NACOGDOCHES POLICE DEPARTMENT

MEDIA ADVISORY

Issued 07 OCTOBER 2010 10:00 AM CDT

Contact: Sergeant Greg Sowell, PIO- 936.559.2618

SUBJECT: HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION/ 3220 NORTH STREET- ARREST MADE FOR HINDERING APPREHENSION AND TAMPERING WITH EVIDENCE

Melinda Long-Smith (July Mugshot)

     Nacogdoches Police have arrested a Nacogdoches woman on charges connected to the investigation of the murder of Thomas Grimes Monday night.

     Detectives have arrested 22 year old Melinda Long-Smith, who gives an address in the 2500 block Daybreak, and charged her with Tampering with Evidence and Hindering Apprehension.

     Long-Smith surrendered herself to police this afternoon at the police department. She stands accused of assisting Nathan Welsh Tuesday in evading police officers who were attempting to arrest him for murder. Long-Smith is also accused of tampering with evidence. It is believed that Long-Smith assisted Welsh by providing him with a fresh change of clothes, and hiding the clothing that he was allegedly wearing at the time of the crime.

     Both charges are felonies of the third degree. She has been booked into the county jail.

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