By BOBBY HORN JR.
HIGHLANDSA woman wanted by federal marshals in connection with the shooting death of two Louisiana police officers was arrested near Highlands Sunday morning.
Marianne Matus, a spokesperson for the U.S. Marshalls Office said that Tonya Smith was arrested without incident at an RV park near the intersection of Interstate 10 East and Crosby-Lynchburg Road.
Matus said that on Aug. 10 Smith and boyfriend Dennis Clem were at the Budget Inn hotel in Bastrop, La. when two officers who were following up on a stolen vehicle call, approached the pair.
A gun battle ensued in which Clem and officers John Smith and Charles Wilson were fatally wounded. Two other paramedics were also shot.
Despite a police dragnet across the area, Smith was able to slip away back into Texas. Matus said that Smith was familiar with the East Harris County and that investigators returned to this area in hopes of capturing her.
Smith has been charged with two counts of first degree murder of a police officer in Louisiana. She is currently in a Harris County jail awaiting extradition to Louisiana.
Three other people, who are believed to have helped Smith escape Bastrop, have been charged with accessory to a homicide.
Smith and Clem were on the run following a fatal shooting on July 14 in Channelview.
On July 14 employees at the East Houston Regional Medical Center were shocked to see a bullet-ridden pickup pull into their parking lot. Brandon Lewis, 19, and Brian Davis, 15, were pronounced dead at the scene.
An investigation led officers back to Clems home in Channelview. Witnesses say that Clem had fired several shots at the pickup carrying Lewis and Davis. Witnesses added that the shooting started when the driver of the truck shot a visitor to the home, critically wounding him. Clem responded by firing several rounds from an AK-47 rifle.
Investigators said that Clem and Smith, who was at the house at the time of the shooting, fled the area fearing a double-murder charge.
