Published: March 29, 2009 12:16 am      

Grand jury indicts man for fleeing traffic stop

PALESTINE — A 24-year-old Elkhart man who allegedly fled from an officer during the course of a traffic stop this past September has been indicted by an Anderson County grand jury.

William Lee Spafford III, 24, of Elkhart was indicted March 4 on the felony charge of evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, according to records released by the Anderson County district clerk’s office.

Shortly after 9 p.m. on Sept. 21, Anderson County sheriff’s deputy Ronnie Howell attempted to make a stop on a 2001 Mercury Sabre for failure to yield the right of way, according to Anderson County Sheriff Greg Taylor.

The vehicle’s driver, later identified as Spafford, turned on to CR 2202 — also known as Salt Works Road — and stopped in the general vicinity of the Westwood Elementary School, according to the sheriff.

As the deputy was approaching the car, Spafford accelerated from the scene, with Howell giving pursuit, according to Taylor.

Spafford drove at “unsafe speeds” at times during the ensuing pursuit of approximately eight miles until slamming on his brakes on FM 645 in the Tennessee Colony area, causing the deputy’s vehicle to strike the back of his Sabre, the sheriff stated.

The suspect then exited his vehicle and fled on foot, but was subsequently apprehended by Howell following a short foot pursuit, according to Taylor.

The sheriff said Spafford appeared “delusional” following his arrest, saying the Mexican Mafia was “after him.”

 

Other indictments recently handed down by the grand jury included:

Prohibited Item in Correctional Facility

Nathaniel Hill, 42, TDCJ’s Allred Unit, date of alleged offense, May 27, 2008.

Kayman Mitchell, 26, Dallas, date of alleged offense, June 23, 2007.

Shane Cain, 40, TDCJ’s Smith Unit, date of alleged offense, Oct. 10, 2008.

Manufacture/Delivery of Controlled Substance 4-to-200 Grams

Joshua Dale Lindsey, 27, Bullard, date of alleged offense, Nov. 7, 2008.

Marlin Swindell, 30, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Oct. 30, 2008.

Robert Mobley, 33, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 14, 2008.

Possession of Controlled Substance Less Than 1 Gram

Joyce Glover, 22, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 23, 2008.

Michael Smith, 49, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Dec. 18, 2008.

Bruce James Hogue, 44, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Sept. 19, 2008.

Bobbie Lynn Kennemore, 37, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 16, 2008.

Ashley Lynn Turner, 23, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 26, 2008.

Jeffery Bernard McDaniel, 41, Grapeland, date of alleged offense, Nov. 1, 2008.

Christopher McKay Ridings, 20, Tennessee Colony, date of alleged offense, Dec. 19, 2008.

Possession of Marijuana 4 Ounces-to-5 Pounds

Christopher McKay Ridings, 20, Tennessee Colony, date of alleged offense, Dec. 19, 2008.

Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle

Raymond Smith Jr., 24, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Dec. 29, 2008.

Credit/Debit Card Abuse

Wanda Diane Whitfield, 51, Oakwood, date of alleged offense, Nov. 27, 2008.

Burglary of a Building

Justin Edward Shockley, 18, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Jan. 26, 2008.

Aggravated Assault of a Public Servant

Alfred Wayne Breeden, 79, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Dec. 6, 2008.

Improper Relationship Between Educator/Student

Juan Jose Rodriguez Jr., 28, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 11, 2008.

DWI — Third or More

Martin Torres, 42, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Sept. 7, 2008.

Unauthorized Use of Motor Vehicle

Robert Mobley, 33, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 5, 2008 (two counts).

Theft of a Firearm

Robert Mobley, 33, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Oct. 27, 2008.  

Robert Mobley, 33, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Aug. 23, 2008.  

Robert Mobley, 33, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 13, 2008.

Aggravated Assault Date/Family/House with a Weapon

Rigoberto Santillan, date of birth unavailable, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Nov. 20, 2008.

Cheryl Crawford, 24, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Dec. 5, 2008.

Willie Simmons, 55, Oakwood, date of alleged offense, Dec. 3, 2008.

Theft By Check Aggregation of Amounts $1,500-to-$20,000

Vivian Denise Bailey, 46, Palestine, date of alleged offense, April 17, 2005.

Alison Marie Hutcherson, 42, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Aug. 11, 2006.

Phillip James Roberts, 60, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Aug. 20, 2004.

Assault Causing Bodily Injury — Family Violence

Dan Moten Jr., 23, Palestine, date of alleged offense, Jan. 6, 2009 (with previous).

Theft $100,000-to-$200,000

Malinda Shea Lucas, 34, Elkhart, date of alleged offense, May 4, 2005.

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Paul Stone may be contacted via e-mail at pstone@palestineherald.com