On Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at around 2:24 a.m. the Cleveland Police Department dispatch received a call that a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Deputy was in pursuit of a vehicle traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 59 /I-69 at a high rate of speed. The police pursuit entered the city limits of Cleveland when suddenly the speeding vehicle exited the freeway on the north end of town traveling onto the 59 Northbound frontage road. The vehicle continued on the frontage road a short distance where it lost control in a “sharp” ninety degree curve causing the vehicle to leave the roadway. The vehicle went down a wet grassy embankment ejecting one of the occupants and started to roll over multiple times before coming to a stop. The driver exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Deputies were able to detain another passenger who was inside the vehicle before he was transported to the emergency room with minor injuries. The ejected passenger was later identified as Julio Uribe, age 18 of Cleveland, Texas. Julio was pronounced deceased at the scene by Liberty County Justice of the Peace Precinct #6, Judge Ralph Fuller. Law enforcement officers were able to track the driver to a local address across town where he was later taken into custody and held at the Cleveland Police Department’s Jail. The driver was identified as Anthony Joseph Figueroa, age 19, of Cleveland, Texas. On Monday, May 22nd, 2023 Anthony was taken before Judge Ralph Fuller where he was charged with “Murder”- first-degree felony, and his bond was set at $ 1.2 million dollars. Anthony has been transported to the Liberty County Jail at press time. “Investigators are still questioning why the driver led officers on a high-speed chase that ended in the death of a friend”. Cleveland Police Chief Broussard stated, “It’s a very tragic situation and the Cleveland Police Department’s prayers and hearts go out to Julio’s family”. Anyone who may have more information about this case is encouraged to contact the Cleveland Police Department’s CID-Criminal Investigations Division, at (281) 592-1185. Chief Broussard went on to say, “Texas DPS Sgt. Barnhill and Trooper McAdoo, both assigned to Montgomery County did an awesome job helping to bring closure to the case”.
