UPDATE: November 8, 7:13 AM

Joseph Tyler Putch, 29-year-old male, was identified as the suspect in the case.  He was booked into the Potter County Detention Center for Aggravated Kidnapping with Bodily Injury, Evading Arrest/Detention with a Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two local municipal warrants.


Okay a kidnapping, sounds scary but fairly regular. Well after stopping and arresting this possible kidnapper, The Amarillo Police Department found an interesting (and chilling) arsenal of weapons in this man's car.

Early Monday morning around 9 A.M. , APD Officers were called to the area of Bell Street and Gainsborough Road due to reports of an alleged kidnapping. Witnesses reported a man who forced a screaming woman into his silver Hyundai before taking off.

When officers located the Hyundai and attempted to initiate a stop, the driver refused to cooperate and accellerated. A chase then ensued, taking officers all the way from Bell Street and Gainsborough streets, through downtown, and finally to the 2000 block of Amarillo Boulevard.

APD Officers dropped spike strips, blowing out the suspect's tires. After stopping the suspect got out of the car and made a run for it. He did not make it far. The chase was over with in less than 30 minutes.

APD officers caught the suspect--whose identity has not been released--and the woman was safely taken away. While searching the vehicle, officers found five guns, a machete, and a sword.

As to why the suspect had an array of weapons in his car remains a mystery, but the fact that he is now in police custody is a relief considering his actions. Who knows what would have taken place had he not been caught.  All in all, it's another odd situation to add to this month's bingo list of crimes.

Wild, Weird, & Outright Odd Crimes of the Texas Panhandle in 2022

There's some strange things that happen here in the Texas Panhandle. And we do mean strange.

If you need a few examples....keep scrollin' to see some of the wild, weird, and flat out odd things that our local hellions have gotten themselves into this year....so far.

Thrilled to Be There: the Smiling Mugshots of Hutchinson County

Hutchinson County has plenty of people who have committed a criminal blunder (or two). And just like any other bigger city, jail is no fun. However, some of the residents of Borger and Stinnett are believers in keeping their spirits high in the face of adversity.

Not sure what we mean?

Well....let's just say that Randall County's cheerful inmates aren't the only ones who seem happy to be arrested....While there’s nothing funny about committing a crime, these offenders in Hutchinson County certainly do know how to light up a pod with their smile :-)

Executed Death Row Inmates from the Texas Panhandle

The following individuals were convicted of Capital Murder for crimes committed in the Texas Panhandle (Amarillo and its surrounding areas) and sentenced to death by lethal injection. Read a brief summary on the area's executed Death Row inmates.

All information and photos have been taken from TDCJ and court records.

Texas Crime Statistics By City

Check to see how crime compares in your city versus elsewhere.

 

 

 

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