August 16, 2018 - Roy Cheatwood, Shelby County Constable for Precinct 3, was recently informed of a stolen bus from Center when he was contacted by an acquaintance of the owner who expected Cheatood would have a knowledge of the area.
According to Constable Cheatwood, the missing vehicle was a yellow 1992 International School bus, had been gone for 2-3 weeks. As Constable Cheatwood, accompanied by Precinct 1 Constable Zach Warr, searched into Panola County their efforts garnered positive results.
Constables Cheatwood reports, he and Warr were on CR 414 in Panola County where they discovered a yellow school bus, resembling the missing one, on a property that had several other vehicles parked. Upon making this discovery, the constables reached out to the Panola County Sheriff's Department to assist them in their find.
Information uncovered in the investigation suggested the individuals were familiar to the Shelby County Sheriff's Department therefore they contacted Sheriff Willis Blackwell along with Investigator Del Birdwell who both traveled to the property.
It was determined the school bus at the location was the one being sought by the constables. A pickup truck on the land was also found to have been stolen out of Harris County. Both vehicles were towed from the property and a male and female were taken into custody by the Panola County Sheriff's Department.
Once arrest information is available it will be reported here.
Constable Cheatwood expressed appreciation to Constable Precinct 1 Zack Warr, Panola County Sheriff's Department and investigators, as well as Sheriff Willis Blackwell and Investigator Del Birdwell in solving the theft of these vehicles.
In another investigation earlier in August, Constable Cheatwood reports the recovery of another stolen vehicle in Joaquin.
According to Constable Cheatwood, on August 9, 2018 a Detective from Beaumont was in the area searching for the vehicle. Constables Cheatwood and Warr met with the Detective and after learning a possible name of an individual involved, a phone call was made by Cheatwood and the vehicle was located in a Joaquin junk yard.
Constable Cheatwood reports the SUV had been stripped previous to being taken to the junk yard. This investigation continues.
