Published: December 19, 2007 09:23 am         

25 acres, hay bales burn

Fire officials are investigating the cause of a fire that occurred Sunday afternoon in the 12800 block of U.S. Highway 281 North in which 25 acres burned.

According to fire officials, the fire was called in at 1:36 p.m. with a brush pile, grass and several round bales of hay on fire. Volunteer firefighters from Mineral Wells and Perrin responded to the scene and were able to extinguish the blaze without any reported injuries. According to reports, the firefighters used 5,000 gallons of water.

Thirty-six round bales of hay valued at $45 each were reported destroyed.

Burglary
• 500 block of Grant Road – A business was reported burglarized Friday for the second time in a week. With entry gained through an unlocked door, police reported that an “undetermined amount” of copper sleeves and aluminum fittings were stolen with a value of $1,500.

Police returned to the business Saturday afternoon for another burglary report. The thieves gained entry by cutting the fence and removing screws from the building’s metal sides. Nothing was reported missing the second time.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, police observed two male subjects walking around the building and an abandoned vehicle was recovered in woods located west of the business. Police officials said the vehicle’s discovery could be related to the recent burglaries.

Law enforcement made another recovery later that day when they found two backpacks containing miscellaneous tools outside the business.

Arrests
The Mineral Wells Police Department reported making the following arrests:

• Jonathan Cantrell, 31, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Sunday for no driver’s license.

• Jerry Ray Felts, 20, of Joelton, Tenn., was arrested Sunday for no driver’s license and no insurance.

• Michael Guzman, 20, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday on a Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Department violation of probation warrant for possession of marijuana.

• Forrest Owen Rushing, 42, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday for public intoxication.

• Cody Harrison Smith, 22, of Millsap, was arrested Sunday for theft less than $50.

• Gary Dean Stephens Jr., 21, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Saturday for assault with bodily injury.

• Chalise N. Whitehead, 27, of Mineral Wells, was arrested Monday for theft greater than $50 and less than $500.