Tyler

By KENNETH DEAN
Staff Writer

Those in law enforcement hear all kinds of stories and excuses and sometimes they even get the truth.

Smith County Precinct 4 Constable John Smith said he had such a run-in with an unidentified man Thursday when he went to make a parole violation arrest.

Smith said he was patrolling the Red Springs area near Possum Hollow Road and Farm–to-Market Road 16 when he saw a woman he had arrested just months ago for parole violation.

Smith said the woman was in an area known by law enforcement as a drug selling area so he decided to run her name to see if she was wanted again.

“I went back to the office and ran her name and learned she was wanted for another parole violation because she has never checked with her parole officer after she was let out the last time. She didn’t even know who her parole officer is this time,” he said.

Smith said he asked Joe King, one of his deputies, to ride with him to the house where he saw the woman identified as 32-year-old Carol White.

“We pulled up to the house and Joey went around back where he saw a man running. I walked around and the guy was jumping over a fence. I yelled at him, ‘Hey stupid. I’m not here for you’ and he turned around and came back,” he said.

Smith said the man then walked up to him and apologized for running.

“He told me he was sorry and said, ‘Old habits are hard to break,’” he said.

Smith said while the man was running another man attempted to leave the driveway in his vehicle but was also stopped. Neither man was arrested.

Smith said he and King made their way into the home where they found Ms. White in a closet hiding.

“We took her into custody and transported her to jail on the parole warrant,” he said.