Quitman Police Department reports from the past week included:

Jan. 27 - Officer Joe Andrade was dispatched to a structure fire on Clark Street. Andrade arrived to find smoke coming from the roof and the homeowner applying water to the home to prevent the fire from spreading. After they arrived, the fire department was able to contain the blaze within a short time. The damage was limited to only one wall of the home and no one was injured in the fire.

Jan. 24 - Officer Patrick Wilson was dispatched to a residence on Conger Street where a woman reported that her neighbor’s girlfriend had been at her house the previous day and she was now missing a bottle which had contained 57 prescription pain pills. Wilson was later dispatched to the house next door where the complainant stated he had returned home to find his girlfriend had left and had apparently taken his Hp laptop with her. According to the man, he had been in contact with the woman by text but she would only say that she had warrants and law enforcement was looking for her. Officer Wilson will have the laptop flagged as stolen as soon as the complainant is able to provided identification numbers. Officers will work to locate the girlfriend, who is a suspect in both cases.

Wilson was dispatched to True Value Hardware on E. Goode Street for a report of burglary of a coin-operated machine. A True Value employee reported that video surveillance captured a blue four door car pull into the parking lot and back up to the soft drink machine. In the video, a woman is seen exiting the car, opening the machine with a key, and putting the money into what appeared to be a bag. The investigation into this case is ongoing.

Jan. 22 - Sgt. Michael Chilson was contacted by a Hawkins woman who stated her Apple iPad mini was stolen at her place of employment in Quitman. According to the woman, she had already contacted Apple and had learned that her iPad is being used with an iCloud account other than hers. Apple would not release the information to her about which account is using the iPad but did advise her to make a report with police. Chilson recorded the iPad’s serial number so that it could be flagged as stolen. This case remains under investigation.

Jan. 21 - Chilson was dispatched to the 400 block of Sissy Spacek Dr in response to a 9-1-1 call reporting that a woman was having an unknown medical issue and was sitting in the ditch. Chilson arrived to find the woman was pale, lightheaded and nauseated. A passerby was also at the scene and was on the phone with EMS. Chilson and several good Samaritans took care of the woman until she could be turned over to EMS for transport to the hospital.

Jan. 20 - Chilson received a call from an employee of Brookshire’s who stated that an unknown white male was shoplifting in the store and had fled when confronted. Chilson obtained a description of the suspect’s car and attempted, unsuccessfully, to locate the car. Relocating to Brookshire’s, the sergeant met with the store employee who stated that the man in question frequents the store and has possibly stolen items in the past. On this occasion, the employee observed the man enter the store, walk to the makeup aisle, pick up an unknown item and walk quickly to the restroom while concealing the item. After exiting the restroom, the man left the store, but returned a short time later and attempted to return the item claiming he did not have a receipt for it. When confronted, the man quickly left the store, but the store employee was able to obtain a license plate number. A brief investigation revealed who had been driving the car. The man was contacted and asked to come in for questioning. During questioning, the man admitted stealing eye makeup and attempting to return it to obtain money for cigarettes. Dallas Ray Wright, 39, Quitman, was issued a citation for theft, less than $100. At the store personnel’s request, he was also issued a criminal trespass warning.

Jan. 19 - Officer Wilson and Captain Terry Bevill responded to True Value Hardware on east Goode Street on a areport of shoplifting. Upon arrival, Wilson and Bevill were informed that two men were shopping in the store when one of the men placed a torch in his jacket pocket. While reviewing the surveillance footage, Bevill was able to clearly observe one of the men place the torch in his pocket. Mason Alexander Luscomb, 23, Gilmer, was issued a citation for theft, less than $100. Both men were issued a criminal trespass warning banning them from coming back onto the True Value property.

Jan. 17 - Chilson was dispatched to Ironman Automotive on South Main Street for a report of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. The owner of the business stated that a customer had dropped off a 2008 White Ford F-150 a few days earlier to have transmission work done on it and when he arrived this day, the pickup was missing from his lot. During the conversation, the owner realized he had not seen the pickup on the lot the previous day either. Sgt. Chilson then spoke with the owner of the truck who stated he dropped the truck off on the 13th and left one key in the center console and took one key in to the mechanic. The pickup was left unlocked. The pickup was later recovered in Mineola. A warrant is being issued for the suspect.

Chilson took a forgery report from a Hawkins man who stated a check which had been stolen from him was forged and cashed at the Dollar General store in Quitman for over $1,000. Chilson spoke with the store’s manager and arranged to have video footage of the transaction turned over to him. After receiving the video footage, the sergeant was able to identify the woman who wrote the check at Dollar General. While attempting to locate her, Chilson observed the woman’s boyfriend walking down the street and made contact with him. The boyfriend claimed not to know where the suspect was but volunteered that she had gotten him suspended from his job at Dollar General after he cashed a check for her that turned out to be no good. Warrants were issued for both parties. Thomas L. Ison of Quitman was arrested and faces a charge of forgery of a financial instrument, elderly. Bond was set at $25,000. His girlfriend remains at large.