Citizen Helps Police Nab Suspect

TYLER – A suspect has been arrested with the help of a citizen and an off duty officer. The off duty Tyler police officer was on his way to work in his private vehicle around 6:45 Monday night, when he saw a motorist who he knew was wanted for an outstanding arrest warrant. He called the dispatch center and an officer was sent to stop the suspect vehicle. The responding officer located the vehicle about half a mile outside Loop 323, on the Frankston Highway. When the officer stopped the suspect’s vehicle, the man got out of the car and fled on foot, running into the woods. The officer gave chase, but lost sight of him.

An alert citizen spotted the suspect hiding in a gravel pit near the intersection of County Road 1114 and County Road 1121. The citizen notified officers and the suspect was taken into custody without incident. He is identified as Irvin Perez, 18, from Tyler. He was booked into Smith County Jail for engaging in organized criminal activity and evading arrest.