Fugitive and suspected dog-fighter apprehended
Willis, TX (US)Incident Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2007
County: Montgomery
Charges: Felony CTA, Felony Non-CTA
Disposition: Alleged
Alleged: William Townsend, Jr.
Through a collaborative effort, the Texas Rangers, Mexican authorities and Montgomery County Sheriff's Office tracked down and arrested a fugitive who had been on the run for a year.
William David Townsend Jr., 34, formerly of Willis, was transferred into custody of the MCSO SWAT Alpha team by Texas Rangers officials, who escorted Townsend across the U.S.-Mexico bridge Wednesday afternoon. He was back in the Montgomery County Jail Thursday.
MCSO Capt. Bruce Zenor said he received a call around 9 a.m. Wednesday that Townsend was back on American soil, and the team arrived later that night to return him to the county jail.
"We had information for quite some time that he (Townsend) was in Mexico, but we could never confirm it," Zenor said. "We thought he was a danger to the public, and any time you can get someone like that off the streets, it feels good."
An MCSO Special Investigations Unit arrested Townsend in May 2007 after he allegedly bought 5 kilograms of cocaine in South County and had $78,000 in his possession.
Law enforcement labeled Townsend as a person of interest in a number of crimes, including a multi-state drug operation, a murder investigation and dog fighting and cockfighting ring.
SIU officials searched Townsend's home and arrested his wife Tabitha Townsend after discovering $4,000 in cash, 12 assorted firearms, surveillance equipment, narcotics and a grenade stored in an ice chest on the front porch of their home.
Montgomery County Animal Control also seized fighting roosters and pit bulls from the home.
Ties to illegal dog and rooster fighting operations led Liberty County officials to investigate Townsend's possible role in the murder of well-known dog fighting organizer Thomas Weigner Jr., who was murdered in a 2006 home invasion.
During the preliminary investigation, Townsend and Weigner were linked to NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to run a dog fighting operation, served time and was recently released to home confinement.
After posting a $300,000 bond in November 2008, around two months before he was scheduled to appear for his court hearing, Townsend fled the country, law enforcement officials believe.
Townsend is in the Montgomery County Jail on six warrants for felony bond forfeiture with no bond set on any of the offenses. References |
