OPD runs down assault suspects in predawn ops

Olney Police locked down the school campus and hospital to catch one assault suspect last week and conducted a predawn raid complete with flash-bang grenades and tear gas at the home of a second suspect who eluded capture.

Police advised Grace Care Center of Olney at 1402 W. Elm St. to lock down at about 11 p.m. on Sunday night while they pursued Derrick Allen Rockenbaugh, 37, who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend with a knife at their room at The Pipeliner Inn, Chief Dan Birbeck said. Mr. Rockenbaugh eluded officers, who a few hours later joined with the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Special Response Team to raid the home of a second assault suspect, Felisiano “Felix” Villalpando III. Mr. Villalpando stands accused of burglary and aggravated assault.

OPD and DPS officers used flash-bang grenades and tear gas at the home at 208 W. Elm St. to flush out Mr. Villalpando and to serve a search warrant but found no one home.

Chief Dan Birbeck said Mr. Villalpando was wanted in connection with an April 12 aggravated assault and burglary. Mr. Villalpando “has been off the radar” since the alleged incident but officers saw activity at his Elm Street residence in the days before the raid, Chief Birbeck said.

“We have been trying to locate him for the last few days ... this is his residence so we took a chance that we could get him,” he said. “We’ve seen traffic coming and going from this location. So that kind of indicated to us that somebody was here.”

Police asked for the public’s help locating Mr. Villalpando who is considered armed and dangerous.

A day and a half later, officers then caught up with Mr. Rockenbaugh in a garage on South Avenue D. Two patrolling officers spotted him walking in the 300 block of South Avenue D at about 2:20 p.m. on April 19 and gave chase. The officers initially lost sight of him and set up a perimeter to conduct a house-to-house search, Chief Birbeck said. Police also advised Olney Independent School District and the Olney Hamilton Hospital to lock down their buildings, Chief Birbeck said.

Police searched backyards and outbuildings before coming to an open garage on South Avenue D, Chief Birbeck said. An officer climbed up on the bed of a pickup truck inside the garage and crawled into the attic, where he discovered Mr. Rockenbaugh, who was armed with a pistol but surrendered immediately, Chief Birbeck said.

“He was given verbal commands, and he followed the verbal commands and was taken into custody,” he said.

Mr. Rockenbaugh was taken to Young County Jail and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, evading arrest with a previous conviction, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, assault on a family or house member by impeding breathing, and abandonment or endangerment of a child, jail records show.

Mr. Rockenbaugh also has multiple arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and evading arrest in Young County dating back to 2005, jail records show. He is being held in lieu of $115,00 bail on the combined charges, jail records show. Mr. Villalpando III also has an extensive criminal history and is considered dangerous. Mr. Villalpando’s father is in custody in the Young County Jail on an unrelated matter, Chief Birbeck said. Anyone with information about Mr. Villalpando III’s whereabouts should call Olney Police, Chief Birbeck said.