FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 16, 2014
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
CELL: 512-922-7328
Wheeler, Texas. – An Oklahoma man was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 10 and charged with theft of livestock after turning himself in to authorities in Wheeler County, Texas. Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) Special Ranger Ben Eggleston led the investigation.
According to Eggleston, the suspect, Rusty Shane Munsell, 43, of Woodward, Okla., purchased four horses with a check from a closed account. Three of the four horses were recovered by Eggleston and returned to the rightful owners. Munsell is being held in custody on a $50,000 bond in Wheeler County.
Eggleston said Munsell is also out on bond from a case out of Hemphill County, Texas that was investigated earlier this year. According to Eggleston, Munsell had purchased 10 showpigs on a closed account and sold the pigs to kids for their livestock shows.
TSCRA would like to thank Special Ranger Eggleston, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Special Agent Paul Cornett, Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ronnie Moore and Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office Deputy John Hankins for their work on these cases.
“This is a good example of local law enforcement and TSCRA working hand-in-hand to protect ranchers in Texas and Oklahoma,” said Eggleston.
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TSCRA has 30 special rangers stationed strategically throughout Texas and Oklahoma who have in-depth knowledge of the cattle industry and are trained in all facets of law enforcement. All are commissioned as Special Rangers by the Texas Department of Public Safety and/or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.
TSCRA is a 137-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 16,000 beef cattle operations, ranching families and businesses as members. These members represent approximately 50,000 individuals directly involved in ranching and beef production who manage 4 million head of cattle on 76 million acres of range and pasture land primarily in Texas and Oklahoma, but throughout the Southwest.