FUGITIVE IN CUSTODY AFTER LEADING OFFICERS
Through the river and into the woods…
A routine traffic stop turned into an endurance race for one Hallettsville police officer when the man he pulled over dove out of his vehicle and took off running just as the sun began to set Tuesday.
The officer was headed for the police station when he popped on his overheads to begin the traffic stop in the 100-block of West Fairwinds Street (U.S. 90 Alternate) at 6:49 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30.
They crossed the bridge and turned on to one of the side roads, rolling along for two full blocks more before the driver finally came to a stop came to a stop at West Fifth and Kessler streets.
There, the subject bailed out of the vehicle and fled on foot, with the offcer close behind.
He led officers, quite literally, through the river, across several parking lots on the opposing bank, and back into the woods behind Whitley Lumber Yard and the other businesses that front up to Fairwinds, just west of the Lavaca River bridge.
A perimeter was established, and after a lengthy search, the subject was taken into custody without incident in the 100-block of Willis Street.
Further investigation at his abandoned vehicle, back across the river, revealed that the fleeing felon was in possession of a stolen handgun out of the Houston area.
The subject, a man from Schulenburg, was booked into the Lavaca County Jail for unlawful firearm possession by a felon, theft of a firearm, evading arrest and several outstanding local arrest warrants stemming from other crimes.
Hallettsville Police Department asked that we thank the Lavaca County Sheriff's Office, Lavaca County Office of Emergency Management, and the many citizens who helped with the capture.