A man listed as one of the 10 Most Wanted in Texas is now in custody in Izard County, according to a release from the Izard County Sheriff’s Department.
Joshua David Whitworth, aka Fat-Boy, who is affiliated with the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and considered armed and dangerous, was taken into custody Wednesday morning after an all-night manhunt, the release said.
Stone County Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton said he received information Monday from the Texas Department of Public Safety that Whitworth was in the Stone County area.
“On Tuesday, I learned he might be in the Allison – Sylamore area and went to the area looking for him,” McGilton said in the release. “I located a vehicle of description we had been given on Dogwood Hollow Road in Izard County. When I went to exit my vehicle to confront him on felony warrants, he threw the vehicle in reverse and hit a tree. I went to place him under arrest and methamphetamine fell from his hoodie along with his phone. After a brief struggle, the suspect was able to get away. I immediately contacted Izard County, Stone County, and the Mountain View Police Department for assistance.”
Around 12:35 a.m., Izard County Chief Deputy Charley Melton was notified and Izard County officers assisted in the search.
“At one point Whitworth was spotted on an ATV, which he later abandoned and fled on foot. He was spotted around 9 a.m. this morning and taken into custody without incident,” Melton said.
He was then transported to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office where he will face possession of meth, theft of property, resisting arrest, and fleeing charges.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Whitworth has a long history of criminal activities and is currently wanted for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, delivery of meth and cocaine, theft, and parole violation.
The release said Whitworth:
- was convicted in 2013 of unlawful possession of metal or body armor by a felon and evading arrest and was sentenced on those charges;
- was arrested in 2018 in Arkansas for delivery of methamphetamine and cocaine and later bonded out and returned to Texas;
- and was convicted in 2019 of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and sentenced to two years of confinement.
Whitworth was released on parole in July 2020, and the following month, the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole issued a parole violation warrant for his arrest, according to the release.
On Dec. 3, 2020, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office issued a warrant for his arrest for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. He is also wanted in Montgomery County Texas for burglary of a vehicle, the release said.
McGilton and Melton thanked the Mountain View Police Department, the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, Arkansas Game and Fish, and the Baxter County helicopter. A special thanks to the Arkansas Department of Correction dog team and tracking dog Gracie.
Melton said Whitworth was transported to the Izard County Sheriff’s Office where he will face possession of meth, theft of property, resisting arrest, and fleeing charges.
“Whitworth has a long criminal history. One of Texas Most Wanted was apprehended because of joint teamwork between adjoining counties and additional agencies,” Melton said.
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