An extensive manhunt this morning caused a lockdown at Cooper ISD campuses as Delta County Sheriff’s officers and several other local law enforcement agencies searched for suspects fleeing from a burglary scene west of Cooper.
According to DCSO reports, at 4:26 a.m. Delta County Sheriff’s Deputy Zach Steward observed what he believed to be a burglary in progress on County Road 2010. The suspected vehicle fled down what eventually turned into a muddy dirt county road. Officers sealed the area until Game Warden Chris Fried arrived with his four wheel drive vehicle.
Game Warden Fried and Deputy Colton Spinks proceeded around County Road 2010 and discovered the suspect vehicle stuck in the mud approximately two miles away, abandoned and fled the scene on foot. The Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter and Texas Department of Corrections K9 unit were requested to assist in the manhunt.
At 10:05 a.m. Jacob Earl Donahue of Caddo Mills, Texas and April Ann Morris of Cooper, Texas were discovered hiding in an abandoned well on the Wildlife Management Area approximately one hundred yards from their vehicle. Both were taken into custody and are currently charged with felony burglary of a habitation and evading arrest. Additionally a substantial amount of methamphetamines was discovered in a backpack that had been discarded near the vehicle. Charges of felony possession of a controlled substance or (because of the packaging) Felony Manufacturer and Delivery of a Controlled Substance are pending.
“We have experienced several recent burglaries in Delta County. We are conducting an ongoing follow-up in an effort to determine if these suspects are connected to our other burglaries,” said Delta County Sheriff Ricky Smith. “I am also extremely proud of several officers from the Delta County Sheriff’s office and other local law enforcement agencies. All responded rapidly contained the area, and with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter and Texas Department of Corrections (TDC) K9 unit we were able to very quickly capture these fleeing felons. The arrests were made approximately ten minutes after arrival on scene of the TDC K9 unit.”
Cooper ISD Superintendent Denicia Hohenberger said the campuses were kept on alert until 10:15 a.m. when the DCSO updated on the status of the situation.
"We did the lockdown as a precaution to keep everyone safe," said CISD Superintendent Denicia Hohenberger. "Everything remained quiet. We are thankful for all the officers' rapid response."