Commerce Man Arrested Following Burglary, Auto Theft, and Drug Charges

COMMERCE, Texas – A multi-day investigation has led to the arrest of Edward Wayne Garcia in connection with a string of burglaries, vehicle theft, and narcotics possession in Commerce, Texas.

On March 24, 2025, at approximately 9:30 AM, Commerce Police were called to a burglary and unauthorized vehicle use on Fourth Street. Officers gathered critical details and canvassed the area, beginning what would evolve into a high-priority investigation.

Roughly 17 hours later, on March 25 at 2:08 AM, officers responding to an unrelated call in the 2200 block of Live Oak Street spotted items matching the earlier reported stolen property. Further investigation confirmed the connection, and with assistance from Texas A&M University–Commerce Police, the stolen vehicle was also located and recovered.

The investigation quickly identified Edward Wayne Garcia as a primary suspect. At approximately 4:08 AM, officers spotted a man matching Garcia’s description near Tractor Supply. Although he initially fled, he evaded capture.

On March 26, around 8:00 PM, Commerce Police located Garcia at a residence in the 700 block of Washington Street. When he attempted to flee, he was met by Sgt. Oakley and K9 Dexter. Garcia complied with commands and was taken into custody without incident.

Upon arrest, Garcia was found in possession of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine. Preliminary investigation suggested the substance may also contain fentanyl; it has since been submitted to the DPS Crime Lab for testing.

Garcia faces multiple charges, including burglary of a building, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, burglary of a motor vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance. He also has an active warrant in Hopkins County for theft of property.

Authorities commend the teamwork between Commerce Police and Texas A&M University Police for the swift resolution of this case. If anyone has further information, they are urged to contact the Commerce Police Department at (903) 886-1139 or Hunt County Crime Stoppers at (903) 457-2929.

Follow Hunt County Theft Reports for continued updates on this developing story.