Police shoot man on Quitman square

By Phil Major
publisher@wood.cm
Posted 12/29/22

Robert Allen Vancleave, 55, of Corsicana died in an officer-involved shooting on the courthouse square in Quitman Thursday afternoon, Dec. 22 following a police chase from Mineola.

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Police shoot man on Quitman square

Posted

Robert Allen Vancleave, 55, of Corsicana died in an officer-involved shooting on the courthouse square in Quitman Thursday afternoon, Dec. 22 following a police chase from Mineola.

Mineola police reported they received a call of a theft at Walmart at 135 NE Loop 564 about 2:41 p.m.

Arriving officers observed the suspect vehicle attempting to leave the parking lot and attempted a traffic stop, according to a department news release.

The vehicle failed to stop and continued northbound on Hwy. 37 toward Quitman.

Some social media posters indicated the vehicle sideswiped them and passed on the right.

Mineola police dispatch log indicates the vehicle reached speeds up to 100  miles per hour.

The Dodge pickup wrecked at the intersection of Hwy. 37 and Hwy. 154 at the southeast corner of the courthouse square.

Shots were fired and Vancleave died at the scene.

Texas Ranger John Vance is investigating.

A separate release from the Wood County Sheriff’s Dept. also indicated the vehicle attempted to run over a Mineola officer, and that sheriff’s officers were not involved in the shooting.

Family members posted a memorial on the light post nearest to the scene over the holiday weekend.

Lynette Vancleave, who identified Robert Vancleave as the victim, said on Monday that she still had not been contacted by the police.

She said he was unarmed.

Lynette Vancleave, who has lived in Yantis almost a year, said she and Robert Vancleave were still legally married although they have been separated over what she described as his “opposite” lifestyle choices.

He had three children from a previous marriage.

Lynette Vancleave said she was actually driving through Quitman at the time of the incident but was unaware what had happened or that Robert Vancleave was involved.

She said his children sent her a photo showing his pickup, which she confirmed was his.

Robert Vancleave had several run ins with the law, according to court and arrest records.

He pleaded guilty to a resisting arrest charge in Navarro County April 25, 2008 and received 18 months probation.

In March 2017 he received deferred adjudication for an assault causes bodily injury charge from July 22, 2016 was assessed a fine and community service.

On July 8, 2019 he was arrested on warrants for aggravated kidnapping in Rice, Texas and assault causes bodily injury in Navarro County. A resisting arrest charge from that incident was still pending.

Another resisting arrest case was still pending from April 21, 2021.

He received two traffic citations in Guadalupe County Nov. 15, 2021, and on Oct. 8, 2022 was charged with a prohibited substance in a correctional facility after being arrested in Guadalupe County on a Dallas County theft warrant.

He was arrested by Corsicana police on Sept. 25, 2022 for marijuana possession, and a case was filed Oct. 19 for possession under two ounces, from which he filed a statement of inability to afford costs.

On Nov. 10, 2022 he was arrested by Corsicana police for evading arrest/detention with a vehicle, evading arrest or detention, driving while intoxicated, possession of marijuana less than two ounces and accident involving damage to a vehicle less than $200.

He was indicted on the evading charge Dec. 15, 2022.

Mineola police offered no additional details of the incident Tuesday.