WALKER COUNTY, TX- It was one of the most bizarre pursuits in recent memory. A pair of armed robbery suspects in a stolen sportscar had a wild multi-county joyride / pursuit Monday before they, literally, “ditched” the car in Huntsville, of all places, and fled on foot in opposite directions. The suspects were in custody long before the 10 o’clock news, thanks to the combined efforts of a large group of law enforcement officers, and the most important lesson the suspects never learned-
“Don’t mess with Texas Sheriffs…” or Texas State Troopers… and especially remember not to “mess with” Texas law enforcement K9 Units! They LOVE to work, and they’ll track until suspects are “cuffed and stuffed”! Â
According to law enforcement, the two suspects carjacked someone in Arlington, taking the victim’s Ford Mustang, with a sharp looking white paintjob, with black racing stripes. Presumably, the sportscar’s look would appeal to most young males, with the bonus of those cars being known for speed. The flaw in that logic is the distinctive paintjob making the car noticeable to any on-duty cop, and easy to spot for anyone aware of the attempt to locate the vehicle.
A Houston Police Officer first noticed the Mustang on Hwy 249 around Willowbrook Mall. According to Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell, the HPD Officer was unaware of the carjacking that occurred nowhere near there, but said the driver was operating the car recklessly and he began to follow and called in the plate in advance of initiating a traffic stop. The Officer then learned it was reported stolen and the occupants were to be considered armed and dangerous.
The Mustang headed north, passing through Montgomery County and heading into Grimes County with law enforcement from two counties in tow. By the time the suspects reached Anderson, law enforcement from three counties was trying to end their adventure. The HPD Officer was reportedly instructed to terminate the pursuit in Grimes County, and return to his post in Harris County. He complied. However, Grimes County, despite their best effort, found it impossible to communicate with the Officer who’d begun the pursuit. In fact, Sheriff Sowell says at first, Grimes County thought the pursuit originated in Montgomery County. (Understandable thinking, considering how many MoCo chases have gone that direction.)
Law enforcement radioed dispatch minute-by-minute and reported the suspects ignoring small town stop signs, and traveling in excess of 120 mph during some of the pursuit. They continued northbound and were on Hwy 90, traveling through Grimes County, north of Bedias and into Madison County. Law enforcement was trying to coordinate with agencies in the direction they were headed, since they’d been unable to catch up, but then they temporarily lost sight of the suspect vehicle.
It seemed as though everyone was going to be heading back to their respective jurisdictions emptyhanded, hoping someone, somewhere would hear the description and recognize the vehicle. Just when all were about to resign themselves to being outmaneuvered, an officer keyed up on the radio and said the vehicle was headed back southbound. When the Mustang again reached Bedias, it unexpectedly headed to Walker County on FM 1696.
Ironically, the suspects wound up in Huntsville, which is known regionally for being home to Sam Houston State University. On the other hand, Huntsville is known globally for being home to “death row” (aka the Walls Unit) and the Texas Prison Museum, where death penalty enthusiasts can visit “Old Sparky” – the electric chair the state once used for capital punishment.
It’s unclear if Huntsville is where the suspects meant to go, or if they intended to drive through Walker County and continue. In any case, that decision sealed their fate because the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office contacted Walker County Dispatch just before 5 p.m., and Walker County Sheriff’s Office deployed spike strips in the path of the suspect’s vehicle. This caused the tires to fail and the car to go into a ditch near FM 1696 and Hardy Lane.
Law enforcement wasn’t far behind the suspects, but the pair managed to get out of the ditched Mustang and run in opposite directions. By the time the incident became a manhunt, the area was beginning to look like a law enforcement convention!
The suspects initially disappeared after running from the car. They may have succeeded if not for a few factors – like flying through communities where law enforcement takes endangering their citizens personally, and ending up in possibly the worst city in Texas to try and play hide and seek with law enforcement. It was a tedious search with unidentified, allegedly armed fugitives and some civilians nearby in their homes. Law enforcement set up a perimeter and warned area residents to shelter in place with doors locked.
It was impossible for anyone monitoring the radio transmissions not to wonder if it would be one more time suspects vanished and became another unsolved case. The suspects may have wondered the same, but they failed to factor in the determination of Sheriffs like Don Sowell, who was on the scene. In fact, three County Sheriffs were on-location! Walker County Sheriff Clint McRae and Madison County Sheriff Bobby Adams were also on location when they could’ve been at home in their recliners. What’s more, they weren’t planning to leave the search area without someone taken into custody.
Of course, the wildcard factor, which was either incredibly good luck or the absolute cruelest of coincidences, depending upon which side of the bars one is on, was the dogs.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS, State Troopers, etc.) recently acquired four K9s. It just so happened the K9 Officers and their human partners were in Huntsville for suspect tracking training Monday. Grimes County SO’s K9, Hank, also joined in. A DPS helicopter was searching from the air, while officers on foot and tracking K9s scoured the area below.
In the end, a DPS K9 found one suspect, and GCSO’s Hank for the other. Both were taken into custody, but they won’t be cellmates. One of the suspects was only 16. The other is 19, and will turn 20 later this year.
The 16-year-old from Arlington, whose identity is protected because he’s a juvenile, was caught first. According to DPS, he was the driver and is charged with state jail felony Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle and third-degree felony Evading in a vehicle. He’s being held in the Fort Bend County Juvenile Detention Center.
Around 50 minutes later, the second suspect was found and detained in the woods. He’s identified as 19-year-old Gecoren Smith McQuinney from Grand Prairie. He’s charged with class A misdemeanor Evading Arrest; class B misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana; class A misdemeanor Possession of Unlawful Carry of a Weapon; a third-degree felony warrant from Dallas County for Unlawfully Carrying Weapon Prohibited Place; and three first-degree felony Aggravated Robbery warrants from Tarrant County.
Walker County Sheriff’s Office says the investigation is continuing and agencies are collaborating to determine whether the pair is connected with other aggravated robberies across the state.
Walker County Sheriff McRae said he’s grateful to all the agencies that assisted in taking two violent criminals off the streets. He and Grimes County Sheriff Don Sowell both reiterated how the successful operation highlights the importance of teamwork to ensure public safety.
Law enforcement agencies involved included, Houston Police, Grimes County Sheriff’s Office, Walker County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, DPS, Huntsville Police Department and Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.
