Joint Fugitive Operation Leads to Arrest in Deweyville

DEWEYVILLE, Texas — In the early morning hours Wednesday, a coordinated multi-agency fugitive apprehension operation in Deweyville resulted in the arrest of an individual wanted on felony warrants out of Orange County and by federal authorities.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were working alongside the United States Marshals Service and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office as part of a planned fugitive search effort. At approximately 6:00 a.m., officers observed a red GMC pickup traveling along State Highway 12.

Photo by Newton County Sheriff's Office. Steven Claude Gribble Jr.

Deputies received information indicating that the driver was believed to be Steven Claude Gribble Jr., a subject wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The listed warrants include:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Correctional Facility

• Fleeing or Eluding a Police Officer

Officers conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of State Highway 12 and State Highway 87 in Deweyville, where the individual was taken into custody without incident.

Following the arrest, the subject was transported to the LaSalle Correctional Facility in Beaumont.

Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard expressed appreciation for the cooperative effort:

“Anytime multiple agencies can work together to safely take a wanted fugitive off the streets, that’s a win for our community. We appreciate the assistance from our partners in Orange County and the U.S. Marshals Service.”