Royce Wood (left) and Tiffany Caswell
Two fugitives wanted in connection with the shooting of a police officer in Texas were arrested Thursday morning at the Dogwood motel in Mountain View.
According to a news release from Stone County Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton, the department was contacted by both the U.S. Marshal’s service and the 16th Judicial District Drug Task Force that 43-year-old Royce Wood and his girlfriend, 32-year-old Tiffany Caswell, were possibly at the motel.
Mountain View Police Chief George Bethel and Lieutenant Jeremy Beaudin responded to the scene to join the federal and state officials, where the suspects were taken into custody.
Wood is accused of opening fire June 13 on two police officers from the city of Rhome, Texas, after they pulled his motorcycle over in nearby New Fairview, located about 30 miles north of Fort Worth. He was suspected in a home invasion that had occurred the day before.
Wise County Sheriff Lane Akin tells the Associated Press, “We are tremendously relieved to know that these two, especially Wood, is in custody. Because we know that Wood had made several threats against law enforcement, and he had intent, according to statements that he’s made, that he was planning to hurt more law enforcement officers.”
Akin adds Wood faces two charges of aggravated assault on a public servant for opening fire on the officers. Both Wood and Caswell face a charge of aggravated robbery for the home invasion.
“Both Caswell and Wood entered the house with weapons, threatened the occupants, and then stole several items, televisions and other electronics,” Akin says.
The Texas officer was shot in the lower leg and has since been released from the hospital.
Wood and Caswell are being held in Stone County Detention Center awaiting extradition.
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