TDCJ rules out escaped convicts' involvement in fireworks stand robbery

Tuesday, January 2nd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

DALLAS (AP) _ The hunt for seven escaped convicts continued for a third week, focusing in North Texas, after law officers spent the holiday weekend on heightened alert for clues that could lead to the inmates' recapture.

Although prison officials have dismissed the possibility that the escaped convicts participated in the Sunday morning robbery of a Dallas-area fireworks stand, they believe the fugitives have remained in the Dallas-Fort Worth area after receiving some promising leads.

``We've had several sightings, but none of them have helped us make an arrest,'' said Larry Todd, Texas Department of Criminal Justice spokesman. ``We believe some of the sightings are possibly good and we're looking into them. We've had more sightings in the Dallas area than anywhere else.''

The escaped convicts, who have avoided capture for three weeks since leaving the TDCJ's Connally Unit at Kenedy, are sought on capital murder arrest warrants for the Christmas Eve robbery of an Oshman's sporting goods store in Irving. An Irving policeman was shot and killed when he arrived at the scene.

``The tension is really, really thick,'' said Dallas County Sheriff Investigator Don Peritz Jr. ``Hey, we're not resting until these guys are caught. They're likely to go anywhere or do anything. Any call could be the call.''

On Sunday morning, a fireworks stand on unincorporated land near Hutchins was robbed by three men who brandished weapons and said they ``were not going back to prison.'' Two employees sleeping inside were tied up but not injured.

The bandits got away with money, a pistol, fireworks and a pickup truck.

``We do not believe that the seven escapees were involved in that at all. We have discounted that totally,'' Todd said Monday night.

Law enforcement officials working at a command center in Garland are fielding tips on the whereabouts of the escaped convicts.

``Our investigation is still under way, and we're not ruling anything out,'' said Peritz.

DPS troopers are manning telephones 24 hours a day at the agency's Dallas-Fort Worth area headquarters on Interstate 30.

``We're getting more calls and they're getting more specific with information,'' Trooper Robert White with the state Department of Public Safety said.

Information will be forwarded to agencies whose personnel are working the case out in the field. Stationed at the center are DPS officials and others from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

White said two cars the convicts might be using were seen in Fort Worth on Dec. 26. The cars were described as a late model silver four-door Toyota or Honda and a late model black four-door Toyota or Honda with tinted windows.

Authorities say the men are heavily armed. They took 16 weapons in the prison breakout, and 25 weapons, winter clothing and money were taken in the Christmas Eve robbery at the Oshman's, authorities have said.

The prisoners stole a store employee's Ford Explorer but abandoned it a short time later in Irving, police said.

A $100,000 reward has been offered for the arrest and indictment of the seven.

``We think they committed to stay together long before this escape,'' Todd said. ``It's almost like a blood brother pact of swearing to keep together and not to do some of the things escapees will routinely do.''

Todd said authorities have received help from law-enforcement agencies across the state and in Mexico.

``We have had excellent cooperation with the Mexican police across the border. In fact, some of the Mexican radio stations have covered this story quite heavily,'' he said.

White said callers who have information should immediately call a hot line number set up for the manhunt.

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Cellular customers should dial star-DPS and try to have specific information about location or license plate numbers. Regular callers should use 214-861-2386 or 1-800-737-8143.