93.3 KWTO Keeping Watch Over the Ozarks
From a news release:
In the early morning hours of Friday, May 19, 2023, Branson Police Officers responded to an ATM alarm at Branson Bank, located at 4675 Gretna Rd. The officers discovered the suspects had stolen a vehicle at a local apartment complex and used it to force open the ATM resulting in the theft of over $36,000 in cash and over $60,000 worth of damage. Police attribute teamwork and quick investigative work that led to the out-of-state arrests the same day as the crime.
Over the course of the investigation, detectives discovered a group of suspects out of the Houston, Texas area who were involved in similar crimes across the nation. Further investigation identified a rental car of interest. Branson Police coordinated with the rental car company and other law enforcement jurisdictions to determine the location of car and to initiate the stopping of the vehicle. The suspected vehicle was safely stopped in Texas on May 19, where law enforcement found a large amount of cash and the four suspects who Police believe committed the Branson crime, two of which had felony warrants for their arrests, one of which for a similar crime in the Chicago, Illinois area.
Arrested were:
Deaunjae Kayvonne Lampkins, 22, of the Houston, TX region.
Vinson Eeshawn Gonzales, 23, of the Houston, TX region
Nathaniel Cameron Waits, 23, of the Houston, TX region.
Bryce Malik Jones, 26, of the Houston, TX region.
“I am very proud of the excellent and expedited work of our officers that led to the arrest of these suspects within hours of the crimes in Branson,” said Branson Police Chief, Eric Schmitt. “This case highlights our Department’s dedication and serves as notice to those considering committing crimes here. While Branson has a ‘small town’ atmosphere, the Police Department has the capabilities and drive to successfully pursue and apprehend criminals, wherever they may flee,” said Chief Schmitt.
The Branson Police Department expresses its appreciation to the other agencies and entities that assisted with this investigation, especially to the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, Avis Car Rental and the Montgomery County, TX, Sheriff’s Office who were all vital to the successful apprehension of these suspects.