Saturday's Internet Edition, May 17, 2008.
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On Sunday, April 23, 2006, and within minutes of a 911 call reporting the child missing, Lexington Police officers were assisted by the Lee County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, the Tanglewood Volunteer Fire Department, and over 100 citizens in a city-wide search for the boy. The child showed up about an hour and a half after the search began, and just after his father arrived at the scene.
Police attempted to interview the child’s father at the scene, but Pease drove from the area, refusing to stop. He was pursued and apprehended at his home in Fedor by the police and sheriff’s deputies. Pease was charged with Fleeing and Evading Arrest and transported to the Lee County Jail.
Pease and his brother, Cray Pease, delivered a copy of a letter to the Leader on Monday of this week that was written by County Attorney Ted Weems. The letter was written in response to a complaint Pease filed with the County Attorney’s office against the Lexington Police department.
The letter specifically says, “The Office of the Lee County Attorney is formally requesting the assistance of the Texas Rangers in an investigation into alleged misconduct by an officer or officers of the City of Lexington Police Department, which may lead to criminal charges (assault, etc) regarding an incident with Rhett Pease on April 23, 2006. It is alleged by Mr. Pease that on said date, he was arrested outside the jurisdiction of the City of Lexington Police Department on a private road on private property without a warrant or any other legal authority, and during such arrest, he was assaulted and suffered a concussion and other bodily injuries inflicted by an officer of the Lexington Police Department.”
“The Lee County Sheriff’s Office dispatched an officer to assist in the initial case of a missing 4-year old child, and as a result of their collateral involvement in this matter, the Sheriff’s office feels that they would have a conflict of interest were they to seek to investigate these allegations.”
“Therefore, please consider this letter a formal request that a Texas Ranger be assigned to fully investigate this matter and make a report to this office regarding the occurrence of any crimes that may have been committed which will be prosecuted by, through or under the authority of this office.”
County Attorney Weems said, “The Texas Rangers have accepted our request and an investigation will begin next week.”
Two police cars responded on Sunday, April 23, 2006, to a 911 call at 6:11 p.m. placed by Janell Pease, the mother of the missing child.She reported that her son suddenly disappeared from their home on N. Rockdale Street in Lexington. She said that he was sitting on the couch watching TV as she left the living room to wash clothes. Upon returning to the room a few moments later, the child was gone.
Police searched the residence and surrounding neighborhood without locating the child. An Amber Alert was issued.
Fifteen members of the Lexington VFD with three trucks and many personal vehicles criss-crossed the town in a tight grid. The town was searched in this manner at least three times.
Hundreds of local residents hit the streets, going door-to-door on foot and in their vehicles, canvassing the neighborhoods and businesses looking for the small child. Most of the people joined the search immediately, as soon as they learned of the missing child.
The non-custodial father, Rhett Pease, in his mid-40’s, was contacted by the police and he stated that he had not seen the boy nor had he taken the child.
At about 7:35 p.m., the father appeared at the child’s residence. The child also appeared at his home at the same time, reporting that his father had come to his house and had taken him to his father’s house, contradicting what the father told the police earlier in the evening.
The child was safe and unharmed.
Police attempted to stop and interview the child’s father as he drove from the area, but Pease refused to stop for the police. The Lexington Police Officers, along with the Lee County Sheriff’s Deputies, pursued Pease into the Fedor Estates area, where they apprehended him at his residence.
Rhett Pease was charged with a felony, Fleeing and Evading Arrest, and transported to the Lee County Jail. He was released Monday morning, April 24, 2006 on a $45,000 bond.