May 28

Lt. Mike Chilson took a report of a hit-and-run in the Brookshire’s parking lot. The reporting party said he returned to his vehicle to find damage to the left front corner bumper and headlight area. He also reported that the store could find no camera footage of the incident. A report was completed for documentation purposes and the case was closed.

Officer Jim Rapp took a report of a drug transaction which had occurred at UT Health hospital. According to reports, a patient had an employee of the hospital deliver an envelope to a “friend” of his in the parking lot. The employee did as asked and was handed a second envelope to deliver to the patient. Suspicious of the circumstances, supervisors were notified and Quitman PD was contacted. Upon opening the envelope, it was found to contain 1.6 grams of a substance which tested positive for methamphetamine. The identity of the man from which the drugs were obtained is unknown. The narcotics were seized and an incident report was completed.

Officer Rapp took a report of lost property. The reporting party stated he had dropped his wallet outside the door of a local convenience store. Another man picked up the wallet and left with it. A description of the suspect was given but he was not located. The wallet reportedly contained a small amount of cash, a driver’s license and a bank card. 

Officer Corbin Hanner was contacted by a Kentucky woman who was seeking help removing herself from an abusive relationship. According to the woman, she was flown to Texas by a man she met online. The woman advised he had damaged her cell phone and would not allow her to leave his residence. The man, an employee of a local restaurant, had told the woman to stay in his car while he worked his shift, but she instead fled. Hanner arranged for the woman to have safe shelter for the night and contacted authorities in the county which the man lived and in which the offenses had occurred. 

May 29

Officer Rapp took a burglary report from the owner of the Paw Spa on E. Bermuda St. The owner reportedly found the back door to the business unlocked and a large sum of money missing from the register. Money from a tip jar, as well as a pistol, was not taken. There were no signs of forced entry. Information was recorded regarding a possible suspect. This case remains under investigation. 

Officer Rapp took a report of suspicious circumstances from a resident of Richards St. The woman stated someone had apparently attempted to steal the battery from her vehicle. In addition, the hydraulic arm, which holds the hood open, was stolen. An incident report was completed for documentation purposes.

June 4

Officer Rapp was dispatched to Red Bud Lane and Scott St. for a downed power pole. Rapp arrived to find a tractor trailer entangled in some low hanging lines. The truck’s driver advised he had just finished delivering to a restaurant and was following the same route he had followed many times without trouble. Wood County Electric arrived on scene and began working to clear the lines from the truck and the roadway. The driver had no injuries and no damage to the truck was noted.

June 6

Officer Hanner initiated a traffic stop after witnessing a vehicle with no license plate lights. Hanner noted the smell of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and asked the driver if there was marijuana inside. The man stated that there was. A small plastic dish was located which contained a small amount of suspected marijuana. A baby formula container was located which contained a larger amount of suspected marijuana. Triston Deon Williams, 30, of Quitman was arrested and transported to jail. He is charged with possession of marijuana, less than two ounces.

Lt. Chilson responded to a report of a possible drunk driver in the area of Brookshire’s grocery store. Chilson located the car in question and followed it while observing several signs that the driver was impaired. After making contact with the driver, sobriety tests were performed. Avery Eugene Hartness, 61, of Quitman was arrested and transported to jail. He is charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense.

June 7

Officer Linda Williams was dispatched to a residence on Morris Ave. A man reported he and his wife had been arguing and she had taken a hatchet and busted out the taillight of his vehicle. The man had since left walking, carrying three bags. The man also advised he believes the woman has mental issues. Officers were unable to locate the woman. CPS was notified due to the fact that there was a young child in the home at the time of the disturbance.