Suspect says he stole cop’s cellphone while in patrol unit cage to call his mom

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Photo: Don Tyler Woolsey

A Searcy County man, 27-year-old Don Tyler Woolsey of St. Joe, was taken into custody following an incident in which he allegedly forced entry onto property by ramming a metal gate with the stolen truck he was driving. While being transported in the cage of a patrol unit to the Newton County jail, he is alleged to have stolen a deputy’s cellphone. When questioned about his actions, he would later reportedly say he took the phone to call his mom and let her know what was going on.

According to the probable cause affidavit filed last week, Woosley’s arrest followed a report to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office in early February of someone forcing entry through a gate onto property and breaking into a camper.

Law enforcement arrived to find smoke in woods at the scene and a vehicle on fire. The truck matched the description of one reported stolen earlier in the day from Harrison and was later confirmed as the missing vehicle.

Near the vehicle, deputies located a male, later identified as Woolsey, on the ground behind some rocks. He was shown to have a warrant for his arrest out of the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

The owner of the unlocked camper advised everything was fine when he left the area about an hour earlier. He returned to find someone had been through the camper, the gate had been rammed and the truck was on fire.

Woolsey was taken to the Newton County jail and during transport managed to steal a deputy’s cellphone. The cellphone had been in a jacket in the rear seat of the patrol unit. The deputy would later find the phone in the suspect’s shoe. When questioned, Woolsey allegedly admitted taking the device, saying he wanted to call his mother.

In an interview, Woolsey allegedly admitted to a “bad drug problem.” After providing several conflicting stories, he reportedly admitted taking the vehicle, and it catching fire, after he drove it through the gate before striking several trees in the woods.

After a search of the truck, Woolsey was charged with felony counts of arson, theft by receiving, breaking or entering, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of theft of property and a sentence enhancement for being a habitual offender.

Records indicate Woolsey is on felony probation out of Searcy County. They also indicate a conviction of felony theft of property in 2013 and arson in 2019.

Bond in the latest case was set at $25,000, according to online jail records.

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