Marines egged while collecting toy donations

• Another Marine nearby helped police catch the suspects
• The eggs were stolen from a nearby Wal-Mart
• Another Marine nearby helped police catch the suspects

A group of Marines who were collecting donations from early morning commuters on behalf of Toys for Tots in Texas, were hit with a barrage of eggs, according to police.

The incident occurred shortly before 6 a.m., according to San Angelo police. The department received several calls about the occupants of a pickup truck throwing eggs at pedestrians and other vehicles in town.

The pedestrians were four Marines, volunteers for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, who had set up shop at a street corner to collect new Christmas toys to be given to less fortunate children in the community.

The truck almost hit one of the Marines as it sped by — and almost collided head-on with another vehicle — before hitting a traffic island a short while later, according to Lt. Mike Hernandez, a police spokesman.

The driver, Hunter Holbert, 18, was arrested and charged with reckless driving and criminal mischief. Two other 18-year-olds, Brandon Garcia and Taylor White, and an unidentified juvenile male, all passengers in Holbert's vehicle, were also cited for criminal mischief.

Hernandez said the four Marines were hit with several cartons of eggs that the group allegedly stole from a nearby Wal-Mart. While he doesn't think the men intentionally targeted the Marines, he still found the incident upsetting.

"I took it personal because I was a Marine," Hernandez said. "They attacked my guys. I usually don't say stuff like that."

Once the patrol officer on duty received the call, the suspects were located in a little more than 10 minutes. Hernandez credits an anonymous Marine nearby, whose vehicle was also egged, for helping the officer make the timely catch.

"He actually chased (the suspects) for a little while so that officers could locate them," Hernandez said.

Since the incident, members of the community have contacted the San Angelo Police Department offering to pay for the Marines' dry cleaning.

Holbert faces up to $2,000 fine and six months in jail if convicted.