Van Man Arrested In Wills Point

By Donna Limberger

Van Zandt County Sheriff R.P. "Pat" Burnett was driving down VZCR 3501 last Thursday in his personal truck when he passed a mini van setting in a driveway with a man standing at the back of the vehicle.

"Something just didn’t look right so I turned around. When I got close to the driveway, the man got in the vehicle, put it in reverse and almost hit me," said Burnett.

Burnett said he got out of his vehicle and noticed that the suspect had been loading an air conditioner unit.

"When I got out, he asked me if I had a problem. I then asked him where he got that air conditioner. He told me that he had gotten it off the side of the road. I knew that was a lie because I had just been that direction," said Burnett.

Burnett said that when he walked around to the front of the mini van to run the license plate number, the suspect jumped in the vehicle and fled the scene.

"He had a woman and an infant in the car. He headed down VZCR 3515 which is narrow and curvy. He was driving at a high rate of speed," said Burnett.

Burnett said that he got behind Willow Lake and got stuck. He then ran on foot.

"Wills Point Police Chief Scott Johnson found the suspect close to Willow Lake," said Burnett.

Paul Shawn Larsen, 33, Van was arrested and charged with endangering a child, burglary of a building and unlawful carrying of a firearm. He remains in the Van Zandt County Jail on $25,000.

"I did what I would expect any citizen to do which is being aware of surroundings. If a vehicle looks suspicious, at least get a license plate number but I would never expect a citizen to put themselves in danger in any way," said Burnett.