On Thursday, December 23, 2021, around 11:09 p.m. the Cleveland Police Department dispatch received a call in reference to an armed robbery that just occurred at 1004 S. Washington Ave. at the “Motel 6”.
Officers while en route to the location spotted a vehicle in the area driving without any rear lights activated. Officers pursued the vehicle as he sped up traveling on U.S. Hwy. 59 southbound. The vehicle reached speeds in excess of 100 m.p.h. failing to yield for officers. Officers said, the vehicle suddenly came to a stop at U.S. Hwy. 59 and the Fostoria Road exit. The driver was immediately taken into custody, and the lone front seat passenger jumped from the vehicle and fled on foot eluding officers. The vehicle was later determined to be stolen. The driver was identified as Xavier Anthony Wilson, age 20, of Houston, Tx. . Wilson was charged with: Aggravated Robbery, Evading Arrest and or Detention with a Vehicle, and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
On Thursday, February 10, 2022 U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Del Rio, Tx. contacted Cleveland Police Department advising they had detained a person who showed to be wanted by the Cleveland Police Department for a felony warrant for “Aggravated Robbery”. The detained individual was identified as Moses Ponga Kpanabom III, age 17, of Houston, Tx.. Kpanabom has been positively identified as the passenger who fled from the stolen vehicle the night of the robbery. Kpanabom III was arrested by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and taken to the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Jail. Chief Broussard realized that the Val Verde S.O. Co. Jail was (6) hours away but without hesitation “advised agents we would travel to Del Rio to apprehend and transport this wanted fugitive back to Cleveland, Liberty County, Tx.”. On Friday, February 11, 2022, CPD officers extradited Kpanabom back to the City of Cleveland Jail where he was held. Kpanabom was taken before Municipal Judge Ralph Fuller and officially charged and his bail was set at $100,000. Kpanabom also showed to have an outstanding felony warrant out of Harris County for “Aggravated Robbery” with a bail of $75,000. Kpanabom was later transported to the Liberty County Jail on all charges and being held for Harris County.
Chief Broussard stated, “there needs to be closure for the female victim who was pistol-whipped, her hair pulled and a firearm held to her head during the robbery”. The Chief was told, “this incident crushed the 63-year-old victim’s Christmas Holiday spirit”, but Broussard replied, “the Cleveland Police Department will do all we can to work with prosecutors to see that justice prevails.”
Chief Broussard would like to thank all involved in this investigation. Our praise go out to our staff Cleveland P.D’s own: Dispatchers, Patrol Officers, Command Staff, and Detectives who all responded so promptly.
We also want to say thanks to Liberty County S.O., Montgomery County S.O., Montgomery Co. Pct. #4 Constables Office, DPS Air support, Roman Forest P.D., U.S. Custom, and Border Protection, Val Verde County S.O., and others who assisted.
