After a week of searching, authorities have successfully apprehended Joseph Ware, a suspect who had been evading law enforcement. The manhunt began when Kilgore Police Officer Upshaw attempted to stop Ware for a traffic violation, but Ware fled on foot. Despite several close encounters with officers from both the Kilgore Police Department (KPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), Ware managed to escape multiple times, possibly with assistance from others.
The situation took a dramatic turn on Friday when Lt. Chitwood and the ProActive Community Engagement (P.A.C.E) Unit began focusing their search in the Leveretts Chapel area, known to be one of Ware's haunts. During this time, a carjacking occurred at Lava Buffet, where a mother and daughter were assaulted by a suspect who took their car by force. The victims sustained minor injuries in the incident.
KPD officers, investigating the carjacking, used the vehicle’s tracking system to pinpoint its location in the Leveretts Chapel area. Upon finding the vehicle abandoned, officers discovered Ware's ID inside. After hours of surveillance, officers from KPD and Rusk County Sheriff’s Office observed Ware leaving a family member’s house. Ware was arrested without incident, with Officer Upshaw taking the lead in placing him in handcuffs.
Ware is facing multiple felony charges for his actions, and the crime spree that had kept authorities on edge has finally come to an end.
