Author: bcsoadmin

On 06/18/2019 at approximately 2:40 PM, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to stop a vehicle driven by a subject wanted on a parole revocation warrant in the 7200 block of Park Road 4 in Burnet County. The suspect, Benjamin Willis Becker, 40 years of age of Round Mountain, led deputies on a short vehicle pursuit which ended at the Hoover Valley Country Store. Becker then fled on foot into the very rugged terrain behind the store and fell down several feet into a ravine.

Deputies made their way down to where Becker was last seen and attempted to locate him. The BCSO K9 and a DPS helicopter were called in to assist in the search. Burnet County Communications activated the reverse 911 system to notify area residents of the suspect’s description and last known location. BCSO deputies and officers from other agencies looked for Becker until approximately 9:30 PM. It was believed that Becker had insured himself in the fall into the ravine and that he would eventually seek medical attention.

On 06/19/2019 at 8:16 AM, BCSO Communications received a call from the front gate of Camp Longhorn, located at 1000 Indian Springs Road. The caller reported that Becker had arrived at their front gate and asked to use a phone. Becker left the area on foot before deputies could arrive.

Deputies quickly set up a perimeter in the area of County Road 143 and the reverse 911 system was again activated to notify area residents of the suspect’s updated location and description. At 9:08 AM, BCSO Communications received a 911 call from a resident in the 400 block of CR 143. The caller stated that he had located the suspect lying in a creek bed on his property and was holding him at gunpoint. The caller stated that he had received the reverse 911 alert and when he walked his property, his dog had located Becker asleep in a creek bed.

Deputies quickly arrived and took Becker into custody without incident. EMS was called to the scene to evaluate Becker for injuries sustained during his night on the run in the wilderness. He was dehydrated and scratched up, but otherwise uninjured. He was transported to the Burnet County Jail and booked on the probation violation warrant as well as additional charges.

This incident shows the power of cooperation between law enforcement and the public. The reverse 911 system allowed us to quickly get information out to the public in the area of this incident. The arrest of this suspect was the result of alert citizens making phone calls based upon the information that they had received. To sign up for the alert system, please visit https://warncentraltexas.org/ to receive alerts via phone, email, and/or text.

On 3/15/2019, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Eric Molina and Leon Ingersoll along with DPS Trooper Daniel Ruiz received the Burnet County Sheriff’s Office Lifesaving Award for their actions on December 29, 2018 at the scene of a major traffic collision.

Deputies Molina, Ingersoll, and Trooper Ruiz responded to a major two vehicle collision on 12/29/2018 south of Marble Falls on US 281. One vehicle caught fire and the driver was pinned in the wreck. These officers utilized at least 8 fire extinguishers and broke out windows to help the trapped driver. Deputy Ingersoll used his patrol unit to push the burning car away from the other vehicle so that rescuers could get to the driver’s door to help the trapped driver.

Their actions were pivotal in buying time for fire and EMS to arrive and take over rescuing the driver, who was stabilized and air lifted to a trauma center. Without their heroic actions, the driver would have certainly perished that day in the burning vehicle. Molina, Ingersoll, and Ruiz were treated at the scene by EMS and at the emergency room for smoke inhalation. All three returned to duty later that day.