East Texas

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer
COPYRIGHT 2008, Tyler Morning Telegraph

The man who is the subject of a region wide manhunt after allegedly killing a Texas state trooper was once a peace officer himself.

Records with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education show the man wanted for the shooting death of trooper James Scott Burns, 39, of Linden during a high speed chase Tuesday night is a former lawman in Rusk County.

Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Jean Dark said they are seeking 37-year-old Tyler resident Brandon Wayne Robertson in connection with Burns’ death.
Burns was killed when he was shot several times while in his patrol car. The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. by the intersection of Farm-to Market roads 1969 and 729 north east of Lake 0’ The Pines near Kellyville.

DPS officials say a local citizen who attempted to provide aid to the trooper used Burns’ radio to call for help.

Troopers developed the suspect’s name after talking to an incarcerated man who once owned the car involved in the incident.

Dark said officials are seeking information to the whereabouts of Robertson and the blue 1997 Dodge Intrepid bearing Texas license plate 039-LCG that he was last seen driving.

Dark said Robertson was last known to have lived just north of Tyler in the Eagle Creek subdivision in a travel trailer.

The TCLOSE records show that Robertson worked for the Overton Police Department, the Kilgore Police Department and the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office. The record indicates he last served as a peace officer in 1999 when he left the Overton department, and shows he was a seven-year veteran officer who has been trained in police tactics.

After leaving law enforcement, Robertson turned to crime and did four years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice system for narcotics.

The Gregg County Judicial Web site shows Robertson has a criminal history including unlawful carrying of a weapon, possession and manufacture/delivery of controlled substance and theft. Robertson is considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Burns was the 83rd trooper in the agency’s history to be killed in the line of duty.
Anyone with information about Robertson is asked to contact their local law enforcement agency.

Updated Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 11:36 a.m. CDT

Brandon Wayne Robertson
(Courtesy Gregg County Sheriff)