Weatherford Democrat

Front Page

March 7, 2013

Alleged abductor, victim found at I-20 rest stop

By CHRIS AGEE | Lone Star News Group



Personnel from the Department of Public Safety and Palo Pinto County Sheriff’s Office teamed up early Wednesday morning to arrest an aggravated kidnapping suspect.

DPS Trooper Gary Rozzell said Denton police Tuesday issued an attempt to locate an individual in connection to a welfare concern.

He said authorities were requesting help locating Michael James Crawford, 33, of Artesia, N.M., and his white GMC pickup truck.

According to Sheriff Ira Mercer, Crawford was wanted in connection with the reported kidnapping of his wife, who was a passenger in the truck.

Later Tuesday evening, Rozzell said authorities heard from the suspected victim’s mother, who informed them her daughter and Crawford were still in Texas and were stopped at a roadside park on Interstate 20.

“They didn’t know just where,” he said, “and then troopers, around 1:50 a.m. [Wednesday], located the pickup.”

He said officers from his agency and the PPCSO arrived at the rest area, near the Parker-Palo Pinto County line, a short time later.

“By that time, a warrant had been issued by Denton County for aggravated kidnapping,” he said.

According to Rozzell, Crawford was arrested at the scene without incident.

The suspect’s wife, whose name was not provided by local authorities, was in the vehicle and was safely removed from the situation.

While Crawford was booked into the Palo Pinto County Jail, based on the warrant, his truck was hauled to an adjacent impound lot awaiting processing from Denton County authorities.

Mercer added officers also found a handgun and a small amount of a suspected controlled substance, thought to be methamphetamine, in the truck.

According to county records, Crawford remained in the custody of PPSCO deputies as of Wednesday afternoon. Bond was set at $10,000 for one count of manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance under 1 gram and bond had not been set late Wednesday afternoon on the count of kidnapping contained in the Denton County warrant.

Text Only
Front Page
  • 0519 loc texas opry granbury.jpg Granbury LIVE band and cast reunion Saturday at Texas Opry

    For all the residents of Weatherford and Parker County, Granbury and Hood County, and all other cities and counties surrounding the city of Granbury and beyond who attended the Granbury LIVE Theater that was located on the square in Granbury for nearly 10 years.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo 1 Link

  • 0517 one millsap twister.jpg Do outdoor sirens work?

    With no outdoor warning system, Wednesday night’s tornadoes has Weatherford city officials looking into the best way of informing residents about severe weather.

    May 17, 2013 3 Photos 3 Stories 1 Link

  • DSC_0119.jpg Cresson-area residents pick up pieces after storm

    CRESSON – Alexia Hartley had a funny feeling when it became calm outside and the skies turned green Wednesday evening.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo 2 Stories

  • 0516 one doss exhibit.jpg Doss art exhibit opens today

    A new photography exhibit at the Doss Heritage and Culture Center captures the beauty and intensity of the West throughout the years.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo 1 Link

  • 0519 loc crime of week.jpg CRIME STOPPERS: Reward offered for info on election vandalism

    On May 11, Weatherford Police Department officers responded to the Parker County Courthouse Annex at 1112 Santa Fe Drive and the 1100 block of South Main Street in reference to graffiti.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • 0515 one Wade, Billy Clay.jpg Two sentences stacked on career criminal

    A Parker County jury handed a life sentence Wednesday evening to a man who pleaded guilty to stealing copper from an East Parker County church two years ago.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Planned veterans memorial going to Soldier Spring Park

    Approval to move a proposed Parker County Veterans Memorial was granted Tuesday by Weatherford City Council.

    May 17, 2013

  • DSCN0138.jpg Scout’s project for the birds

    Girl Scouts has been a part of Tara Tiller’s life since the age of 4.

    May 16, 2013 1 Photo 1 Link

  • VIDEO: Millsap tornado

     

    Here is video that a storm chaser with TornadoSMedia posted to You Tube of the tornado that hit the Millsap area Wednesday evening.

    May 16, 2013

  • IMG_5275.jpg Weather with a twist

    Mother Nature delivered a powerful punch Wednesday evening through a complex of super cell storms that produced tornadoes, large hail and wreaked havoc across North Texas.

    May 16, 2013 3 Photos

Must Read
Top News
House Ads
AP Video
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel? Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Stocks
Poll

If you are a registered voter in the Weatherford ISD, and either have voted or plan to vote Saturday, are voting for or against the proposed $107.32 million bond?

For
Against
Undecided
I am a registered voter in the district, but not voting
Don't care
     View Results