For Immediate Release: Oct. 1, 2012
Contact: Carmen Fenton, 512-469-0171

Fort Worth, Texas – Two suspects were arrested for felony theft of property after allegedly stealing $5,000 worth of welding equipment and ranch tools from a rancher in Van Zandt County.

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Larry Hand worked the investigation along with Constable Mickey Henson, the Van Zandt County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies from Van Zandt and Wood counties.

David Jason Neagle, 41, of Yantis was arrested on Sept. 21. He is currently held in the Van Zandt County jail on a $30,000 bond. Donny Ray Edwards, 33, of Grand Saline, was arrested on Sept. 24. Edwards is currently in the Van Zandt County jail on a $50,000 bond. Both suspects have a history of felony convictions, and both men remain in jail as of press time.

According to Hand, ranch employees discovered the equipment was missing and notified authorities. The equipment was recovered and returned to the owner.

“TSCRA would like to thank Van Zandt County Constable Mickey Henson of Pct. 1 for his tireless efforts in this case,” said Hand. “ This was truly a cooperative effort utilizing TSCRA, Constable Henson, the Grand Saline Police, Van Zandt County Sheriff Deputies and Wood County Sheriff Deputies.”

###

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 135 year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 15,000 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.