Arrest made in area burglaries; Firearms recovered and returned

Joseph Mickey Brooks

ALMA - Ellis County Sheriff deputies responded to the 100 block of MF 1183 in reference to a burglary in progress reported by a local resident Friday, Feb. 25 where they caught and arrested one suspect.

According to reports, a homeowner had returned to the vacant residence for inspection to discover a young male exiting the front of the house.

ECSO deputies and Constable Ben Fry were able to stop the suspect’s vehicle a short distance from the area.

Joseph Mickey Brooks, a 30-year-old from Dallas, was booked into the Wayne McCollum Detention Center on several charges of burglary of a habitation and criminal trespass with bonds totaling $22,500 set by Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Bill Woody.

Further investigation by deputy investigators resulted in Brooks confessing to committing multiple burglary offenses in the Ennis/Palmer areas, including two offenses in the city of Palmer.

Investigators subsequently recovered stolen firearms, which were returned to their owners.

“Continued cooperation between law enforcement agencies in Ellis County and especially county residents calling us to report what they see, has resulted in a decrease in crime,” said Sheriff Johnny Brown.

“I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate the citizens coming along beside us to catch these crooks.”