Suspect Arrested for Theft

TYLER � Thanks to what�s termed quick collaboration between The Smith County Sheriff�s Office Criminal Investigation and Patrol Divisions, a suspect is in custody related to the theft of truck parts, forklift accessories, and other metal items. The materials, said to be worth several hundred dollars, were taken on April 27. Craig Andrew Hawkins, 30, was arrested on May 8 and charged with the theft at Transport Services, located at 2887 Highway 271.

Detective Ron Rathbun investigated the theft on April 29 and obtained surveillance video from the location. The video captured two unknown white males and a vehicle. Photos of the vehicle were distributed to the SCSO Patrol Division. During the early morning hours of May 3, the vehicle was located at a mobile home park on Highway 64 West by Deputy Justin Redding. Redding contacted Detective Rathbun, who, with another detective from the Sheriff�s Office, later made contact and spoke to the vehicle owner, Hawkins, a former employee of Transport Services. According to officials, Hawkins admitted that he was one of the individuals who took the items and sold them for scrap. He was arrested and booked in to the Smith County Jail. An arrest warrant is pending for the other suspect.