Crockett Mugging Results in Felony Arrests

Bluster Leads to Bust

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

“It’s gotta be the shoes!” – Mars Blackmon

CROCKETT – One man’s boast helped lead Crockett Police Department officers to a pair of suspects in a recent mugging.

Cody Lynn Bledsoe, 28, and Damon Dewayne Dickson, 33, were both arrested on Sunday evening and charged with first-degree aggravated robbery. Bledsoe is from Grapeland and Dickson is from Beaumont.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, a 39-year-old male was walking on Second Street near Fannin Avenue in Crockett, when he was accosted by Bledsoe and Dickson.

“They said, ‘Give me your money.’ Dickson then displayed a black handgun and said, ‘Give me your money.’ (The victim) then gave them about $68. The two (Bledsoe and Dickson) then ran off towards East Houston Avenue. (The victim) then walked to the Super Shop #2 and talked to (the cashier),” the affidavit indicated.

After the victim spoke to the cashier and explained what had happened, the cashier telephoned the Crockett PD to inform them of the crime, the affidavit reported.

“At around 5:33 p.m., Officer Bray Walter was dispatched to the Super Shop #2, located at 211 S. Fourth St., in reference to a robbery that occurred on South Second Street,” the affidavit stated.

When the officers arrived at the location, it was discovered the victim had departed the store. He was eventually located nearby and when questioned about the perpetrators, the probable cause document stated the victim recalled, “… one suspect had on all black and the other had a white shirt and red shoes. They both wore black and red ski masks.”

The victim was transported back to the station for further questioning. Shortly afterwards, law enforcement officials were dispatched back to the convenience store following a report the suspects were present in the business’ parking lot.

Upon their return, three male subjects were detained by the police.

“One was Damon Dickson, who was wearing all black and the other was Cody Bledsoe, who was wearing red shoes,” the report stated.

It was determined the third detainee was not involved in the robbery and was released.

The cashier who initially spoke to the victim, said because of the recentness of her conversation with the victim, her suspicions were raised when Bledsoe walked in the store, wearing an orange T-shirt and red shoes.

The cashier added her suspicions were amplified when Bledsoe exited the store and remarked to the third individual “… we just (expletive deleted) up a white man out of $80, at gun point,” the probable cause document stated.

The cashier then called the police a second time. Bray transported the victim back to where the suspects were detained and he “… identified Dickson as one of the robbers. Bledsoe was wearing an orange T-shirt at the time and (the victim) was not sure (of his identity). I then took one of Bledsoe’s shoes and showed it to (the victim). (The victim) then identified Bledsoe by his shoes and pants and stated that Bledsoe was wearing a white T-shirt during the robbery.”

The three men who were detained had arrived at the Super Shop #2 in a GMC Yukon. According to the affidavit, the police observed two Bud Light cans in the front console’s cup holders and initiated a probable cause search.

During the course of the search, a white T-shirt was discovered in plain sight near where Bledsoe was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle. When asked, Bledsoe admitted it was his.

Both Bledsoe and Dickson denied any part of their involvement in the robbery, but based on the evidence gathered at the scene, the two were transported to the Houston County Jail where they were booked into custody and charged with aggravated robbery.

Aggravated Robbery is considered a first-degree felony under Texas law. According to Section 12.32 of the Texas Penal Code, “An individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree shall be punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for life or for any term of not more than 99 years or less than five years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the first degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”

Bledsoe and Dickson are each held on a $30,000 bond.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].