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Rockwall man jailed for joke gone wrong

myssnews.com

In a strange footnote to the Hopkins County jailbreak story, a Rockwall man has been jailed for fabricating evidence related to the chase.

The Sulphur Springs News-Telegram reports that Darrell Don Green, 39, of Rockwall, turned himself in to Hopkins County officials on Tuesday after finding his picture on the Internet and learning he was a wanted man.

Tuesday morning, Hopkins County investigator Daniel Winn was asking for help in identifying and locating Green. The News-Telegram's website, myssnews.com, posted information about the search.

“According to the suspect, [myssnews.com] was what keyed one of his friends that knew who he was and immediately called him and called me,” Winn told the News-Telegram on Wednesday. “Of course, he made contact with us. He voluntarily came in and chose to speak with us.”

Green was sought in connection with a provocative note that was left at a Sulphur Springs convenience store - the Easy Mart on Helm Lane - during last week's manhunt for two escapees from the Hopkins County jail.

“We didn't know if [the note] was real or if it was a hoax,” Winn told the News-Telegram.

Brian Allen Tucker, a 45-year-old capital murder suspect from Sulphur Springs, and John Marlin King, a 40-year-old from Cumby convicted of burglary, escaped from the Hopkins County jail on April 2 and were captured April 4.

Green was just passing through Sulphur Springs last week when he wrote the note, Winn said.

“At the Easy Mart on Helm Lane, [Green] took one of the credit card applications that sits by the gas pumps," Winn said. "He wrote a note regarding where Brian Tucker could be heading and indicated a form of duress that could, possibly, be from a kidnapping situation. He said 'Help me please.' ”

Winn said authorities did not release information about the note until after escapees Brian Tucker and John King were back in custody.

The investigator said Green lives in Rockwall and commutes to work in Mount Pleasant every day.

“Apparently, he was just driving though and heard the clerks talking about [the jailbreak] and decided to write this note,” Winn said. “Of course, there is no other indication that he was involved with Mr. Tucker or Mr. King, and there was no indication there was any kind of duress. We believe it was just a bad decision on his part and that it was an absolute hoax."

A number of hours were expended in trying to determine whether the plea for help was legitimate, Winn said.

Green was arraigned on third-degree felony charges of fabricating physical evidence and had bond set at $10,000 and was being held in Hopkins County Jail.

Mark Haslett has served at KETR since 2013. Since then, the station's news operation has enjoyed an increase in listener engagement and audience metrics, as well recognition in the Texas AP Broadcasters awards.
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