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Richards -
Gosey
A bulletproof vest prevented any serious or fatal injuries to an area police chief on Jan. 14.
According to media reports, Newton Police Chief Will Jackson was shot twice in the back but his ballistic vest absorbed the impact of both bullets, and two people were taken into custody.
Newton County Pct. 1 Constable Colton Havard and Pct. 2 Constable Jeff McCoy went to serve an eviction notice at a home on FM 1004, near County Road 3089 in the Call Junction-Trout Creek area. Due to the possibility of a volatile situation, Jackson was serving as a backup.
Newton County Sheriff Robert Burby reported that, after officers arrived at the home, shots were fired at 9:42 a.m. and an “officer down call” went out. Two shots were fired, one of which struck the back of Jackson’s vest.
Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Newton Police Department, Orange County SWAT, Jasper County SWAT, Kirbyville Police Department, Texas Rangers, area Game Wardens and local emergency medical personnel responded ed, as did Sheriff Burby, who was able to talk the man and woman in the house into surrendering peacefully, and they were both taken into custody to the Newton County Jail.
Jackson was examined by an ambulance crew at the scene and later transported to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont for further evaluation. He was released Jan. 15.
The suspects, L.C. Gosey Jr. and Betty Richards, were charged with attempted capital murder of a peace officer, each being held at the county jail under a $1 million bond.
The Texas Rangers are in charge of the investigation.