Lieutenant Steve Dorris Public Information Officer (281) 420-6617 steve.dorris@baytown.org Rick Davis City Manager 2020-21957
https://abc13.com/traffic/east-freeway-back-open-after-high-speed-chase-ends-in-gunfire/6139100/
Suspect opens fire on officers after vehicle pursuit On April 29th at approximately 9:50 p.m., Baytown Police Officers responded to assist Harris County Sheriff’s Deputies who were engaged in a vehicle pursuit eastbound on Intertstate10. The pursuit ended in the 4700 block of Interstate 10, where the suspect exchanged gunfire with officers. Baytown Police Department Homicide Detectives responded to the scene, along with Investigators from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Thus far, our preliminary investigation has revealed that Harris County Sheriff Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a four-door passenger car in the area of Interstate 10 and Uvalde. The suspect however, refused to stop and instead led Deputies on a lengthy pursuit, traversing the greater Houston area before getting back on Interstate 10 and traveling east bound. As the suspect vehicle entered the Baytown city limits, officers deployed Stop Sticks, which were effective in bringing the suspect vehicle to a stop in the 4700 block of Interstate 10. As the suspect vehicle came to a stop in the eastbound main lanes of Interstate 10, the suspect, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, engaged the officers with gunfire. In response to this senseless attempt on their lives, the officers, consisting of one Baytown Officer and three Harris County Sheriff’s Department Deputies, were forced to discharge their duty weapons, striking the suspect multiple times in his lower extremities. The officers immediately summoned medical assistance for the suspect and rendered aid to him themselves until Emergency Medical Personnel arrived on scene. The suspect, a 25 year old Houston man, was subsequently airlifted to Houston Memorial Herman Hospital to be treated for his injuries, which are not believed to be life threatening. Once released from the hospital the suspect could be facing multiple felony charges, including Felony Evading in a Motor Vehicle and Aggravated Assault on a Public Servant. Fortunately none of the officers involved in the incident were injured. The Baytown Officer involved in the incident is a 10-year veteran of the Baytown Police Department, while the Deputies involved are 12-year, 6-year and 2-year veterans of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. The Baytown Police Department will be conducting a detailed investigation into the incident, working in conjunction with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. Both, the Baytown Police Department and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department’s Internal Affairs Divisions will also be conducting internal reviews of the incident for their respective officers, which is customary in incidents such as these.