Orange robbery suspect identified
Orange Police Department investigators are calling on the public to help locate a 25-year-old Orange resident, who has been identified as the suspect in the Feb. 18 robbery that took place at the Exxon station on FM 1130.
Andre Damon Fezia II has been issued an arrest warrant for aggravated robbery, and police are offering a reward to assist in his apprehension. Fezia is described as a Black male with multiple tattoos on both arms, both hands, and his neck.
Anyone with any information Fezia’s whereabouts is asked to call Southeast Texas Crime Stoppers at (409) 833-TIPS (8477), log on to 833TIPS.com or download the P3 TIPS app to report a tip and be eligible for a cash reward.
Arrest made in homeless man’s homicide
The Beaumont Police Department (BPD) reported the first confirmed homicide of 2023 in Gerardo Solis Ramos, a 64-year-old transient, on Feb. 27.
Florencio Castillo Guillen, 60, of Beaumont, was arrested for the murder that police report was discovered at 7:05 a.m. in the 1200 block of S. 11th Street, as BPD was called to the scene in reference to a possible deceased person near dumpsters.
“It was evident that Ramos did not die of natural causes and detectives obtained a warrant for Guillen and arrested him,” police reported.
As of press time, Guillen remained in the Jefferson County Jail.
Search for missing woman leads to unrelated arrest
A man was arrested at the home where law enforcement officers executed a search warrant in the case of a missing Jasper County woman, according to local media reports that also contend that the arrest was not made in connection to he woman’s disappearance.
Jasper area media, KJAS.com, reported that Colby Hunter Tatom, 28, was arrested on Feb. 23 when police executed an evidentiary search warrant at a Buna area home in reference to Cristi Ruso, 32, of Buna, who has been missing since October 2021.
Jasper County Chief Deputy Scotty Duncan reported that county, state and federal officers searched a small house in the 1800 block of County Road 777, commonly known in that area as Gum Slough Road, where federal agents were seen canvassing the entire property and interior, bringing out and logging several pieces of evidence.
Also taken from the property was Tatom, charged with driving while license invalid, violation of child safety seat law, possession of a controlled substance, and theft of property. Jasper County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO) spokeswoman Karli Cherry emphasizes the arrest was for unrelated crimes and is in no way connected to the missing woman’s case.
Capt. Jason McClelland, the lead investigator in the case, told KJAS.com that newly-garnered information, combined with previously confirmed information about Ruso’s location on the last day that she was seen, resulted in a search warrant being obtained for the County Road 777 address.
Missing woman Cristi Ruso is described as a quiet person who loved her kids. She was last seen on Oct. 22, 2021, when she was dropped off near 1861 County Road 777 in Buna. A bag with some of her clothing was reportedly later found near Buna on Dec. 17, 2021.
Warrants signed for several juvenile offenders
According to Kountze Police Department (KPD) Police Chief J. Brent Slaughter, 52 warrants were signed Feb. 23 for the arrest of several juveniles, all under age 16, involved in numerous crimes.
In a press release, Slaughter stated that KPD began getting burglary of vehicle calls, which also included theft of firearms in November 2022. He noted that, as the calls continued coming in over a period of time, several juvenile names kept coming up as suspects. Slaughter said KPD investigators have been continuously collecting information related to the crimes in the almost four months since the burglaries were first reported.
“After developing probable cause on multiple cases, the information was presented to Justice of Peace Pct. 3 (Rod Ousley) and both county and district attorneys for review,” Slaughter stated, adding that four of the suspects were already in custody for similar offenses in Lumberton.
Criminal charges filed by KPD were theft of firearms, unlawfully carrying firearms, burglary of motor vehicles, stolen vehicles, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal conspiracy and engaging in organized criminal activity.
Slaughter said KPD anticipates additional warrants for related crimes will be forthcoming.
Suspected pill peddler popped
A Beaumont man living in the city’s North End was arrested on multiple drug charges this past week after a search warrant was executed by the Beaumont Police Department (BPD) Narcotics Unit, SWAT Team, K-9 and Special Assignment Unit at his residence in the 100 block of East Simmons.
During the search, BPD detectives reportedly located a firearm, as well as various narcotics inside the residence to include suspected cocaine, oxycodone, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and hydrocodone.
Damien Patterson, 33, of Beaumont, was arrested and booked into the Jefferson County Jail on four counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and felon in possession of a firearm.
He was not listed in the jail records on Feb. 27.
Silsbee PD reports several people arrested
Several people were arrested by the Silsbee Police Department on felony and misdemeanor charges recently.
Feb. 26, Ryan Scott LeBlanc, 23, was arrested for theft.
Feb. 24, Diana L. Deshotel, 44, was arrested for assault (third-degree felony); Devion S. Washington, 30, was arrested for possession of marijuana (Class B), no driver’s license, no motor vehicle liability insurance and expired license plates (all Class C); Stacy Glenn Bunn, 54, was arrested for possession of controlled substance (Penalty Group 1/1B, less than 1 gram).
Feb. 20, Larry G. Moss, 66, was arrested for assault (third-degree felony)
Arrested on warrants were Tiheashe S. Wallace, 36; Lisa M. Gore, 44; Jody Lack, 50; Brittany N. Moore, 34; and Arthur D. Geron, 29.
Assaults, theft reported by Lumberton PD
Two people were arrested for assault recently by the Lumberton Police Department.
Feb. 28, Everett E. Pickering Jr., 43, was arrested for assault to cause bodily injury (Class A misdemeanor).
Judith A. Gardner, 37, was arrested for assault to cause bodily injury on Feb. 27.
Also on Feb. 27, Kaylan Grace Smith, 41, was arrested for theft of property, $100-$750 (Class B).