CONROE- Numerous law enforcement agencies spent Wednesday afternoon engaged in an intensive manhunt in the area of FM 3083 and SH 105 East, but the fugitive managed to escape.
Benjamin “Benny” Burton, 26, of Conroe has three active warrants for first-degree felony delivery of a controlled substance, according to Lt. Philip Cash, a supervising officer of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit. Some of Burton’s associates have been arrested, but he has successfully eluded capture.
Cash said family members told investigators Burton left the state, but afterward, he was seen still in the Conroe area.
The SIU was conducting surveillance around 3:30 p.m., when a detective saw someone he believed to be Burton in a vehicle with another man, and approached the pair. The passenger complied with the detective’s instructions, Cash said but Burton fled into the woods. His passenger initially insisted to police that the fleeing man was not Burton. The passenger was later charged with making a false report to a police officer, Cash said.
The SIU called for assistance with a perimeter, which was answered by the Pct. 2 Constable’s Office, Conroe Police Department, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office District 1.
MCSO SWAT, led by Captain Bruce Zenor, also responded. Zenor said his men were tracking Burton, but they lost the trail. The US Drug Enforcement Administration and Texas Department of Public Safety joined the search by air, as well. Eventually, as darkness fell, the search was called off.
Police records show Burton has a laundry list of prior offenses including DWI, escape from custody, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, false drug test, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance, and criminal trespass.
On the social networking website, MySpace.com, Benjamin Burton’s alias is “Benny Boosta.” He lists his himself as a 2000 Conroe High School graduate and writes that his mother is his “hero.” Burton has also posted a quote on the page that states, “The path to hell is paved with good intentions.”
While it is clear Burton’s intentions on Wednesday were to evade arrest, the path he took remains unknown to police.
Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at (936) 760-5871.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can contact Montgomery County Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-392-(STOP)7867. Tips may be submitted online by visiting www.montgomerycountycrimestoppers.org.
