

• Crystal Rae Beene, 28, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Friday for public intoxication.

• Shirlene Fay Bridges, 51, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Sunday for public intoxication.

• Guadalupe Castillega Jr., 30, of Fort Worth, was arrested Friday for no driver’s license, no insurance, expired registration and expired inspection.

• James Michael Lee Chesnut, 18, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Sunday for possession of marijuana less than 2 ounces in a drug-free zone.

• Carl Dan Fairley Jr., 24, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 9 for public intoxication.

• Darwin Lee Glover Jr., 24, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday for no driver’s license and no insurance.

• Bertha Sue Gossett, 27, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 10 for simple assault.

• Johnny Fredrick Henry, 36, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 8 for public intoxication.

• Lisa Kay Jenkins, 42, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Sunday on a MWPD warrant for public intoxication.

• Kerry Neal Johnson Jr., 18, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Sunday for no driver’s license, no insurance, expired inspection and expired registration.

• Raymond Wayne Kite, 34, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 8 for no motorcyclist’s license, no insurance and expired registration.

• John Paul Layman, 40, of Millsap, was arrested July 9 on an off bond warrant from Parker County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

• Ciera Florencia Ortiz, 21, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 10 on five MWPD traffic warrants and possession of a controlled substance greater than 1 gram and less than 4 grams.

• Kevin Lane Poole, 40, of Mineral Wells, was arrested July 8 for public intoxication.

• Grace Reaser, 20, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday on a MWPD warrant for possession of narcotic paraphernalia.

• Clifford Dontea Rhodes, 27, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Friday for possession of a controlled substance less than 1 gram.

• Matthew Glenn Robinson, 24, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Monday on a Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office warrant for assault causing bodily injury.

• Sergio Sandoval, 38, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Monday and placed on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold.

• Marvell Lashone Townsend, 36, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday on a PPCSO warrant for resisting arrest and a PPSCO warrant for theft by check greater than $20 and less than $500.