(Un) Smooth Criminal

Crockett Man Hit with Multiple Charges

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CROCKETT – The Crockett Police Department apprehended a 45-year-old man and charged him with a litany of criminal activities which began after a traffic stop on July 4.

Christopher Mark Jenkins, from Crockett, was booked into custody on July 19 and charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest. Jenkins had previously been arrested on July 4 for failure to identify a fugitive from justice and providing false information to law enforcement.

Jenkins also had a blue warrant issued for his arrest. Under Texas law, if a parolee violates the terms of his parole, a parole revocation warrant – known as a blue warrant – is issued and the parolee is arrested and incarcerated without the possibility for release on bond.

According to probable cause affidavits, Jenkins’ most recent brush with the law began on July 4 when CPD Officer Matthew Van Egmond initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jenkins.

The affidavit indicated the traffic stop was initiated because Jenkins ran a stop sign. Once the vehicle came to a stop in a convenience store parking lot, Van Egmond made contact with Jenkins and explained the reason he was pulled over.

The officer “… asked the driver for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. The driver stated he didn’t have and never has had had a driver’s license and that it was his boss’s vehicle. I (Van Egmond) observed the driver acting nervous and sweating a lot. I asked the driver what his name was and he stated and spelled his name, Mark Hall.”

It was later learned the name was fictitious and the driver was actually Christopher Mark Jenkins.

Van Egmond requested permission to search the vehicle based on the nervousness and agitation displayed by the suspect.

Jenkins gave his consent to search the vehicle and “… while searching the vehicle, I (Van Egmond) located a pipe between the driver’s seat where Jenkins was sitting and the console of the vehicle.”

At this point, Jenkins was placed in hand restraints and detained for further questioning. Jenkins was asked who the pipe belonged to but said he didn’t know.

As the vehicle search continued, “… Houston County Communications advised me that there were no records found for a Mark Hall.”

However, CPD Lt. Lonnie Lum who arrived at the scene shortly after the dispatch on Mark Hall, recognized “Hall” from previous encounters and identified him as Christopher Jenkins.

Upon receiving the updated ID, the name of Christopher Jenkins was checked and it was discovered a blue warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Jenkins was escorted to a patrol unit for transport to the Houston County Jail but passed out before he could be placed in the vehicle. An EMS crew was dispatched to the scene and transported Jenkins to Palestine Regional Hospital for treatment.

“We believe that Jenkins swallowed some drugs during the traffic stop that caused the need for medical treatment. Later that morning, Jenkins was released to the ER staff to be placed into ICU for an unknown time. Officers released Jenkins to later get arrest warrants for the charge of failing to identify a fugitive from justice and the intent to provide false information,” according to the affidavit.

On July 16, Van Egmond was on patrol again and spotted Jenkins driving the same vehicle he had pulled over on July 4, a second affidavit stated.

Van Egmond initiated a traffic stop and when the vehicle came to a halt near the intersection of Leroy and Cottonwood streets, the affidavit reported Van Egmond made contact with Jenkins and told him to get out of the vehicle.

“Jenkins continued to plea to let him take the vehicle to his boss’s house. I continued to tell Jenkins to get out of the vehicle. I then opened the door of the vehicle and attempted to remove Jenkins from the vehicle and Jenkins then let off of the brake and started to push on the gas and go forward. I was unable to get Jenkins to stop the vehicle and Jenkins drove off,” the affidavit stated.

According to the reports, a vehicle chase ensued around Loop 304 and through the downtown area of Crockett, before Jenkins abandoned the vehicle near the intersection of West Goliad Avenue and Cypress Street.

He fled on foot and while law enforcement officials set up a perimeter to try and find Jenkins “… we were unable to locate him.”

A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a pipe, marijuana and cocaine. Jenkins was finally apprehended on July 19 and booked into the Houston County Jail. Because of the blue warrant, he has been “no-bonded” and is currently held at the jail facility.

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