A 20-year-old Cumby man was accused Sunday of a FM 1537 church burglary, according to sheriff’s reports.
Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office communications operators dispatched Sgt. Tanner Steward, and Deputies Chris Baumann, Kevin Lester and Alvin Jordan at 5:48 a.m. Sept. 20 to FM 1537 at County Road 3509, to check the welfare of a male reportedly lying in the middle of the road, according to sheriff’s reports.
Upon arrival, deputies reported finding Cole William Peterson lying in the ditch, with part of his body in the roadway. Following investigation, Peterson was taken into custody for public intoxication, according to deputies’ and other sheriff’s office reports.
At 9:56 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 20, the sheriff’s office was contacted regarding a building burglary. A church told officials it appeared someone had busted out a back window at the church, located on FM 1537 at County Road 3511. Deputy Zack Horne and Sgt. Shea Shaw responded.
Upon arrival, the deputies reported the church was surveyed to see if anything was missing. A small pack of bottled water, a blanket, papers and a fire extinguisher were reported to be missing. They looked around and found evidence in the church aisle and on a pew that a person had been inside, according to sheriff’s reports.
Sheriff’s officers reported finding among Peterson’s belongings at the time of his arrest items matching the description of those reportedly stolen from the church
Consequently, the 20-year-old Cumby man was charged later Sunday with burglary of a building in connection with the FM 1537 church burglary, according to sheriff’s reports. Peterson remained in Hopkins County jail Monday morning, Sept. 21, according to jail reports.
Sunday was the second time in two months that Peterson has been booked into Hopkins County jail on a felony charge. He was also arrested Aug. 3, 2020, on a warrant for unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to jail reports. Peterson was released from Hopkins County jail Aug. 5, on a $5,000 bond on that UUV charge, according to jail reports.
Sunday was also not the first time Peterson has been jailed locally on a burglary of a building charge. The Cumby man also spent Nov. 5, 2017 through Jan. 3, 2018, in custody at Hopkins County jail on burglary of a building, theft of a firearm and burglary of a vehicle warrants, according to jail reports.
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The Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office is located at 298 Rosemont Sulphur Springs, TX 75482. You can reach them for non-emergency matters at (903) 438-4040.