and county lawmen are searching for a third in connection with a string of recent rural burglaries across Hempstead County.
Hempstead County Sheriff's Chief Deputy James Singleton said Friday that Brandon Jones, 18, of Hope, and Earl Jeroud Waters, 22, of Hope, have been arrested and charged with residential burglary and theft of property in connection with the thefts.
Singleton said county deputies and investigators are looking for Andre Lakeith Johnson, 19, of Hope, as the third member of the burglary group which allegedly broke into residences and buildings between DeAnn and Blevins, near Washington, near Rocky Mound, near Patmos, and in Blevins.
He said Jones and Waters were arrested May 6 as the result of a search warrant executed at a residence in the 900 block of Hickory Street in Hope, where items and cash reportedly taken from one of the burglaries was located. Singleton said deputies were later lead by one of the suspects to a 22-caliber handgun taken in one of the break-ins.
“Deputies and investigators were able to locate several items such as flat screen televisions and jewelry in pawn shops in Hope and the Texarkana area,” Singleton said.
He said an arrest warrant has also been issued for Johnson, who is described as a black male, standing five-feet, six-inches tall, weighing 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.
“Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Johnson should call the Hempstead County Sheriff's Department at 870-777-6727,” Singleton said.
Jones and Johnson remained in the Hempstead County Detention Center awaiting an initial court appearance Monday.
