An alert sheriff’s deputy kept probing early Friday when he became suspicious during a traffic stop and believed a crime had been committed.
The deputy noticed a pickup weaving as it was being driven very slowly in the 2400 block of U.S. Highway 380 at about 1:25 a.m. He followed the driver and stopped when he pulled over into a parking lot. The truck had a flat tire and two men were inside. Both appeared to be anxious, the deputy noted.
The passenger got out and ran away. The deputy tried to follow, but the man disappeared. The deputy called for other units to search for the runaway passenger.
Meanwhile, he talked to the driver, who claimed not to know the passenger. He said he was just giving the other man a ride, according to the report. He claimed the stereo equipment in the passenger floorboard and back of the truck belonged to the passenger. When the deputy found a black bag in a nearby trash can, the driver claimed that the passenger had left it there and he didn’t want it in his truck.
The bag contained drug paraphernalia, burglary tools, hand-written directions on how to cook methamphetamines and four credit cards issued in the name of a Frisco woman.
The deputy contacted Frisco police and asked that they check with the woman whose name was on the cards. The deputy learned the woman’s wallet had been stolen from her home Wednesday. She said she believed that the woman who cleans her house took the wallet.
The cleaning lady turned out to be the wife of the driver of the pickup. He was charged with tampering with evidence and identification theft.
Other reports
5700 block of Mills Road — A woman told sheriff’s deputies Thursday that while she was asleep the previous night, someone came into her home and stole a pack of cigarettes, a cellphone and a necklace. Her front door won’t lock, she said, but was secured with a safety chain.
10000 block of FM 1385 — A man reported Thursday that someone had stolen gasoline from his truck’s fuel tank the last three nights.
He said he knew that because the last three mornings he had run out of gas a short distance from his house after putting $20 worth in the tank the previous evenings.
Roundup
From 7 a.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday:
n Denton police handled 236 service and officer-initiated calls, including eight thefts, one forgery, two cases of credit card abuse, one identification theft, one unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, two vehicle burglaries, one person dead on the scene, one assault, one runaway and one threat.
n Denton County Sheriff’s dispatchers handled 763 service and officer-initiated calls for the agencies they serve. Forty-nine people were booked into county jail. Deputies took reports of three thefts, one fraud, one assault, one case of tampering with evidence and one case of fraud.
n Denton firefighters responded to 20 medical calls, three requests to assist an invalid, one false call, one smoke investigation, two requests for public service, two brush fires, one alarm and one person dead on the scene.
Argyle firefighters responded to three medical calls and one animal bite.
Aubrey firefighters responded to two medical calls and one alarm.
Krum firefighters responded to three medical calls.
Lake Cities firefighters responded to four medical calls and one traffic accident.
Ponder firefighters responded to one medical call.
Pilot Point firefighters responded to one assault, one medical call and one odor investigation.
Sanger firefighters responded to one medical call and two traffic accidents.
— Donna Fielder
Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in these or other crimes. Callers will remain anonymous. Call 1-800-388-TIPS (8477). Reach the Denton police narcotics tip line at 940-565-5801.
