On the morning of July 3, police say a Houston man robbed the First State Bank of Shepherd in San Jacinto County, and then fled in a vehicle with two companions, followed by a pair of concerned citizens. Patrol deputies with the San Jacinto Sheriff’s Department soon joined the pursuit, which continued southbound into Liberty County.
After entering the City of Cleveland, the suspect crashed his vehicle and fled on foot.
Eventually, the investigation included the SJCSD, Liberty County Sheriff’s Department, Cleveland Police Department, Texas Ranger Ron Duff, SJC Pct. 2 Constable Tom Yates, the City of Shepherd Police Department, and the Montgomery County Pct. 4 Constable’s Office who provided a K-9 tracking Unit.
It seemed like a good idea at the time
The suspect, later identified as 29-year-old Kenneth Lloyd Adams, seemed to vanish.
According to San Jacinto County District Attorney Bill Barnett, Adams shed his clothing, presumably to prevent a dog from tracking his scent. And, in fact, the K-9 was unsuccessful in locating the suspect.
However, Adams may have helped law enforcement more than himself when he disrobed. Barnett smirked on Thursday, as he explained that Adams left his wallet inside his clothing when he fled. One of his shoes matched a footprint left in a chair inside the First State Bank, Barnett said.
But wait! There’s more!
“We also recovered his shirt, his pants, and his wallet with his ID in it, and his parole officer’s business card,” Barnett said. “What makes it even more interesting is just prior to robbing First State Bank, (Adams) entered People’s State Bank, met with the bank manager and introduced himself while casing that bank.”
Investigators said Adams also gave his real name to the bank manager. Because of his odd behavior, a teller took down the license plate of what became the “getaway car.”
Adams allegedly left that bank and traveled about 300 yards to First State Bank, which he is accused of robbing.
The San Jacinto County District Attorney’s Office and the Shepherd Police Department obtained information about Adams’ possible whereabouts and passed it along to the Harris County Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force last Thursday. By Friday morning, Burnett said the Task Force had located and arrested Adams.
Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia said the arrest was thanks to the good work of the San Jacinto County DA’s Office, the Texas Rangers, Shepherd Police Department and the Task Force.
Adams has a lengthy criminal record including charges for possession of a controlled substance, marijuana possession, evading arrest or detention in a vehicle and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Sage advice
Through the media, Barnett had some advice for Adams.
“I believe he probably needs to take a different career path,” he said. “I don’t think he’s going to make a very good bank robber.”
