TYLER COUNTY – A wanted fugitive whom the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office was seeking the public’s help to catch was arrested last week, according to Sheriff Bryan Weatherford.
Phillip Lawayne Winkle, a 56-year-old Spurger man was arrested on Wednesday, June 3, after deputies with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office received a tip indicting that he was staying at a residence located between Spurger and Fred. The tip came in through the Crime Stoppers network, and now, according to Weatherford, that tipster is eligible for a cash reward.
Winkle was wanted for three charges: possession of a controlled substance (motion to adjudicate); failure to register (motion to adjudicate) and failure to comply with registration requirements (motion to adjudicate).
Winkle is reported as having absconded, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) database. He was convicted in 1996 for sexual assault of a child.
He is currently in custody at the Tyler County Jail on those charges.
