Law Enforcement Disables Stolen Truck, Arrests Driver

MARSHALL — Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers assisted Wednesday in the apprehension of a stolen vehicle and driver in Harrison County, according to a DPS news release. Just before noon, the Marshall Police Department was notified of a stolen truck-tractor. Celadon Trucking Services Inc. tracked the truck to Marshall. Harrison County deputies located the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop it. Authorities say that for an unknown reason, the driver chose to evade police and continued south on US 59 just north of Marshall. DPS troopers made several attempts to disable the fleeing truck with tire deflation devices, successfully deflating two. They say the truck continued through the city, disregarding traffic control devices and endangering the general public. Officers disabled the vehicle with their service weapons south of Marshall on US 59.

The driver was taken into custody without incident and no injuries were reported. The driver was identified as Oliver Jerone Branch, 55, of Las Vegas, NV. Branch is charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and evading arrest. He has been booked into the Harrison County Jail.