CONROE-Concerned citizens prevented a theft and assault suspect from escaping, physically restraining him until an officer reached them.
Just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, police say two Hispanic males fled with $900 in merchandise from the Academy store on Interstate 45 near Loop 336. A loss prevention officer tried to stop them and was beaten and kicked. Witnesses said the pair left the parking lot in a tan colored Chevy Tahoe with no license plates.
Conroe Police were dispatched and began searching for the men. An officer saw them pulling out of the Hasting’s parking lot on West Davis and tried to initiate a traffic stop. The truck fled eastbound on Davis to Interstate 45 south and turned into the Best Buy parking lot traveling at a high rate of speed and narrowly missing a family who was using a designated pedestrian crossing path. The pair continued driving in a way that by all accounts showed no regard for pedestrian safety.
In front of Home Depot, at the other end of the shopping center, the pair jumped out of their vehicle and tried to flee on foot. One was able to escape, but the other was not fast enough and was tackled by some bystanders who had seen the truck speeding through the parking lot. The citizens held 31-year-old Luis Miguel Reyes of Houston until the officer arrived and took over.
Meanwhile, the second suspect fled between the buildings and across a retention pond behind Home Depot. The Pct. 4 Constable’s K-9 officer, Deputy Drew Sharp happened to be in the area and responded with his dog who tracked the second suspect to an apartment complex in the 200 block of the Interstate 45 feeder. They were unable to locate the suspect, who witnesses said jumped into a vehicle with someone and left the complex.
Reyes was charged with robbery and evading and resisting arrest. His bond was set at $21,000, which was posted on Sunday and he was released.
