KPD Arrest Highlight!! For Immediate Release January 13, 2015 For more information: Larry R. Smith, Sheriff Smith County Sheriff’s Office (903) 590-2720 LSmith@smith-county This press conference relates to a multiple criminal events which occurred beginning on November 16, 2014 and continuing through January 6, 2015 in Smith, Gregg, Rusk and Harrison Counties as well as the Cities of New London and Kilgore, Texas. The events relate to multiple vehicle thefts as well as commercial burglaries within the abovementioned jurisdictions. We have with us today representatives from each of these jurisdictions to announce the arrest of multiple defendants and to request assistance from your viewers in bringing several other individuals not yet arrested to justice. We would also like to report that there have been a voluminous number of investigative man hours expended on this investigation by all of the involved entities. Each and every law enforcement agency involved have worked many tireless hours together to bring these cases to a successful completion and to bring the perpetrators to justice. Sheriff Smith said, “I have been in law enforcement a very long time and most of that involved in criminal investigations. It is very pleasant to witness the agency to agency cooperation and information sharing that has been exhibited in this investigation.” During this crime spree, over thirty service related vehicles were stolen from each of the various counties and cities. These vehicles ranged from service vans, 1 ton service trucks to truck tractors. All of the vehicles have been recovered as of this date, most of which were totally destroyed or damaged in some manner. The damage caused by these individuals reaches well over the million dollar mark. One particular piece of heavy equipment which was driven into a lake is estimated at over $500,000 alone. Two convenience stores were driven into by these individuals in several of the stolen vehicles and the ATMs were stolen. One of the ATM thefts occurred on Highway 64 East in Smith County and the other occurred off of State Highway 322 in Rusk County on the Gregg/Rusk County line. On December 29, 2014 a multiagency law enforcement meeting involving representatives from the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, Rusk County District Attorney’s Office, New London Police Department, Gregg County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department and representatives of the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force met at the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office to discuss evidentiary matters as well as connections involving the crimes described above. On December 31, 2014 Smith County and Rusk County Sheriff’s Office detectives received information involving a possible witness who could identify the persons involved in these thefts and burglaries. As a result of that interview, • Dalton L Oakes - 18 years of age is in custody of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. • Joseph Bates – 18 years of age is in custody of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. • Richard Landaverde – 18 years of age is in custody of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office. • Jorge Santos Landaverde – 21 years of age remains at large. There is an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest at this time. • Additionally, two juveniles who were involved in this criminal episode are facing criminal charges. Smith County Sheriff’s detectives with the assistance of Rusk County Sheriff’s detectives, Harrison County Sheriff’s detectives and Investigators from the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force were successful in arresting Joseph Bates and Dalton Oakes on January 6, 2014. Smith County Sheriff’s detectives interviewed Joseph Bates and he provided information as to his involvement in the thefts of vehicles. Bates also admitted his involvement of the Burglary/ATM Theft at the Shell Gas Station in Smith County, Texas. On January 7, 2015 representatives from each agency again met at the Smith County Sheriff’s Office to discuss the thefts and burglaries committed by the above listed individuals. Detectives from each agency interviewed Joseph Bates who made admissions as to his involvement in the thefts in each respective jurisdiction. The following items of evidence have been seized as a result of this investigation pursuant to search warrants and consent to search. Seven Cellular telephones Clothing worn during burglary/thefts CCTV Video’s Covert Telephone Calls Video interviews Audio Interviews Facebook photographs and documentation This investigation is continuing. Should anyone have information related to this or any other crimes, please contact the Smith County Sheriff’s Office at (903) 566-6600 or any of the agencies who have primary jurisdiction. For more information on the Smith County Sheriff’s Office, visit smith-county/so. The Sheriff’s Office also has a Facebook page and can be followed on Twitter at @SmithCSO. # # # Time Line of Events November 6, 2014 through January 6, 2015 Vehicle Theft, Property Damage, Business Burglaries & ATM Thefts Agencies: Smith County Sheriff’s Office Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Gregg County Sheriff’s Office Harrison County Sheriff’s Office Kilgore Police Department New London Police Department Criminal Events November 16, 2014 Kilgore Police Department reported two fleet trucks stolen from Stomaco Oil Field Service Company within the City Limits of Kilgore. Vehicles were recovered and had been damaged. November 22, 2014 Gregg County Sherriff’s Office received a report of two fleet trucks and one pressure washer trailer stolen from Pioneer Drilling Company near the City of Longview. Vehicles were recovered and had been damaged. November 25, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received reports of three trucks stolen from Etheredge Electric Company near Tyler, Texas. All three trucks were recovered and had been damaged along with a wide path of property damage in the Eastern part of Smith County. November 29, 2014 Kilgore Police Department received a report of five fleet trucks stolen from Fas-Line Service Company. Two trucks were located undamaged and three trucks were located and had been damaged. Property damage was also identified related to these truck thefts. December 10, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a report of one truck stolen from Owen Oil Tool’s near Tyler, Texas. This truck was located and had been damaged near Interstate 20 and the east county line in Smith County. December 11, 2014 Gregg County Sheriff’s Office reported one fleet truck stolen from Winco Machine and Repair Company near Gladewater, Texas. This truck was recovered burned inside Eastern Smith County, Texas. December 16, 2014 Gregg County Sheriff’s Office reported two fleet trucks and two Peterbuilt Truck’s stolen from C & S Enterprise Company near Gladewater, Texas. All four trucks were recovered with minor damage. December 20, 2014 Harrison County Sheriff’s Office reported three trucks stolen from Hydroline Services near Marshall, Texas. Two fleet trucks and one employee personal truck. All three trucks were recovered by Harrison County Detectives submerged in a lake. All trucks considered a total loss. December 21, 2014 New London Police Department received a report of criminal mischief where two vehicles were utilized to push two vehicles that were parked in the garage of a residence. Damage was extensive to this residence, Estimate damage to the residence and vehicles is $13,000.00. December 21, 2014 New London Police Department received another report of criminal mischief where another residence was struck by a vehicle and damaged the garage and a vehicle inside the garage. December 21, 2014 New London Police Department received another report of criminal mischief. A vehicle driven by unknown persons pushed a vehicle that was parked in the driveway at a residence into the garage causing extensive damage to the vehicle and garage area of the residence. December 21, 2014 New London Police Department received a report of another criminal mischief where an unidentified vehicle pushed a vehicle which was parked under a carport into the backyard of the residence. Damage to the vehicle estimated at $7,700.00. December 21, 2014 Rusk County Sheriff’s Office received two reports of residential property damage on State Hwy 64. December 21, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office reported two trucks stolen from Oil States Energy Services near Tyler, Texas. Both recovered damaged. Property Damage reported as a result of these trucks being stolen. December 21, 2014 Kilgore Police Department reported one fleet truck stolen from Verizon Services within the City Limits of Kilgore, Texas. This truck was recovered by Smith County Sheriff’s Office while taking a report of another stolen vehicle reported in Smith County. December 21, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a report of two stolen trucks from Rent-a-Lift Inc. near Arp, Texas. These trucks were believed to be connected to the residential property damage reported to New London Police Department on December 22, 2014. December 21, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received reports of one well service truck stolen from Texas Water System’s near Tyler, Texas. This truck was used to facilitate the burglary and theft of an ATM at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Big Oak Bay and Highway 64 East on December 23, 2014. This vehicle was eventually recovered at the end of Big Oak Bay Road where another vehicle was reported stolen the same day. December 22, 2014 Harrison County Sheriff’s Office reported from BP Services several subjects attempting to steal several vehicles, these subjects were unsuccessful. These subjects were caught on CCTV Video utilizing the Well Service Truck which had been stolen from Smith County to ram and crash through the security gates of this business. December 23, 2014 Kilgore Police Department reported one truck stolen from the #4-Sight Operating Company within the City limits of Kilgore, Texas. This truck was used to facilitate the burglary and theft of an ATM at the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Big Oak Bay and Highway 64 East on December 23, 2014. This vehicle was eventually recovered at the End of Big Oak Bay Rd. where another vehicle was reported stolen the same day. December 23, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a report of one vehicle stolen from a citizen on Big Oak Bay Road near Tyler, Texas. This vehicle was recovered by the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office with the ATM inside, which was identified as the ATM stolen from the Shell Gas Station Burglary/Theft. December 23, 2014 Smith County Sheriff’s Office received a report a burglary & ATM Theft at Shell Gas Station near Big Oak Bay and Highway 64, East, near Tyler, Texas. CCTV Video captured suspects utilizing the well service truck stolen to ram through the store front which had been stolen from Smith County. The fleet truck had been reported stolen to the City of Kilgore Police Department,. During this burglary the subjects used the well service truck to drag the ATM out of the store. January 6, 2015 Harrison County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a tractor truck and trailer stolen from Penn Virginia Oil Company near Marshall, Texas. This truck was recovered by Rusk County Sheriff’s Office subsequent to it being used to facilitate the burglary/ATM Theft at Clayton’s Shell Gas Station located at Highway 322 and FM 2011 inside Rusk County. January 6, 2015 Rusk County Sheriff’s Office received a report of Burglary/Theft at Clayton’s Shell Station. CCTV Video captured suspects utilizing the stolen truck tractor from Harrison County to crash through the doors and drag the ATM from within the store. The truck tractor and ATM were recovered a few miles away inside Rusk County. At this time the amount of cash taken from the ATM is undetermined.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:25:58 +0000
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