AUSTIN - Frankie Lee Bell Jr., 30, a Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive, is now in custody after being captured Thursday in Caldwell, Texas (Burleson County). Bell, affiliated with the Bloods gang, was wanted for murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The arrest was not the result of tip information received through Texas Crime Stoppers, and no reward will be paid.
The investigation that resulted in Bell’s arrest was a multi-agency effort that included law enforcement agencies from Burleson and Brazos counties, including Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Special Agents, the Bryan Police Department, the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Caldwell Police Department. The U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations, DPS Troopers, and DPS Aircraft also provided assistance.
Bell was wanted in connection with an Oct. 3, 2017, robbery at a residence in Bryan that left two men dead and another injured. He had been a fugitive until his capture yesterday. For more information, see his captured bulletin.
Bell’s apprehension marks the second Texas 10 Most Wanted program arrest in 2018. Texas Crime Stoppers, which is funded by the Governor’s Criminal Justice Division, offers cash rewards to any person who provides information that leads to the arrest of one of the Texas 10 Most Wanted fugitives or sex offenders.
To be eligible for the cash rewards, tipsters MUST provide information to authorities using one of the three following methods:
- Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477).
- Submit a web tip through the DPS website by selecting the fugitive you have information about, and then clicking on the link under their picture.
- Submit a Facebook tip by clicking the "SUBMIT A TIP" link (under the "About" section).
All tips are anonymous – regardless of how they are submitted – and tipsters will be provided a tip number instead of using a name.
DPS investigators work with local law enforcement agencies to select fugitives for the Texas 10 Most Wanted Fugitive and Sex Offender lists. You can find the current lists – with photos – on the DPS website.
Do not attempt to apprehend these fugitives; they are considered armed and dangerous.
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