CCSO Arrests Suspect in Thrift Store Robbery After High-Speed Chase

A New Braunfels man who robbed the Community Resource and Recreation Center of Canyon Lake’s (CRRC) beloved thrift store on Wednesday is now in custody at Comal County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) Jail, charged with evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.

Bond for 63-year-old Jerry Morris is set at $10,000, CCSO Public Information Officer Jennifer Smith said. More charges are pending.

CCSO responded to a theft call from the thrift store at 12:39 p.m. Wednesday, she said. A Black male entered the building and took the cash register, containing an undisclosed amount of cash, before fleeing the scene in a gray or silver Nissan SUV.

Smith said CCSO located the vehicle at 1:10 p.m. as it traveled on Highway 46 towards Seguin from the IH 35 intersection.

“The vehicle was passing in no-passing zones and traveling at a high rate of speed,” she said. “Deputy tried to initiate a traffic stop and the vehicle continued to evade with speeds at 95 miles-per-hour. The driver of the vehicle then turned into the Clear Springs Restaurant parking lot and continued to evade. Moments later vehicle turned on Arndt Road and came to a stop. The driver jumped out of the vehicle and tried to flee on foot. Deputies detained the driver and placed him in handcuffs.”

CCSO, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office and New Braunfels Police Department assisted in the pursuit.

After Morris was detained, Smith said he complained of medical issues and was transported by Seguin Emergency Medical Services to Resolute Hospital in New Braunfels for evaluation. He was medically cleared for transport to CCSO jail.

“We were incredibly grateful and pleased with how quickly the sheriff’s office responded and how quickly they went into action,” said Jason Derscheid, executive director of the CRRC. “It was incredible, as well as the staff and even some of the shoppers who were eyewitnesses.”

On Facebook, CRRC Operations Director Mike Slough thanked CRRC staff for acting “quickly and smartly to the situation.

“Because of their action and quick thinking, they were able to alert the officers, which led to the capture and arrest of the thief,” he said.

Derscheid said one Facebook commenter pointed out the obvious — if Morris had walked into the CRRC’s main office and asked for financial assistance instead of robbing the thrift store, he might not be sitting in county jail.