2 Accused Of Attacking Texas Department Of Public Safety Trooper During Botched Midland Robbery
By: Dylan Brooks
Updated: March 14, 2013
MIDLAND -- A Midland man and an Odessa woman are accused of attacking a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper during a botched robbery.
Jose Morin was formally taken into custody on March 12th, and Vanessa Frances Castellanos was formally taken into custody on March 11th.
A D.P.S. trooper says that he was eating at the Walmart near Interstate 20 and Rankin Highway (TX 349) on December 28, 2012 when he was called over to the front door to break up a fight.
The trooper reportedly found out that the fight was between Morin and a store employee working Loss Prevention.
Morin, 30, had reportedly stolen items from Walmart and the employee was trying to prevent him from leaving the store.
Morin allegedly ran off toward a nearby pickup truck, while the trooper ordered him to stop.
The trooper reportedly tasered Morin, but Morin allegedly pulled out the prongs, got in the pickup truck and started to drive.
The trooper reportedly tried to put the pickup truck in park, but he says Morin elbowed him in the face -- causing his nose to bleed.
Castellanos, 26, was reportedly sitting in the passenger seat of the pickup truck at the time, and the trooper says she scraped the skin off his hand before he could get the car into park.
The trooper reportedly took Morin into custody, while Castellanos ran away.
Midland Police quickly arrested Castellanos.
Now, Morin and Castellanos are charged with robbery and assault on a peace officer.
Morin is also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle.
As of Thursday evening, Morin was being held in the Midland County Detention Center on $200,000 bond.
Castellanos was no longer listed in jail records at the Midland County Detention Center on Thursday.
Jose Morin was formally taken into custody on March 12th, and Vanessa Frances Castellanos was formally taken into custody on March 11th.
A D.P.S. trooper says that he was eating at the Walmart near Interstate 20 and Rankin Highway (TX 349) on December 28, 2012 when he was called over to the front door to break up a fight.
The trooper reportedly found out that the fight was between Morin and a store employee working Loss Prevention.
Morin, 30, had reportedly stolen items from Walmart and the employee was trying to prevent him from leaving the store.
Morin allegedly ran off toward a nearby pickup truck, while the trooper ordered him to stop.
The trooper reportedly tasered Morin, but Morin allegedly pulled out the prongs, got in the pickup truck and started to drive.
The trooper reportedly tried to put the pickup truck in park, but he says Morin elbowed him in the face -- causing his nose to bleed.
Castellanos, 26, was reportedly sitting in the passenger seat of the pickup truck at the time, and the trooper says she scraped the skin off his hand before he could get the car into park.
The trooper reportedly took Morin into custody, while Castellanos ran away.
Midland Police quickly arrested Castellanos.
Now, Morin and Castellanos are charged with robbery and assault on a peace officer.
Morin is also charged with evading arrest with a vehicle.
As of Thursday evening, Morin was being held in the Midland County Detention Center on $200,000 bond.
Castellanos was no longer listed in jail records at the Midland County Detention Center on Thursday.
