Friendswood and La Marque Police Departments Work Together in Capturing Theft Suspect

In a joint effort, the Friendswood Police Department and La Marque Police Department successfully resolved a theft case that occurred on January 5, 2024, at Kroger, located at 151 N. Friendswood Drive.

According to reports, a black male entered the Kroger store, loaded merchandise into his cart, and left without paying for the items, which included beer, laundry detergent, and paper towels. Video footage from the store revealed a suspect described as a 6-foot-tall, medium-built individual with short grey hair and a grey beard.

The suspect made his escape in a tan Hyundai Sonata 4-door vehicle. A vigilant Friendswood Detective managed to identify the vehicle and traced it back to its registered owner in La Marque. Upon contacting the owner, crucial information about the suspect was obtained.

Collaborating with the La Marque Police Department, investigators assisted in identifying the suspect as John Knox, Jr., a 50-year-old resident of La Marque. Knox was wanted in connection to a Strong Arm Robbery at a local game room. Further, Knox was also a suspect in multiple local gas station thefts.

When La Marque Patrol Officers attempted to take Knox into custody, he fled on foot. Two Officers pursued and were able to take him into custody.

John Knox, Jr., known for his extensive criminal history, was taken into custody on January 18, 2024, based on the La Marque Robbery warrant and a Friendswood felony warrant for Theft < $2,500 with 2 or more previous convictions. It was noted that Knox had recently been released from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.