Car Chase In Olney Nets Drugs, Chopper

A traffic stop on Main Street turned into a drug bust and property theft investigation after Olney police pulled over a speeding vehicle on April 21, Olney Police Detective Autumn Thames said.

Officer Matthew England initiated the stop around 2 a.m. after spotting a vehicle traveling at high speed through town on Main Street, Det. Thames said. The driver quickly turned into a residential neighborhood and began running stop signs, raising suspicions that the occupants were attempting to evade law enforcement, she said.

Inside the vehicle—a Cadillac Escalade towing a trailer—police discovered three individuals and signs of tampering with the ignition, including exposed wires indicating the vehicle had been hotwired, she said.

A probable cause search led officers to find methamphetamine, marijuana, and THC, she said. A K9 unit later discovered a plastic bag containing methamphetamine along the path the vehicle took through the neighborhood, consistent with attempts to discard evidence during the brief evasion, she said.

The driver, identified as Anthony Dwight Schmitz, 33, had outstanding warrants from Midland County for theft. He was arrested on multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance, tampering with evidence, and theft, she said.

He was being held in lieu of $145,000 at Young County Jail, jail records show. The two passengers, identified as Rocco DePaolo and Ann Stevenson, 32, were also taken into custody and are currently being held at the Young County Jail.

Further investigation revealed that a Harley- Davidson motorcycle found in the trailer had been reported stolen from Monahans, Texas, Det. Thames said. The license plate had been removed, but was discovered inside the trailer alongside the bike. The owner reported the vehicle had been stolen while they were away from home over the Thanksgiving holiday, she said. A second stolen motorcycle, taken at the same time, remains missing, she said.

Mr. Schmitz has refused to be interviewed about the incident, Det. Thames said. He is being held at the Young County Jail on a $100,000 bond for drug possession, $25,000 for evidence tampering, $15,000 for theft, and $5,000 for the outstanding Midland County warrant. Ms. Stevenson is also jailed, in lieu of $100,000 bond on drug charges.

The seized methamphetamine weighed approximately 20 grams, Detective Thames said, enough to support the felony possession charge. THC and marijuana were also recovered, though Mr. Schmitz was primarily charged for the meth due to its felony classification.

Olney PD received assistance from Young County and Archer County law enforcement agencies, who helped canvass the streets for discarded drugs and secure the scene.

The three suspects were reportedly en route to Colorado at the time of the arrest.