Odessa American, Texas
ODESSA, Texas — A local correctional officer said he was “in the right place at the right time” Monday as he helped two older gentlemen make a citizen’s arrest on two accused package thieves.
Kevyn J. Moore, who said he could not disclose his employer, said he saw one of the package thief suspects sprinting from Kent Kwik, 6900 Eastridge Road, as he pulled in to fuel up after work that day. The blonde-haired woman, later identified by Odessa police as 22-year-old Ashlea Kinman, nearly got struck by a vehicle, Moore said, but he didn’t think anything of it at first.
“When I pulled up to the gas pump, I saw two elderly gentlemen who had captured the perpetrator,” Moore said. “They were looking at me like they were relieved.”
Moore said he thinks they looked relieved because he was still in his uniform, which is similar to a law enforcement uniform.
The man the two older men caught was later identified by police as 26-year-old Lars Erik Searle Jr. Kinman and Searle reportedly drove around in a U-Haul vehicle and took packages from front porches, police said.
Moore said after he applied hand restraints to Searle, got him out of the parking lot and up against the wall, the two older men then took off to catch Kinman after hearing she was spotted down the street.
“They really did all the work,” Moore said. “They’re the real heroes. I just happened to be in the right place in the right time.”
At the time, Moore said the men told him they caught Searle for stealing. At first he thought it was related to a shoplifting incident at the convenience store. It wasn’t until later he learned the two were driving around a U-Haul reportedly stealing people’s packages, he said.
Moore stayed with Searle until police took over. He said Searle never said anything to him, aside from telling him his name, and he had no contact with the woman who was captured.
The correctional officer stuck around for about an hour after police arrived as he wrote a witness statement and police processed the scene, but most of the questions were directed to the two older gentlemen, he said.
Searle and Kinman were both charged with theft of property, a Class A Misdemeanor. Police said both suspects admitted to the thefts.
Odessa police found the U-Haul truck witnesses said they were driving loaded with about 21 packages and were able to return several of the packages, but were unable to locate some of the victims. Anyone that believes they were a victim or anyone that has information in reference to the investigation is encouraged to contact OPD or Odessa Crime Stoppers at 432-333-8477.
“The Odessa Police Department would like to encourage the public to please report all suspicious activity and have packages delivered to alternative locations if possible,” an OPD news release said.
©2017 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas)