GUN BARREL CITY, Texas - Two suspects were arrested Thursday afternoon after a stolen pickup truck led Henderson County deputies on a pursuit that ended off-road near a creek, followed by an extensive K-9 and drone search through a heavily wooded area.
The Henderson County Sheriff's Office identified the suspects as Joshua Paul Richardson and Bobbie Ann Wooten. Both were eventually found hiding in a pasture and taken into custody without further incident.
The investigation began Aug. 20 after a pickup truck was reported stolen to the Brownsboro Police Department earlier that morning.
Henderson County investigators used automated license plate recognition, or ALPR, cameras to track the stolen vehicle's movements. Authorities determined the truck had traveled into Athens before continuing into the Gun Barrel City area.
Driver Flees From Traffic Stop
At approximately 2:30 p.m., Henderson County K-9 Deputy Edwin Rodriguez spotted the stolen pickup in the 1000 block of East Main Street.
When Rodriguez attempted to stop the truck, the driver allegedly accelerated and fled at a high rate of speed.
The pursuit continued through neighborhoods near the Bonita Point Subdivision before the driver took the pickup off-road toward a creek bed, according to the Sheriff's Office.
The truck eventually became stuck.
Both occupants abandoned the vehicle and ran into a heavily wooded area near the Tamarack Subdivision, prompting authorities to begin a search.
K-9 Valco Tracks Suspects Through Creek, Mud and Woods
Additional law enforcement resources were brought into the area, including a Henderson County Sheriff's Office drone operated by K-9 Deputy Jarod Mills.
Rodriguez and K-9 Valco began tracking the suspects from the abandoned pickup.
For approximately 30 minutes, Valco tracked through thick brush, mud, a creek bed and pastureland while the drone provided deputies with an aerial view of the search area.
Deputies and investigators eventually located Richardson and Wooten hiding in a pasture. Both surrendered and were taken into custody without further incident.
Investigators said Richardson was also a wanted fugitive with a lengthy criminal history.
Authorities reported finding suspected methamphetamine inside the stolen pickup.
Richardson and Wooten Face Multiple Charges
Richardson was booked into the Henderson County Jail on charges of Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle, Evading Arrest or Detention on Foot with a Previous Conviction, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle. He was also booked on a parole warrant.
Wooten was booked on charges of Evading Arrest or Detention on Foot and Possession of a Controlled Substance.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, Gun Barrel City Police Department, Payne Springs Police Department, Eustace Police Department and Eustace ISD Police Department assisted Henderson County authorities during the search.
The Sheriff's Office credited its deputies, investigators and K-9 Valco for the arrests, while noting the role ALPR cameras and drone technology played in tracking the stolen vehicle and locating the suspects.
