CPD Officers Catch Burglars in Act
By Will Johnson Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT – Officers with the Crockett Police Department apprehended two male suspects as they were attempting to break in to a residence on 5th St. last Friday. The suspects were identified as Billy Gene Hollman, Jr., 26, and Jacolbran Breyon Johnson, 24, both with a listed Crockett address.
Hollman and Johnson were arrested at the scene and both were charged with burglary of a habitation. The arrests were the result of information received by the Crockett PD about a possible burglary in progress during the morning of Aug. 26.
CPD Corporal Isaias Rodriguez and Officer Mathew Van Egmond were dispatched to the 1000 block of S. 5th St. in reference to the possible burglary just before 10 a.m. last Friday. As they were travelling to the location, a description of the two suspects was
received from dispatch. One individual was described as an African American male wearing a white t-shirt and pajama pants while the other individual was described as an African American male wearing a black t-shirt and black shorts.
According to an arrest report, a witness to the incident had informed the CPD dispatcher it appeared the male dressed in all black had disappeared for a period of time while the male wearing the white t-shirt “… was walking back and forth down the street as if he was being the look-out man.”
The witness said after several moments, the male wearing all black had reappeared as if he was leaving the front door area of the residence in question, joined the male in the white t-shirt and began to walk towards the intersection of S. 5th and Park St.
As Cpl. Rodriguez and Officer Van Egmond arrived at the location, the arrest report stated they observed two individuals who fit the descriptions they had received earlier, approaching a vehicle near Earl’s Manufacturing. The officers made contact with the suspects and were able to identify Hollman as the suspect wearing all black and Johnson as the suspect in the white t-shirt.
After making contact with the two suspects, Cpl. Rodriguez informed Hollman why he was being detained. “Hollman stated that he had just left a family member’s house located on S. Park St. and had parked his vehicle at a private drive because it was running hot and leaking oil. I then advised Hollman that someone had seen both him and Johnson on the property described by the witness attempting to make entry to the house. Hollman reported that he was at the property asking a Hispanic male if the yellow school bus that was located next to 1005 S. 5th St. was for sale. I then asked Johnson where he was coming from and Johnson stated that he had just made it to the area and met with Hollman at the intersection,” the report stated.
The CPD officers detained the two suspects and spoke to the witness who initially reported the incident. The witness was able to identify Hollman and Johnson as the two individuals who had been observed near the residence in question. The arrest report also stated the officers went to the burglary location and met with the landlord of the residence.
The landlord reported the residence had been burglarized earlier in the month. He also indicated two air conditioning units which were previously installed in windows at the residence were now sitting near the front entrance of the house. The report further stated the officers observed footprints outside of the windows which were “… similar and consistent to the shoes that both Hollman and Johnson were wearing.
As a result of the evidence gathered at the scene, Hollman and Johnson were arrested and transported to the Houston County Jail where they were booked into custody for burglary of a habitation.
The offense is considered a second degree felony under the Texas Penal code and carries a punishment of “… imprisonment in the institutional division for any term of not more than 20 years or less than two years. In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000.”
Hollman and Johnson remain at the Houston County Jail. Their bonds have been set at $20,000 apiece.
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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