Published: November 02, 2009 07:43 pm      

Man arrested, returned to Smith County

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Department joined the U.S. Marshal’s Office and the Tyler Police department in arresting an armed robbery suspect Sunday.

Derrick Lynn Whiten, 26, was booked into the Smith County Jail, with bond set at $100,000 on the charge.

Early Sunday, TPD notified HCSO that Whiten was possibly in Henderson County. Shortly after noon, authorities located the fugitive at a location off State Highway 155 in Coffee City. He was arrested without incident, and returned to Smith County.

Whiten was a suspect in two robberies reported in Tyler Oct. 28. The first involved a man standing next to his truck in the street who was approached by a man with a revolver. The victim told police that he was ordered to hand over his wallet. The assailant took the wallet, and escaped with a small amount of cash.

About a half-hour later, a man was robbed and beaten while working in his yard. The victim, who has one arm, was transported to Mother Francis Hospital with bruises and lacerations.

Whiten has several previous arrests for charges that include unlawfully carrying of a weapon in a weapon-free zone.