Police: Arrest not related to homicide

Roosevelt County officials investigating the death of Jimmy “Bo” Chunn have arrested — on an unrelated charge — a man they believe was in the vicinity of Chunn’s home about the time he died, court records show.

Donald Taylor, 24, of Rogers, was arrested for a probation violation on July 8, the same day Chunn’s body was found, records show. Rogers is just a few miles north of Causey, where Chunn lived, in southeastern Roosevelt County.

Officials emphasized no charges specific to Chunn’s death have been filed against Taylor or anyone else.

Officials declined to answer questions about Taylor’s arrest. A jail official said only that Taylor is being held without bond and that he was arrested for a probation violation.

Efforts to contact Taylor’s family Saturday were not successful.

Portales Police Capt. Lonnie Berry said Taylor was on probation for armed robbery. Court records show Taylor was convicted of armed robbery in 2000. Berry said he did not know why Taylor’s probation was revoked, but that the violation was not directly connected to Chunn’s death.

Berry said police have identified two persons of interest in connection with the homicide investigation, but declined to elaborate or identify those people.

Court records show law officers believe a 1991 Ford Taurus driven by Taylor was seen in the area of Chunn’s residence on July 4. Officials said they believe Chunn was shot in the head with a .30-caliber gun on or about July 4.

Court records show law officers obtained a search warrant for Taylor’s home and car and seized, among other items, blood-stained pants found wrapped in a plastic bag in Taylor’s vehicle. They also found a black leather wallet that contained $150, including a $100 bill.

Roosevelt County Sheriff’s officer Richard Short wrote in an affidavit for search warrant, “I learned that the victim was suspected to have approximately $150 cash and that officers had information that the victim had handled a $100 bill while at a dance prior to his death.”

Berry said officials plan to begin forensic testing this week on items gathered during the homicide investigation.

Berry said officers have been aggressive in their search for Chunn’s killer.

“(Law officers) are working almost around the clock,” Berry said. “The weekends are a non-issue. Most nights last week they were (working until) 1 o’clock and 2 o’clock in the morning.”

Berry said investigators believe five guns may have been taken from Chunn’s house and they have visited pawn shops from Portales to Lubbock looking for the stolen guns.

District Attorney Matt Chandler is on vacation and has been unavailable for comment on the Chunn case. Assistant prosecutor Donna Mowrer declined to discuss details of the case.

Berry said Portales police are assisting Roosevelt County officers at the request of the sheriff’s department.