August 24, 2022 - Emergency personnel with the Texas Department of Public Safety and Constable Precinct 5 responded to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 59 in Timpson on Monday, August 22, 2022, which developed into more than just a crash investigation and resulted in the arrest of two men.
The crash was located just past the intersection of U.S. Highway 84 in Timpson.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 3:45pm, a 2004 Dodge pickup driven by Ricardo Zarate Vazquez, 33, was traveling north when it is reported that the right rear tire blew out on the pickup, which caused it to hydroplane into the west ditch.
During the course of the investigation, Troopers became suspicious of criminal activity and it became known that prior to them arriving on scene, an individual took some items from the pickup and took them to a nearby restaurant. Troopers located and identified the individual and a search of his vehicle yielded multiple counterfeit government documents and approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine.
Vazquez was placed under arrest for the following offenses: possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and fraud – use possession of identifying information, all felony offenses. He is also charged with the following misdemeanor offenses: tampering with a government record, fail to identify and fail to maintain financial responsibility.
The individual, identified as Lonnie Downing, 59, was charged with the felony offense of possession of a control substance and a misdemeanor offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.
This is an ongoing investigation and there is no additional information available at this time.
No injuries were reported to have resulted from the incident, and Vazquez was examined by EMS. Josh Tipton, Constable Precinct 5, assisted the Troopers with their investigation.
