2 New Caney men arrested after ATM theft, police chase; 3rd suspect still at large

Two men were taken into custody Wednesday after attempting to steal an ATM and evade capture in New Caney.

At around 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, deputies with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to an ATM alarm at a Wells Fargo bank in New Caney.

The thieves were gone by the time authorities got to the scene, but the alarm company was able to provide them with a description of the suspects and their vehicle.

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An officer with Splendora Police Department spotted a vehicle that matched the description and tried to perform a traffic stop. When the driver didn’t stop, a chase ensued. During the pursuit, the car crashed, and the three suspects dashed into a nearby wooded area.

Authorities from multiple different departments—including canine units and helicopter surveillance— two of the suspects were tracked down and cuffed. The third person involved was not found and remains at large.

The two suspects who were arrested were identified as Elton Watson, 34 and Wiley Smith, 39.

MCSO officials provided us with Watson’s mugshot.

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Both Watson and Smith were taken to Montgomery County Jail and charged with multiple felonies, including evading arrest with a motor vehicle and theft of an ATM.

If you have any information on the third suspect, you are asked to contact MCSO at 936-760-5800. To remain anonymous, you can call Multi-County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-392-STOP (7867) and refer to case #24A299275.