Cases: 24-9015195, 25-0301282, 25-0310893,25-0311238, 25-0440777, 25-0470967, 25-0550917, 25-9002893

Dates: February 13, 2025 – February 26, 2025

Arrested: Armynie White, Black female, 21 years of age (twice)
                 Heaven Carter, Black female, 24 years of age (twice)
                 Deshauna Penson, Black female, 27 years of age
                 Jai Ana Smith, Black female, 27 years of age
                 Jamila Westmoreland, Black female, 27 years of age (twice)
                 Rickeisha Thompson, Black female, 26 years of age
                 Natayla Jackson, Black female, 23 years of age
                 Destiny Thomas, Black female, 22 years of age
                 Artraell Vincent, Black male, 32 years of age

Over the past four weeks, members of the North Metro Tactical Response Unit collaborated with APD Region 1 Criminal Investigations Division, patrol, APD Financial Crimes, the Travis County Parks Police, and the City of Austin Parks & Recreation Department to build a proactive enforcement response to the ongoing vehicle burglaries occurring at Austin Parks. The goal of the operation was to target the known offenders of these crimes in an effort to reduce the number of incidents.

As a result of these efforts, 11 arrests were made for offenses varying from Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Failure to Identify, Request to Apprehend, Burglary of a Vehicle, and Driving without a License.

This continues to be an ongoing investigation with additional arrests pending.

Case 25-0311238

Armynie White, 21 years of age

On Friday, January 31, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Austin Police Department (APD) officers responded to a report of individuals who were observed “pulling door handles” in the parking area near Covert Park at Mount Bonnell in Austin. This location has been identified as a “hot spot” for vehicle burglaries based on statistical crime reporting analysis and is well known to officers throughout the city.

As additional information was provided by the caller, officers immediately began to respond to the scene. The caller identified the suspect vehicle as a white Honda Accord and was able to provide the license plate number, which was recognized from other burglary of vehicle incidents at other parks. The caller was also able to provide specific descriptions of the suspects to assist officers when they arrived on scene, and also provided an update that the suspects were using a tool to break car windows.

Officers arrived on scene and immediately located persons of interest in close proximity to the suspect vehicle. Officers searched the parking area and located a vehicle with a shattered front window. They found the owner of this vehicle who reported that her purse was missing. A search of the area resulted in the recovery of the purse, minus her bank cards.

A female suspect identified herself as an individual with an active warrant for her arrest. She was subsequently arrested.

Officers observed evidence of vehicle burglaries within the car, and it was impounded.

Detectives with North Metro Tactical Response and the Region 1 Criminal Investigation Division provided assistance and were able to obtain a search warrant for the suspect vehicle. The execution of the search warrant resulted in the recovery of the victim’s bank cards as well as property belonging to the male who had been detained earlier, a balaclava face mask, glove, screwdriver, cash, a small quantity of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, and a large number of gift cards which are believed to have been purchased with stolen credit cards.

The female was later found to have a window punch tool and the keys to the Honda concealed in her sock.

The following day, the female was found to have provided a false identity and was positively identified as Armynie White.

White was subsequently charged with:

• Failure to Identify as a Fugitive, Class A Misdemeanor
• Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, State Jail Felony

Case 25-0440777

Armynie White, 21 years of age 

On Thursday, February 13, 2025, members of the North Metro Tactical Response learned an arrest warrant had been issued on February 5, 2025, charging Armynie White with a Probation Violation related to a prior Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon conviction.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., APD officers located White during a traffic stop in the 10500 block of Wild Horse Ranch. She once again provided a false name. Officers knew who she was and she was arrested for the outstanding warrant and issued a new charge, Failure to Identify as a Fugitive.

Officers conducted a search of White and found her to be in possession of 34 gift cards, which are believed to have been purchased with stolen debit and credit cards.

The North Metro Tactical Response Unit was assisted by the Criminal Investigation Division in this arrest.

Case 25-0470967

 Heaven Carter, 24 years of age

Deshauna Penson, 27 years of age

Jai Ana Smith, 27 years of age    

Jamila Westmoreland, 27 years of age

On Sunday, February 16, 2025, at approximately 3:51 p.m., APD officers responded to the 2300 block of City Park Road, near the Emma Long Metropolitan Park, for reports of four individuals looking into vehicles. When officers arrived on the scene, they located one victim who had been hiking and returned to find their car window shattered. The victim was missing their purse with a wallet inside containing their banking cards.

At approximately 5:42 p.m., APD officers were patrolling in the 3400 block of Redbud Trail when they observed a possible suspect vehicle. Officers began to follow the vehicle, which was traveling at a high rate of speed. Officers initiated a traffic stop, and detained four individuals, later identified as Heaven Carter, Deshauna Penson, Jai Ana Smith, and Jamila Westmoreland.

Officers conducted a search of the vehicle, and found multiple gift cards, which were suspected to be bought with stolen debit and credit cards. 

After further investigation, the four individuals were charged with:

• Credit/Debit Card Abuse (State Jail Felony)
• Engaging in Organized Crime (3rd Degree Felony)
• Burglary of Vehicle (Class A Misdemeanor)

Carter and Westmoreland were also charged with Failure to Identify, as they initially gave officers false names during the traffic stop.

Smith was also charged with Unlawful Use of Criminal Instrument (Class B Misdemeanor) and Tampering with Physical Evidence (Felony 3), as she had attempted to conceal a glass breaking tool during the inspection of the vehicle.

Case 25-0310893

Rickeisha Thompson, 26 years of age
 

On Friday, January 31, 2025, Officers responded to a report of a vehicle burglary at Red Bud Isle Park located at 3401 Redbud Trail. Officers met with a victim who reported a window of her vehicle had been broken and her purse had been taken. The witness captured an image of the suspect vehicle, a gray Honda Accord. Detectives learned the vehicle was registered to Rickeisha Thompson.

The victim reported her stolen bank cards had been used at a nearby Target to conduct a fraudulent purchase. Detectives identified two females who had used the stolen bank cards to include Rickeisha Thompson and one other. Arrest warrants were obtained charging both with Credit/Debit Card Abuse (State Jail Felony).
 
On Thursday, February 20, 2025, officers stopped a vehicle and identified Rickeisha Thompson as the driver of the vehicle. Thompson was taken into custody for the arrest warrant.

Case 25-0550917

Natayla Jackson, 23 years of age     

Destiny Thomas, 22 years of age

Heaven Carter, 24 years of age   

Jamila Westmoreland, 27 years of age

On Monday, February 24, 2025, members of the North Metro Tactical Response Unit became aware that Heaven Carter had been released on bond from her previous arrest. Additionally, they learned there was an open case in which Heaven Carter, Destiny Thomas and an additional female had been identified as the suspects of a previous vehicle burglary at Bull Creek Park in Austin on August 30, 2024 (APD Case 24-9015195). 

Arrest warrants charging Heaven Carter and Destiny Thomas with Engaging in Organized Crime (Felony 3) were obtained.
 
Officers later located Heaven Carter in a vehicle with Jamila Westmoreland, Natayla Jackson, and another female.
 
Heaven Carter was arrested for the outstanding warrant related to this case.
 
Jamila Westmoreland was arrested for a traffic violation.
 
Natalya Jackson was arrested for an outstanding warrant charging her with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity (Felony 3) related to APD Case Number 25-0301282, a vehicle burglary at the Pennybacker Bridge on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
 
Officers learned Destiny Thomas was in custody at the Lockhart Correctional Facility. A detainer was sent to hold her on the outstanding warrant.

Case 25-9002893

Artraell Vincent, 32 years of age
 

On Tuesday, February 4, 2025, an individual reported they had parked their vehicle at Bull Creek Park. When they returned to it, they discovered a broken window.
 
Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Artraell Vincent based on camera footage of the incident. A warrant was issued charging Artraell Vincent with Burglary of a Vehicle (Class A Misdemeanor).
 
On February 26, 2025, Atraell Vincent turned himself in at the Travis County Jail.

Additional arrests and charges are pending related to the ongoing vehicle burglaries at Austin Parks. 

With the Spring Festival season approaching, APD reminds the community to be vigilant in keeping yourself and your belongings safe. APD would like to share some tips to avoid becoming a victim of vehicle burglaries:

1. Always Lock Your Doors: Ensure that your vehicle doors and windows are securely closed and locked, even if you are only leaving for a short period.
2. Hide Valuables: Keep any valuables out of sight, or better yet, take them with you. Items such as bags, electronics, and even loose change can attract unwanted attention.
3. Park in Well-Lit Areas: Whenever possible, park in well-lit, populated areas. Thieves are less likely to target vehicles in locations with high visibility and foot traffic.
4. Use Anti-Theft Devices: Consider investing in steering wheel locks, alarms, or GPS tracking devices to deter potential thieves.
5. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings when parking or returning to your vehicle and report any suspicious activity.
6: Install a Dash Camera: Find a camera that can record when a car is parked and off, or has sensors that can detect motion or impact near the vehicle. Having video evidence of a potential suspect can help detectives in solving your case.

Anyone with any information may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

If you are a victim of a crime that is currently happening, please call 9-1-1. Anyone who has been a victim of a crime that is no longer in progress is encouraged to create a non-emergency report by calling 3-1-1 or visiting our website at ireportaustin.com.