Just after midnight, a Willis Police unit was working moving radar in their city when a white pickup passed him at a high rate of speed. The officer attempted to stop the truck which traveled down Wood Street to FM 1097 and west to Interstate 45.
As the truck entered Interstate 45 southbound the driver accelerated to over 100 miles per hour, Conroe Police were notified and attempted to get into position to spike the vehicle, however he moved through Conroe to quickly to get into position.
As they crossed Crighton Road the driver started throwing beer cans out the window as he continued his high speed. At one point he parted vehicles by driving down the center lane dividers.
Multiple DPS units were now also assisting.
As they continued southbound and exited the Conroe city limits, the driver identified as Lionel Rodriguez, 26 formerly of Willis now living in Huntsville called 911. Conroe dispatch answered and Rodriguez announced that he was a wanted felon and the only way he was going to stop is if he was killed by an officer.
The chase continued through Montgomery County at speeds just over 100 miles per hour and was joined by Harris County at Richey Road and Interstate 45.
As they reached the North Belt Houston Police were notified and also became involved in the pursuit. Houston units requested the helicopter be launched to assist.
Rodriguez continued to talk with the Conroe dispatcher as she tried talking him into stopping. As they approached Little York he told her he would quit if he could go to the Montgomery County Jail and not Harris County. Since the chase started in Montgomery County that would have been his destination.
The chase continued through Houston, traffic was light for a Sunday night, most motorists pulled over to clear a lane, as some pulled into another lane and slowed to below highway speeds just to get a look at what was happening.
Houston Police Departments helicopter met the pursuit as they past Hobby Airport and began to give officers alerts as to what was ahead.
Rodriguez then entered the South Belt and traveled westbound toward SH 288. Just before SH 288 the Conroe dispatcher convinced him that nobody had been hurt and to give himself up.
With his truck showing only eighty miles until his fuel tank was empty Rodriguez stopped in the middle of Beltway 8 and surrendered without incident.
Rodriguez was transported to the Montgomery County Jail where he is charged with evading arrest. In addition, he had open warrants for forgery and probation violations from Dallas.
Rodriguez was very cooperative after he surrendered and apologized for everything he did and putting so many people in danger. He commented how he just wanted to clear all his charges up even if it took several years.
There were o crashes or injuries during the pursuit.
This was not his first brush with the law
2004-UNLAWFUL CARRYING A WEAPON-MONTGOMERY COUNTY-180 DAY
2004-BURGLARY OF HABITATION-DROPPED TO CRIMINAL TRESPASS-MONTGOMERY COUNTYY-30 DAYS
2004-FAIL TO ID FUGITIVE INTENT TO GIVE FALSE INFO-MONTGOMERY COUNTY-30 DAYS
2005-BURGLARY OF MOTOR VEHICLE-MONTGOMERY-DISMISSED
2005-AGGRAVATED ASSAULT WITH DEADLY WEAPON-MONTGOMERY COUNTY-1 YEAR PROBATION
2006-EVADING ARREST-MONTGOMERY-DISMISSED
2008-MANUFACTURE/DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE-DALLAS-10 YEARS TDCJ
2008-MANUFACTURE/DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE-DALLAS-10 YEARS TDCJ
He was released on parole.
“He commented how he just wanted to clear all his charges up even if it took several years.”
Hopefully that will be arranged.
Unbelieveable LEOs can’t?/don’t use The PIT Maneuver when an idiot like this decides to put the public in danger due to his selfishness. A police chase should never last 70 miles.
“He was released on parole”. That’s the problem! Insane judges continue to set loose armies of felons into our neighborhoods and streets. Just look at that list of crimes up there. “Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon…1 year probation??!! Maybe next time he’ll kill a few people. And if he plays nice..they’ll release him again im sure
What a idiot lock him up for good. So all our family’s will have one less idiot to deal with.
How is this guy out on probation after all of his arrests? And how does he get things dropped? I guess if he would have killed someone THEN they would start taking him more seriously. And I worry about obeying the speed limit, paying my taxes on time and keeping my vehicle’s inspection sticker current. Sheesh. How do police officers deal with this? They keep catching him and the courts keep releasing them. Must be frustrating to be in law enforcement.