Jasper County Sheriff Mitchel Newman said Tuesday that the search was still continuing for a Bon Wier man, who escaped from one of his deputies on Monday morning on the southeast side of Jasper.

Newman said an investigation into a recent burglary at the Jasper County Precinct 4 Road and Bridge Maintenance Barn in Buna resulted in the identification of a suspect in connection with the crime and a warrant for the arrest of 51 year old Marcell Thomas. However, the series of events apparently begin when officers located and arrested Thomas on Monday morning on the west side of Kirbyville. Thomas reportedly resisted arrest and a struggle ensued as he was placed in a patrol car to be transported to the Jasper County Jail.

A short time later as a deputy was taking Thomas to jail, he jumped out of the patrol car as it headed west on Highway 190 and was about to turn north on Houston Street in front of the Valero Fuel Stop. Officers from both the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department and Jasper Police Department converged on the area, where Thomas was last seen but, were never able to find any trace of the man who has been described as a black male of short, thin build, standing approximately 5ft, 5 inches and weighing 160 pounds, who was last wearing a bluish green, turquoise jacket.

Ironically, Newman said Thomas had only been out of jail at the time of his arrest and that prior to that he served as a trustee at the Road and Bridge Barn where is now accused of burglary.

Newman is asking anyone knowing of the whereabouts of Thomas to call the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department.

Written by Steve Stewart