SHEPHERD — Three people were arrested Thursday following a theft investigation by the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office.
The three suspects — Steven Hart, 33; Jamal Tyler, 36; and Jeffrey Tyler, 30, all of Houston — were taken into custody in connection with a theft at the TA Travel Center on U.S. Highway 59 in Shepherd.
Reports indicate night shift patrol deputies were called to the truck stop as there was theft in progress. Before deputies arrived, however, the suspects fled the location in a Ram pickup truck. Through their investigation, responding deputies were able to obtain the vehicle’s license plate information and immediately relayed it to surrounding agencies, including the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, after learning the vehicle had fled southbound on Highway 59.
A short time later, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Montgomery County Precinct 4 Constables located the suspect vehicle near Highway 59 and the Grand Parkway (SH 99) and detained all three occupants.
San Jacinto County deputies arrived at the location and recovered approximately $17,000 worth of stolen property.
Hart and Jamal Tyler were charged with felony theft and engaging in organized criminal activity. Jeffrey Tyler was charged with felony theft, engaging in organized criminal activity, and prohibited substance inside a correctional facility. All three were transported and booked into the San Jacinto County Jail without incident.
The case has been referred to the Auto Theft Task Force for further investigation and the possibility of additional charges. Anyone with information related to this case or other criminal activity involving these individuals can call San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office detectives at (936) 653-4367 ext. 8.
Information also may be submitted anonymously through Multi-County Crime Stoppers at (800) 392-7867, through the P3 Tips app, or through the Multi-County Crime Stoppers website at multicountycrimestoppers.org. Anonymous tips may be eligible for a cash reward.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
