Prison Escapee Captured in Coleman Sunday

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An escaped inmate from a Plainview, Texas prison unit was captured in Coleman late Sunday morning.  According to Coleman County Sheriff Les Cogdill, local law enforcement dispatch was notified by teletype at approximately 7:10 am Sunday, June 11, that Trenton Paul Thompson, 22, had escaped from the Formby State Jail in Plainview at approximately 1:00 am Sunday.  Thompson, who is from Coleman, was sent to prison in December 2022 for Aggravated Robbery of the Coleman 7-11 on North Neches, according to Sheriff Cogdill.

Having information that Thompson could possibly be returning to Coleman, numerous law enforcement agencies began searching in the Coleman city limits early Sunday morning.  Agencies involved included Coleman County Sheriff’s Department, Coleman Police Department, Santa Anna Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers, Office of Inspector General Texas Board of Criminal Justice, Parks and Wildlife and Park Police.

According to Sheriff Cogdill, Thompson was spotted by an OIG officer walking toward his dad’s house in the 600 block of West Walnut. As the OIG went to make contact with Thompson, he fled on foot, back toward Cedar and Mesquite streets. Law enforcement set up a perimeter. The suspect was able to get to his dad’s house where he was apprehended hiding inside the house at 11:10 am, Cogdill said.

Law enforcement also located a stolen vehicle from Plainview, Texas, a 2018 Lincoln Continental, maroon in color, which was located at Overall and North Blanco. Cogdill said Thompson admitted to stealing the car in Plainview.  Thompson was taken to Coleman County Jail where he appeared before magistrate Coleman County Justice of the Peace Vickie Kemp. Prison unit personnel have taken Thompson from Coleman to a state prison facility.

Also arrested Sunday was Todd Douglas Thompson, 45, father of the escapee.  According to Sheriff Cogdill, Todd Douglas Thompson was arrested for hindering the apprehension or prosecution of known felon, which is a 3rd degree felony. As of 2:15 pm Sunday, Thompson was in Coleman County Jail.  Bond had not been set at that time.