Henderson County Sheriff’s Office press release
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, at approximately 9 a.m. the Henderson County Sheriff‘s Office received a call from Tool Police Department requesting assistance. Tool Police Department received information stating that a large black Cargo Trailer was located at a residence in the Sky Country Addition in Tool. The caller believed the trailer was stolen due to suspicious activity at the residence. Tool Police Chief Rickye Feist and Tool Officer Jenny Cottrell responded to the residence. As they approached the location they observed a blue Chevrolet truck leaving the residence. The bed of the truck was loaded with welders, tool boxes, at pressure washer, and numerous other items. Chief Feist attempted a traffic stop on the vehicle and a pursuit ensued. After a lengthy vehicle pursuit that ended in Navarro County, Jessy Ray Pierce and Deon Coker were apprehended and charged with Evading Arrest with a Vehicle.
While in route to assist Tool Police Department at the Sky Country location, Henderson County Investigator John Long and HCSO‘s East Texas Auto Theft Investigator Michael Shelley, noticed an open door on a large metal building located at 2415 Highway 274 in Tool. The property consists of a small frame house and three large metal buildings. Believing this could be the location where the trailer was stolen, the investigators stopped and checked the property. As the investigators approached the residence they noticed the back door had been forced open. The investigators conducted a search of the residence and buildings. During the search the investigators saw Amanda Ward running from one of the buildings toward a wooded area. After a short foot chase Ward was apprehended. During a search of her belongings she was found to be in possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine. Ward was transported to the Henderson County Jail and charged with the following offenses Burglary of a Habitation, Burglary of a Building x3, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Evading Arrest.
Once Ward was transported to the jail, investigators Long and Shelley traveled to the residence in Sky Country. Investigators were able to identify the trailer and confirm that the trailer and its contents were stolen from the same location where Amanda Ward was arrested. It was later determined that the tools found in the truck that fled from Tool Police Department were also stolen from the address where Ward was arrested. The estimated value of the recovered property is approximately $50,000. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are expected.