Manhunt concludes with arrest, multiple charges without bail

BANDERA - A 20-yearold male was arrested and booked in the Bandera County Jail last week after escaping authorities, assaulting and robbing a 74-year-old man and robbing a Lakehills business.

“He’s going to at least five or six pretty stiff felony charges out of all this stuff,” said Bandera County Chief Deputy Matt King.

County authorities have been searching for Pipe Creek resident Caleb Leutzinger since June 9 following his escape from the car of Precinct 2 Constable Greg Spengler.

King said Spengler picked Leutzinger up on warrants for making a terroristic threat and evading arrest.

According to Captain Shane Merritt, Leutzinger made threats in videos posted online brandishing a loaded gun and magazine, leading to an emergency protective order.

Spengler did not respond to the Bulletin’s request for comment.

King told the Bulletin Leutzinger went to the residence of 74-year-old Mike Barr on June 15, assaulted him with a bat and stole his truck.

Barr was taken to Boerne Methodist Hosptial, where he received treatment but was not admitted, according to King.

“Most of his injuries were on his arms because of the way he held them up to protect himself from the bat,” said King. “I don’t think there were any head injuries.”

The next day, Leutzinger returned to the house and “shot up the house,” according to King, leaving bullet holes in the residence but no harm to Barr.

On June 24, authorities engaged in a vehicle pursuit with Leutzinger, who was driving Barr’s truck, but lost him in Lake Medina Shores.

King said the search continued thanks to tips from various sources and hard work by the department, who discovered Leutzinger hiding in the woods in the Lakehills area on the afternoon of Monday, July 17.

Leutzinger was booked in the Bandera County on charges of making a terroristic threat, escape, evading arrest, burglary, theft, evading arrest with a vehicle, stealing a vehicle, robbery of the elderly, assault with a deadly weapon and burglary of a habitation.

Only three of his charges have bail conditions.

“That other burglary charge is from when he robbed a business in Lakehills,” said King.