Denton police have asked for help from a composite artist in identifying a man who allegedly broke into a wrecker yard office and threatened a tow truck driver with a screwdriver.
Police Investigator Keith Smith said Tuesday that the aggravated robbery occurred Jan. 5. The tow truck driver was dropping off a vehicle at an impound yard in the 8500 block of West University Drive at about 3:40 a.m. He saw a man inside the office and confronted him.
The man had been rummaging through an area that contained keys for impounded cars, according to a police report.
The driver said the man ran across University Drive and into a mobile home community off Cottonwood Lane, Smith said.
"He felt that the suspect lived in or had an association with the community since it seemed to him that the suspect appeared to be confident in the direction he was running," the detective said.
The driver described the suspect as a white man between 25 and 32 years old, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 180 to 190 pounds. His eyebrows are on a prominent ridge above sunken eyes, and he has dark hair and was unshaven.
The victim described the suspect as having "a meth mouth with decayed, discolored or missing teeth, with an angled scar in the middle of his upper lip." He was wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt or sweater and jeans.
Smith said he asked the sheriff's office for help with the composite drawing, which was made by sheriff's employee Leslie Willingham. Smith said he believes the drawing may prompt someone to recognize the suspect.
Anyone with information can call Smith at 940-349-7912 or e-mail him at keith.smith@cityofdenton.com .
People can contact Denton County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-388-TIPS. Callers to this number will remain anonymous, and rewards of up to $1,000 are paid for information leading to an arrest.
DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .
