Alleged thief takes authorities on cross-county car chase

BY ALEXANDRIA RANDOLPH

Editor's note:

This story first appeared in the Wednesday, Aug. 24 edition of the Burnet Bulletin, and the Friday, Aug. 26 edition of The Highlander, in which it was reported that two individuals, Terry Wayne Perkins and Travis Carl Kerr, were each charged with evasion with a vehicle and unauthorized use of a vehicle. This was incorrect. Kerr was only charged with parole violation, and Burnet Police said on Friday, Aug. 26 that other charges are pending. His charges of evasion and unauthorized use of a vehicle listed in the story were from a previous incident in January, for which he served his jail time. We apologize for the inaccuracy.

Two men were arrested on Monday morning after one allegedly led police on a cross-county car chase overnight.

Florence resident Terry Wayne Perkins, Sr., 40, was arrested Monday, Aug. 22 on charges of evasion with a vehicle as well as unauthorized use of a vehicle after police said the he stole several vehicles and ran from authorities over the course of three days. Travis Carl Kerr, also reportedly from Florence and maintaining the alias Robert Elliot, was arrested in connection with the incident, but Burnet Police said his charges are pending.

Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson said the pursuit stemmed from an investigation that began Sunday afternoon, Aug. 14.

“We have a video of a guy stealing two different vehicles from Highland Lakes Fence and Gate,” Nelson said. “He left an Astro van behind the CPS office (next door), which came back stolen out of Williamson County.”

Nelson said the same vehicle evaded Bertram Police days earlier on Friday night.

“The owners of the vehicle spread the word on Facebook, and we started getting tips,” he said.

After abandoning the Astro van near the business, Nelson said that Perkins drove the black GMC pickup with a cargo trailer he had stolen from the business lot and went to pick up a second individual, who has yet to be identified. The two traveled back Highland Lakes Fence and Gate, where the second man got into a blue and white Ford dually with welding equipment on the back.

“After midnight (Sunday) we got a tip that he (Perkins) was spotted going through the railroad trestle on County Road 340,” Nelson said.

Police searched the area, assisted by Bertram Police, Burnet County Sheriff's Deputies and Texas DPS Troopers. The driver, Perkins, was spotted in the stolen GMC on US 281 at the intersection of Park Road 4.

“DPS went to pull him over, but he wouldn't stop. He went on to Marble Falls,” Nelson said, adding that Marble Falls Police were alerted and were waiting for the suspect with a line of road spikes on US 281 in front of Walmart.

After running over spikes, Perkins continued through Marble Falls and turned north on Mormon Mill Road, driving back up CR 340.

“We spiked him again on CR 340 by the water plant. At that point, he opted to drive off the road through a fence and into a field,” Nelson said. “There he bailed out of the car and ran.”

Officers pursued Perkins on foot and apprehended him at that point.

Law enforcement then got a second tip about the location of stolen property in Florence. At about 2:30 a.m., Burnet Police investigators drove to Williamson County to pursue the tip.

“There we located the other truck and trailer… stolen equipment and the second suspect (Kerr) who confirmed that (Perkins) had brought him stolen property,” Nelson said, adding that police also located two additional vehicles stolen out of Austin.

While in custody, Perkins confessed to the burglary of a residence in Burnet where he had stolen lawn equipment, Nelson said, as well as the theft of a red Ford pickup truck from the Hoover Valley Store last week.

Nelson attributed the close of the case to good teamwork between police agencies.

“We couldn't have found them or caught them without teamwork,” he said, adding that citizens had also aided the case by providing vital information. Williamson County and the Texas Rangers also assisted, he said.

Police are still wrapping up the matter by dealing with the stolen goods.

“We're trying to get the stolen property back to the owners,” Nelson said.

Perkins was booked in Burnet County Jail on Monday, Aug. 22 and remains there on bond of $100,000. He has also been charged with burglary of a building and criminal mischief out of Lampasas County. Kerr was taken into custody by Williamson County Sheriff's Department, as he is wanted in that county on warrant of parole violation. Kerr was released on Tuesday, Aug. 23, but may face additional charges as a result of further investigation, police said Friday.