Manhunt subject’s ID revealed by Jefferson sheriff’s office
Published 2:17 pm Thursday, April 12, 2018
By Ken Stickney
A Nederland man was named in connection with Wednesday’s manhunt in rural Jefferson County, a statement from the Sheriff’s Office revealed Thursday.
Jefferson County deputies captured Christian David Rockwell, 39, on a levee off Highway 365, east of Fannett, on Wednesday afternoon. Law enforcement had been searching for Rockwell since late morning in the vicinity of Hillebrandt Bayou, after a vehicle had run off the roadway into water and the sole occupant, described only as a white male, had fled the scene.
Jefferson authorities said Rockwell, captured by deputies about three hours later, was held Thursday on charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, speeding, failure to stop and render aid, failure to maintain single lane and driving with no driver’s license.
His bond was set at a total of $26,100. He remained in the county jail Thursday.
Deputies had searched the area after recovering the vehicle. The license plate initially indicated the car had been taken during a Wednesday morning robbery in Bridge City. Police there said the suspect was believed to be armed and dangerous, and a county helicopter and Port Arthur Police K-9 unit joined in the search for the suspect.
Using the Southeast Texas Alerting Network, warning was sent to area residents about the search and seeking information about the suspect.
Late Wednesday, the Jefferson Sheriff’s Office said a suspect was in custody but withheld his name pending an investigation by Bridge City Police into the robbery, but police did not return repeated calls Wednesday and Thursday about the reported robbery.
Rockwell was initially held on an Orange County justice of the peace warrant.
