Man arrested after marijuana scavenger hunt

LUFKIN — The Lufkin Police Department has arrested a man who was wanted for allegedly leaving several marijuana-filled Easter eggs in Lufkin parks earlier this year. According to Lufkin Police and our news partner KETK, Avante Nicholson was arrested after the Texas Rangers searched a home on Scott Street. Texas Rangers were searching the house to find a suspect in the Sept. 13 murder of 26-year-old Shelby County man, JaMichael Phillips.

The suspect was not staying at the home but Nicholson was found in the bathroom. Lufkin PD said the Texas Rangers also wanted to question Nicholson as a potential witness to the murder of Phillips.

Nicholson was wanted on three warrants for delivery of marijuana in a drug free zone and another warrant for delivery of marijuana. Lufkin PD said Nicholson’s warrants stem from the April discovery of five Easter eggs filled with marijuana at Morris Frank Park, Winston Park and Grace Dunn Richardson Park and near a Motel 6.

According to a press release from Lufkin PD, pictures of the Easter eggs were posted on Facebook as hints to find the eggs in a scavenger hunt. Lufkin PD said they searched the page that posted the photos and identified Nicholson as the page’s owner.

Nicholson was booked into the Angelina County Jail on Friday for his delivery of marijuana warrants. He was released on Saturday after he posted total bond of $37,500, according to Angelina County Jail records.

Colby Eli Lister, Deterion Alexander and Rico Rose were all arrested in connection to Phillips’ death earlier this week. The Texas Rangers are still searching for a fourth suspect in the murder.