On Aug. 16th, 2021, at approximately 7:15pm, the New Braunfels Police Department responded to H-E-B Plus, located in the 2900 block of I-35 North, for a report of an armed robbery that had occurred in the parking lot...
On Aug. 16th, 2021, at approximately 7:15pm, the New Braunfels Police Department responded to H-E-B Plus, located in the 2900 block of I-35 North, for a report of an armed robbery that had occurred in the parking lot where a male suspect pointed a handgun at a male victim and demanded his wallet. The suspect then fled that location and, minutes later, attempted another armed robbery in the parking lot of the Courtyard Plaza Shopping Center, located in the 100 block of I-35 South. Again, the suspect pointed a firearm at a male victim and demanded his wallet; however, this time, the victim refused, and the suspect drove away.
Responding New Braunfels Police Officers were able to use the victims’ detailed descriptions of the suspect and his vehicle (a white Honda Accord) and were able to locate the suspect on the I-35 Northbound Frontage Road approaching FM 306. The driver initially refused to stop for officers and a short pursuit ensued while turning onto FM 306. The pursuit ended a short time later when the suspect left the roadway on FM 306 near the Goodwin Lane exit, causing the vehicle to briefly become airborne. The subsequent crash disabled his vehicle, and a felony traffic stop was conducted where the suspect was taken into custody.
The suspect has since been identified as 21-year old Thomas Stedham Woodard from New Braunfels. He was initially transported to Christus Santa Rosa Hospital to be medically cleared following the crash before being transported to jail. However, while at the hospital, Woodard attempted to flee from custody by trying to run from officers towards the exterior doors. He was quickly stopped, but Woodard continued to resist officers. Despite his efforts to resist, Woodard was then transported without further incident to the Comal County Jail.
NBPD Detectives investigating the robberies also determined that Woodard had attempted a third robbery about an hour prior to the other robberies. That first incident took place in a parking lot located in the 200 block of Creekside Way in the Creekside Shopping Center. The male victim in that case also refused to hand over his wallet despite the suspect pointing a gun at him.
Woodard was booked into the Comal County Jail and charged with three counts of Aggravated Robbery, Evading Arrest in a Vehicle, Unlawfully Carrying a Weapon, Escape from Custody, and Resisting Transport. Bond was set at a combined $146,000 and, as of this release, he remains in custody. It should be noted that no injuries were reported as a result of these incidents, and the cases remain active investigations by the NBPD Criminal Investigations Division.