Search for Kidnapped Cop is 'Urgent'

More than a dozen law enforcement agencies, local, state and federal, are searching for a Katy ISD police officer believed kidnapped by a fellow officer. Deputies searched a storage facility for restraints and police-detecting electronic equipment.

Investigators say they have reason to believe the life of Katy Independent School District police officer Rachel Hillsman is in danger.

The Waller County Sheriff's department says Hillsman was forcibly taken, possibly in hand cuffs, by her former boyfriend, Officer Julio Reyes. This happened Tuesday just after 6 a.m. as Hillsman was leaving her mother's Waller County home.

Waller County Sheriff Glenn Smith says information gathered since the abduction leads them to believe there was a certain amount of premeditation involved.

"We feel real strong that the possibility that he may be did not move very far," said Smith on Wednesday morning. "Being an officer, he knew what we were going to do when we first responded, and we're trying to check the area."

As part of their search Wednesday morning, the Waller County Sheriffs Office raided a storage facility in Brookshire. They are looking for restraints, camping equipment, weapons, security cameras, security audio and videotape, listening devices, scanners, and other items used to detect and evade law enforcement. They also looked for cell phone devices, GPS devices, tracking devices and any equipment or software associated with these devices

At press conference just after noon, the family of the female officer showed up at the command post and pleaded for the womans safe return.

Sheriff Smith says Reyes and Hillsman had a major argument Monday evening, and Reyes threatened Hillsman several times. Because of those threats, Smith says Hillsman and her two children stayed at Hillsman's mothers home that night.

When Hillsman left the house the next morning they believe Reyes was waiting for her at the bottom of the driveway.

Investigators say Hillsman had in the car with her, her 13-month-old daughter, fathered by Reyes, and her seven-year-old daughter. That younger daughter was the only witness to the abduction. Police say the girl told them Reyes and her mother got into some sort of physical fight before he took her away. Investigators found a small amount of blood in Hillsman's car but they aren't sure if it belonged to Hillsman or Reyes.

Sheriff Smith also says Reyes bought some items at a store prior to the abduction that gives them more evidence that this was premeditated. He wouldn't say what those items were, but he did say they were items that made them more concerned for Hillsman's safety.

More than 45 officers from at least 12 law enforcement agencies attended a 6am briefing on the search at the Brookshire Police Department. Sheriff Smith says the agencies helping with the investigation are Katy ISD, Houston, Brookshire, Bellville, and Sealy police departments. In addition to Waller, there are four other counties in the search: Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, and Austin. Also in on the investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safey, Texas Rangers, the FBI and the U.S. Marshalls.

Investigators believe that Reyes and Hillsman are still in the area. Law enforcement agencies have set up several checkpoints between the Brazos River and Katy.

Sheriff Smith says there is a $25,000 reward in this case. Of this amount, $5,000 comes from Waller County Crimes Stoppers. The remaining $20,000 comes from private donations.

Anyone with information can call 979-826-8266.