Fugitive With Extensive Felony Record Arrested After Kayak Escape Attempt in Galveston County

GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – A wanted felon with an extensive criminal history was taken into custody Tuesday after attempting to flee deputies by kayak while hauling tens of thousands of dollars in stolen equipment, authorities said.

On January 13, 2026, deputies with the Galveston County Precinct One Constable’s Office and the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office, working with the United States Marshals Service Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Fugitive Task Force, were actively searching for Larry Brandon White, who was wanted on a felony charge of evading arrest or detention.

Authorities said White has a lengthy criminal history that includes 11 felony convictions.

During the search, a Precinct One deputy observed White driving a vehicle pulling a recently acquired flatbed trailer that had been altered and spray-painted in what deputies described as an apparent attempt to avoid identification. The trailer was loaded with equipment valued at approximately $75,000, including a skid steer tractor.

When law enforcement approached after White exited the vehicle, deputies said he attempted to evade arrest by boarding a kayak and fleeing into a nearby waterway. Deputies enlisted the help of two bystanders fishing from a boat, who allowed law enforcement to board and pursue the suspect.

White resisted arrest multiple times during the encounter but was ultimately subdued and taken into custody without further incident, officials said.

A subsequent investigation revealed the trailer and all of the equipment had been reported stolen from CenterPoint Energy facilities in Texas City.

White was booked into the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office Jail on his original felony evading arrest warrant with a bond set at $400,000. Additional charges are being filed by the Precinct One Constable’s Office, including felony theft with a $400,000 bond and a second felony evading arrest charge with a $50,000 bond.

Authorities credited cooperation between multiple agencies and members of the public for the successful arrest and recovery of the stolen property. Deputies specifically thanked two young fishermen who assisted during the pursuit.