A fugitive was taken into custody by Texarkana, Texas, police Sunday with help from a Texarkana couple, one of whom is nine-months pregnant.
Demontrous O'Keith Witcher, 31, was dressed in women's clothing when a member of the public spotted him at the Texas Roadhouse restaurant Sunday evening and called police, according to officials with the Bowie County District Attorneys Office. Witcher had been a fugitive for about seven months and his photo had been published by local news media.
Witcher was scheduled to go on trial in May for alleged shoplifting. When he failed to show for jury selection May 9, a warrant for his arrest was issued by 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.
Witcher caught sight of officers entering the restaurant and began to make a hasty departure when a citizen watching the scene stuck out his foot, causing Witcher to stumble. The man's girlfriend, nine-months pregnant, grabbed Witcher by the shirt and he fell into a row of bar stools. Witcher continued to flee but was taken into custody by Texarkana, Texas, officers who had surrounded the business.
Witcher has multiple pending theft charges and a pending charge of a prohibited item in a correctional facility, according to court records. Witcher failed to show for jury selection May 9 on a state jail felony theft charge stemming from alleged shoplifting Feb. 22, 2016, at Ulta Beauty in Texarkana, Texas.
Witcher was dressed in women's clothes when he allegedly secreted more than $1,000 in perfume in his purse. Witcher was identified as a suspect in the beauty store theft after a still shot of the shoplifter taken from video surveillance was published on social media. At an interview with law enforcement in connection with a different matter on March 3, 2016, Witcher allegedly admitted the person in the photo was him but denied he was shoplifting.
If convicted of shoplifting, Witcher faces six months to two years in a state jail. For failing to appear for his trial, Witcher faces the possibility of two to 10 years in prison. Witcher could face an additional felony charge for fleeing from officers Sunday.
Witcher has an active warrant for his arrest in Miller County, Ark., as well. He is charged with hindering apprehension in Arkansas, an offense punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Witcher is being held in the Bowie County jail with no bail.