A wanted man led police on a high speed chase that spanned three counties and involved multiple agencies by the time it ended in the Sam Houston National Forest.
Patton Village Police Officer Coldiron was working interdiction on the northbound main lanes of US 59 when he witnessed multiple moving violations by a 2002 Nissan Maxima. The driver made an unsafe lane change and Officer Coldiron attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The Maxima took the FM 2090 exit at Splendora and accelerated, whipping into a Shell station parking lot at approximately 30 mph, nearly striking more than one vehicle in the process.
The suspect then continued north on Business 59, disregarding stop signs and signal lights, narrowly missing several more vehicles before returning to the main lanes of US 59 at Fostoria Road, headed toward Liberty County. The car reached speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour and had many close calls as the suspect navigated through afternoon traffic, at one point slamming on his brakes at a crossover in an apparent attempt to make a u-turn that almost caused the vehicle to go out of control into the median. Instead, the driver regained control and continued northbound at a high rate of speed, passing illegally, and nearly being involved in or causing many accidents.
The suspect continued into Liberty County, past SH 105 and took the FM 2025 exit, heading into San Jacinto County. By then, other agencies were involved, including the Liberty and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices and Precinct 4 Constable’s Office. DPS Troopers attempted to spike the vehicle, but the suspect navigated around the spikes, traveling several miles west on FM 2025 before turning north on CR 221, which is a dirt road that goes into the Sam Houston National Forest. The suspect then turned west on CR 217, where he pulled into a dirt parking area, abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into the woods.
Officers were unsuccessful in locating the suspect after he fled into the National Forest, but believe they were able to identify him as someone with multiple warrants from the agencies involved and one other jurisdiction. The pursuit was initiated around 3:10 p.m. and ended at 3:37 p.m. The search for the suspect stopped around 4:30 p.m. and officers had his vehicle towed and cleared the scene.
The suspect’s identity has not been released, but MCPR will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.
