Damaged Fence Line, Alert Citizen Help Officers Make Key Arrest
By: Officer George Spindler, APD
Updated: March 30, 2012
Thanks to an observant citizen notifying police of a suspect vehicle that had rammed a fence during the early morning hours, APD officers were able to make a significant arrest. The notification by the citizen was critical in identifying a suspect that had shown the potential to conduct multiple crimes in our community. This release provides follow-up information concerning an incident that was preceded by other criminal acts on the morning of Feb. 27, 2012.
The Abilene Police Department arrested Shane Gregory Blair on Feb. 27 after being alerted by a concerned citizen that a fence line at a business in the 1200 block of North Clack Street had been damaged by a vehicle. The incident quickly escalated into a theft in-progress as police converged at the incident location. Officer James Davis observed a large portion of fence line damaged upon his arrival. Officer Adam Richardson saw the suspect and the suspect vehicle, driven by Mr. Blair, flee from the location while pulling a trailer and crashing through the gate of the business. Both officers verbally identified themselves to the fleeing suspect and commanded him to stop. Officer Davis began running after the vehicle and caught up to it as the vehicle came to a stop. Officer Richardson arrived quickly to assist. Mr. Blair was removed from the vehicle and then began to resist arrest, resulting in a violent struggle that eventually required three officers to fully subdue the man.
The investigation revealed that the trailer being pulled by Mr. Blair was property belonging to a construction company and was valued at $41,000. The initial assessment of fence damage was estimated at approximately $5,000.00.Out of an abundance of caution, on-scene patrol supervision requested that medical personnel examine Mr. Blair because of his abnormal behavior. Mr. Blair was released into the care of medical personnel and was subsequently transported to Hendrick Medical Center (HMC).
Later that morning, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division, Crimes Against Property Unit, went to HMC to contact Mr. Blair. During their investigation, Mr. Blair got out of his bed and pushed a nurse and began running towards the emergency room exit. The detectives gave chase and attempted to arrest Mr. Blair, but he resisted and also struck one of the detectives in the face. Mr. Blair continued to resist but was subdued and arrested. He was charged with 3rd-degree felony Theft, 3rd-degree felony Assault of a Public Servant, and he was cited for Assault.
Mr. Blair is also being investigated for other related felony offenses that occurred on Feb. 27. Additional cases may be referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration of charges.
The Abilene Police Department arrested Shane Gregory Blair on Feb. 27 after being alerted by a concerned citizen that a fence line at a business in the 1200 block of North Clack Street had been damaged by a vehicle. The incident quickly escalated into a theft in-progress as police converged at the incident location. Officer James Davis observed a large portion of fence line damaged upon his arrival. Officer Adam Richardson saw the suspect and the suspect vehicle, driven by Mr. Blair, flee from the location while pulling a trailer and crashing through the gate of the business. Both officers verbally identified themselves to the fleeing suspect and commanded him to stop. Officer Davis began running after the vehicle and caught up to it as the vehicle came to a stop. Officer Richardson arrived quickly to assist. Mr. Blair was removed from the vehicle and then began to resist arrest, resulting in a violent struggle that eventually required three officers to fully subdue the man.
The investigation revealed that the trailer being pulled by Mr. Blair was property belonging to a construction company and was valued at $41,000. The initial assessment of fence damage was estimated at approximately $5,000.00.Out of an abundance of caution, on-scene patrol supervision requested that medical personnel examine Mr. Blair because of his abnormal behavior. Mr. Blair was released into the care of medical personnel and was subsequently transported to Hendrick Medical Center (HMC).
Later that morning, detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division, Crimes Against Property Unit, went to HMC to contact Mr. Blair. During their investigation, Mr. Blair got out of his bed and pushed a nurse and began running towards the emergency room exit. The detectives gave chase and attempted to arrest Mr. Blair, but he resisted and also struck one of the detectives in the face. Mr. Blair continued to resist but was subdued and arrested. He was charged with 3rd-degree felony Theft, 3rd-degree felony Assault of a Public Servant, and he was cited for Assault.
Mr. Blair is also being investigated for other related felony offenses that occurred on Feb. 27. Additional cases may be referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration of charges.
