FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Feb. 16, 2016
CONTACT: Laramie Adams
CELL: 512-922-7328
Sulphur Springs, Texas – Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Toney Hurley, Sulphur Springs Police Det. Bo Fox, Lt. Rusty Stillwagoner and Seagoville Police Department authorities arrested two more suspects on Thursday who are connected to the theft of All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) from Nortex Tractor in Sulphur Springs, Texas.
The two arrests occurred after seven other suspects were arrested in January 2016 for being involved in the theft ring responsible for ATV thefts in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.
According to Hurley, the two suspects, Christopher Brandon Garcia, 32, of Balch Springs, Texas and Dustin Kyle Garcia, 33, of Mesquite, Texas, were arrested on Thursday at the Seagoville Inn in Seagoville, Texas. Hurley said the two men are brothers, and they were located after authorities received a tip from an informant who called the Lake County Crime Stoppers.
Both suspects were charged with organized criminal activity. They were taken to the Hopkins County Jail in Sulphur Springs where they both had bonds set at $400,000 with the condition of ankle monitors.
This is an ongoing investigation and additional arrests are expected in this case. Authorities are continually receiving information from multiple jurisdictions on related criminal activities as far as eastern Tennessee.
TSCRA would like to thank the following law enforcement agencies for their continued hard work and diligence during this investigation: Hopkins County TX Sheriff’s Office, Kaufman County TX Sheriff’s Office, Forney TX Police Dept., Dallas TX Police Dept., Seagoville TX Police Dept., Mesquite TX Police Dept., River Oaks TX Police Dept., Lindale TX Police Dept., Longview TX Police Dept., Athens TX Police Dept., Maybank TX Police Dept., Texas Dept. of Public Safety (DPS) – Criminal Investigations Dept., TxDPS Texas Rangers, Tuttle OK Police Dept., Bryan County OK Sheriff’s Office, Muskogee OK Police Dept., Bossier Parish LA Police Dept., Bossier City LA Police Dept., Rapides Parish LA Sheriff’s Office and Vernon Parish LA Sheriff’s Office.
“We are continuing to work hand-in-hand with law enforcement authorities on this investigation and are glad to have two more thieves arrested,” said Hurley. “This theft ring primarily targeted dealerships – not individuals. However, this serves as an important reminder for everyone to lock-up equipment and report suspicious activity to local law authorities.”
To view a photo of the suspects click HERE. To read the previous release on the first seven suspects arrested in the ATV theft ring, click HERE.
###
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 139-year-old trade association and is the largest and oldest livestock organization based in Texas. TSCRA has more than 17,000 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.