The Montgomery County Fire Marshal’s Office can’t say they didn’t earn their pay Wednesday. After investigating a Woodlands area fire, a Splendora and Grangerland Area fire. In addition to the overnight commercial fire at Haliburton and then solving a New Caney arson case Assistant Fire Marshal Jeff Fox assisted in the arrest of a Walmart robbery suspect.
Just after 8:00p.m. Wednesday night Precinct 4 Corporal Looza was dispatched to a theft call at the Porter Walmart at FM 1314 and US59. Dispatchers advised a 33-year-old white male was spotted in the store by loss prevention officers attempting to leave the store without paying for merchandise. As the loss prevention manager attempted to stop him the suspect pushed him into the shift manager. The store manager was then shoved into the wall by the suspect as he broke through the front doors.
The suspect then ran out of the store toward Popeye’s Chicken and then behind Tractor Supply on the southeast corner of FM 1314 and US 59.
It was at this point Montgomery County Assistant Fire Marshal Jeff Fox, who heard the call dispatch confronted the suspect in the field and ordered him to stop.
The suspect continued to flee on foot. Now with Fox, Trooper Martin and Detuty Looza continued to chase him. Trooper Martin was finally able to catch up with him and after a brief struggle subdue the suspect.
They recovered the duffle bag stolen with a value of seventeen dollars and returned to the store for the suspect to be positively identified.
Due to the violence that took place during the theft, robbery charges were accepted by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. A bond was set at $30,000.
The suspect identified as Shawn Christopher Westin, age 33 of 247 E. Corporate Drive in Lewisville, Texas was then transported to the Montgomery County Jail by Corporal Looza.
