Deputies Nab Two Following Day-Long Manhunt in Freyburg

Fayette County Sheriff’s Office apprehended two suspects on Monday following a crime spree involving two stolen vehicles and home burglary.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, the incident began around 8:10 a.m. with a 911 call reporting property damage on Gebert Rd. in the Freyburg area. The caller reported that an unknown vehicle backed into a tree upon leaving the property. Deputy Terry Guentert was on the way to the location when a second call reported a suspicious vehicle on Salem Freyburg Rd. Guentert located the suspicious vehicle, a Ford Fusion, which was unoccupied.

At that time Guentert saw a man in dark clothing running in a pasture. A citizen reported another man hiding in tall grass. Guentert approached the man in the grass and detained him.

Then another call came into the Sheriff’s Office reporting stolen white van that was taken from Kenmar Services in Schulenburg. It matched the description of the vehicle that caused the property damage in Freyburg that morning. Drug Interdiction Investigator David Smith located the stolen white van on Salem Freyburg Rd.

Deputies went back to the location of the property damage on Gebert Rd. and learned that a burglary took place at the home. The resident reported multiple guns missing from the house.

By this time, multiple agencies were assisting the Sheriff’s Office with the case, including Texas Department of Public Safety, Flatonia Police Department, Schulenburg Police Department, and Fayette County Emergency Medical Services. The second suspect was still at-large.

The Sheriff’s Office sent out a reverse 911 call to residents within a four-mile radius of the spot where the second suspect was seen running. The Sheriff’s Office also used an aerial drone to assist with the search. Deputies and officers from the responding agencies patrolled the area throughout the day.

Later in the afternoon, a resident called the Sheriff’s office to report a suspicious person walking on Salem Freyburg Rd. Investigator Smith arrived and approached a man wearing dark clothing who was riding a bicycle, which was later reported stolen. The man got off the bicycle. He fled into the woods and Smith followed him. Sgt. Randy Thumann and his K-9 partner Kolt, along with Sgt. Mark Zimmerman, responded to Smith’s location. They assisted with taking the man into custody.

The two men arrested on Monday were 39-year-old Roberto Luna and 31-year-old Cody Powell, both of Hallettsville. Luna was charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Powell was charged with evading arrest and possession of stolen property. Charges are pending on both suspects for burglary of a habitation.

Deputies recovered the weapons the next day in a field where the suspects were hiding. The Sheriff’s Office wished to thank all of the agencies that assisted as well as the community for staying vigilant.