Wanted Mail Thief Arrested After Falling Face First Trying to Jump a Fence During Chase

SAN ANGELO, TX -- The San Angelo Police Department arrested a man who was wanted by the United States Marshals on Monday. 

According to court documents, on October 8, 2015, an officer with the Fort Worth Police Department was patrolling the parking lot of the Knights Inn when he noticed a Ford F-250 without a front license plate. The officer then got out of the vehicle, ran the license plate on the registration, and discovered that it was stolen from Abilene, TX. 

After returning to his car to start surveillance, two people came out of the hotel and began unloading items out of the bed of the truck. The officer then approached them and told them to put their hands on the vehicle. A struggle ensued but the two were eventually detained. 

Their rooms were then searched and inside was 75 pieces of stolen mail from multiple people on the route from Abilene to Fort Worth area, stolen tools, dog food, wedding dress, and a silver dinnerware set. The two admitted to stealing the items as well as the truck and two Mossberg 20-gauge shotguns that they have already pawned. 

Ethan Leonard, 33, of San Angelo was arrested that day for unlawfully possessing mail, which has been stolen, taken, embezzled, and abstracted from the United States mail, knowing said mail matter to been stolen in violation of 18 U.S.C 1708. 

He was sentenced to 3 years in Federal Prison and then three years supervised release. 

On August 21, 2018, Leonard was put into a halfway house in Midland.

Then on March 22, 2019 Leonard admitted to his probation officer that he had been doing meth regularly throughout the month until two days prior of the probation meeting. Leonard voluntarily signed an admission statement on this date. 

Three days later, U.S. Federal District Judge David Counts signed a warrant for the arrest of Leonard. After Leonard was brought in, the Judge found him guilty of breaking probation and sentenced him to four months to federal prison. He was released in July of 2019 and was placed on another 2 years probation. 

After he was released, he made his way down to San Angelo and on September 24, 2019 officer with the San Angelo Police Department attempted to arrest Ethan for an outstanding warrant. 

When officers advised Leonard that he was under arrest for outstanding warrants, Leonard pulled away and fled the area on foot.

"During Leonard’s attempt to evade arrest Leonard lost his balance and failed to successfully negotiate his encounter with a fence, which caused a minor injury to his face," Said SAPD. "Leonard was evaluated on scene by SAFD and transported to jail by the arresting officer."

He is currently in the Tom Green County Jail and is charged with evading arrest and two MISC COMM. He is also on a US Marshal Hold.