A self-proclaimed white supremacist was indicted after he reportedly threatened firefighters and told a Temple Police officer he was going to “put a hit out” on him, an arrest affidavit said.
Johnny Ray Cupp, 32, was indicted Wednesday by a Bell County grand jury on a retaliation charge, a third-degree felony.
During the drive to the Bell County Jail on March 26, Cupp reportedly threatened the officer. He said he’d find where the officer lived and would “knock off” the officer. He said he was a white supremacist and was going to “green-light” the officer and “put a hit out” on him, the arrest affidavit said.
The threats occurred after officers went to a one-vehicle collision on East Adams Avenue and saw Cupp near the wrecked vehicle. He reportedly appeared intoxicated and threatened personnel with a spray can he said was mace. Cupp got in his vehicle and tried to leave but couldn’t. He reportedly grabbed a bottle of whiskey and started to walk away while he made statements there would be a fight if police officers came.
Cupp walked across lanes of traffic and drivers had to swerve to miss him.
Cupp isn’t flagged in the Temple Police Department’s reporting system in any way that could reflect that he is a white supremacist, spokeswoman Ellen Morton said Thursday.
Cupp was in the Bell County Jail Thursday with bonds that totaled $106,500. Cupp was also charged with driving while intoxicated, evading arrest or detention and resisting arrest, search or transport.
Anthony Diego Mendieta
Anthony Diego Mendieta, 20, was indicted for theft of a firearm after he reportedly broke into a woman’s vehicle and took her purse and a pistol, an affidavit said.
The purse and pistol were reported stolen on Sept. 28, 2017.
On Oct. 12, 2017, a Belton Police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle with an expired temporary registration tag. The officer smelled marijuana and identified the driver and passenger, who was Mendieta. A firearm was on the dash directly in front of where Mendieta sat. The officer said Mendieta told him he got the firearm in a “deal” in Killeen, but the firearm matched the woman’s description. The woman who owned the gun said Mendieta was a friend of her son and spent time at her residence.
Tristan James Smith
A motorcycle ridden without a rear light drew the attention of a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on March 13, and the trooper tried to get the rider to stop. Instead, the driver went faster, going about 110 mph and changing lanes many times. He made a quick exit, lost control and the motorcycle fell over. The driver ran to hide, and the trooper reportedly found Tristan James Smith, 19, of Temple, under a culvert.
Smith was released from the jail after posting $20,000 bail on the charge of evading arrest with a motor vehicle.
Others indictments
• William Douglas Early, 29, of Temple, unauthorized use of vehicle.
• Ladarrius Schvol Ford, 27, of Tennessee, robbery.
• Bradley Neil Buzan, 26, no address, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle.
• Ashley McKea Estes, 34, of Gatesville, possession of a controlled substance four grams or more.
• Corie Maurice Sanders, 27, of Temple, possession of a controlled substance one gram or more but less than 4 grams.
• Joseph Isaac Rodriguez, 22, of Temple, possession of a controlled substance four grams or more but less than 200 grams.
• Marcel Azir Duhart, 27, of Copperas Cove, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle (repeat offender).
• Ronnie Pruett-Farmer, 25, of Belton, burglary of a building (repeat offender).
• Christopher Ross, 22, of Belton, burglary of a building.
The grand jury issued 27 true bills and two cases were not presented.
