AUSTIN MAN ARRESTED TWICE ON BACK-TO-BACK DAYS

  

An Austin man was arrested twice by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office on back-to-back days.

Deputy Seth Nagel took a theft report on Wednesday morning from the Point Store in West Point where milk and motor oil were stolen.

Later that evening, the Fayette County Narcotics Unit responded to a 911 call from the T-Mobile Store in La Grange for a report of a suspicious person, who was later identified as 38-year-old Jeff Romero.

The caller also gave a description of Romero’s vehicle, which matched the vehicle used in the West Point theft. Officers detained Romero, and a probable cause search was conducted after drug paraphernalia was seen in plain view.

The milk and motor oil that were reported stolen earlier were found inside the vehicle, which after a Communications check also came back as reported stolen.  

In addition to that, officers found 1.5 grams of methamphetamine in the vehicle. Romero was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.

Then, on Thursday morning around 10am, Deputy Mark Zimmerman observed a 2006 Ford Fusion leaving the gas station next to the sheriff’s office with the gas pump still attached to it.

Zimmerman stopped the car on Highway 71 near Highway 77. At the same time, a woman called 911 to report her car being stolen from the same gas station.

After it was determined to be the same car, Zimmerman arrested the driver, who turned out to be Romero, who had just bonded out of jail. He was taken back to jail, and the victim’s vehicle was returned to her. 

Because he caused bodily harm to the woman, Romero was charged this time with Robbery.