BRUCEVILLE, Texas (KWTX) — A trail of spilled diesel fuel led police officers straight to a suspect’s driveway after fuel tanks on a McLennan County Road and Bridge truck were drilled into and drained early Monday morning.
Jesse Arthur Davila III, 41, was booked into the McLennan County Jail on charges of state-jail felony criminal mischief and theft of property. He also had two outstanding warrants out of Waco, police said.
Jesse Arthur Davila III, 41, was booked into the McLennan County Jail on charges of state-jail felony criminal mischief and theft of property. He also had two outstanding warrants out of Waco, police said.(KWTX GRAPHIC)
According to an arrest warrant, Bruceville-Eddy Police Chief Michael Dorsey received a call around 9:02 a.m. on Sept. 21 from the McLennan County Precinct 1 Assistant Road Foreman reporting vandalism and fuel theft from county equipment parked near the southbound Interstate 35 frontage road and First Street in Bruceville.
Chief Dorsey and Officer Jenny Miller arrived on the scene and discovered two damaged diesel fuel tanks on a Precinct 1 water truck.
Holes had been drilled into the tanks to drain the fuel, with plastic containers placed underneath, a rag covering one hole, and an orange siphon hose left on the ground beside the vehicle.
Road and Bridge personnel noticed that the thief had left a trail of spilled diesel fuel leading from the county truck down First Street.
Officers followed the spill line to the driveway of a residence in the 600 block of First Street, where they found a utility task vehicle (UTV) parked in the front yard with its dump bed open and tailgate down. The bed reeked of diesel and held wet liquid residue, the affidavit states.
At the home, officers contacted Davila, who initially denied any involvement. However, officers located fuel cans, siphon hoses, and a pair of black pants and shoes at the front of the home—all heavily smelling of diesel fuel.
Faced with the evidence, Davila admitted to taking the UTV around 1 a.m., drilling the tanks, and using siphon hoses to steal the fuel so he could fill a white Ram 3500 diesel truck he drives to work, the affidavit states. Investigators noted fresh diesel stains on the truck, including fuel still wet on the rear left rim.
County officials reported approximately $5,000 in damage to the two fuel tanks and an estimated $1,800 in stolen diesel fuel.
Davila was taken into custody without incident and transported to the McLennan County Jail. His bonds total $8,000.
Copyright 2026 KWTX. All rights reserved.