JARRELL, Texas (KWTX) — The Texas Rangers are investigating a shooting involving a police officer and a suspect fleeing during a pursuit Sunday evening.
At about 7:40 p.m. on Dec. 14, an officer with the Jarrell Police Department initiated a traffic stop on a blue Chevrolet SUV after observing the driver fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and the northbound IH-35 frontage road in Jarrell.
After the traffic stop was initiated, police said, the driver of the SUV did not immediately yield and took an extended period of time before coming to a stop near the 10000 block of the northbound I-35 frontage road.
Officers approached the vehicle and requested the driver’s license and insurance, which the driver was unable to produce.
Officers also detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
The driver, described by police as a 20-year-old Hispanic man, was asked to exit the vehicle.
He refused and instead placed the vehicle in drive and fled the scene, initiating a vehicle pursuit, police said.
Officers pursued the vehicle northbound as it ran a red light and entered Interstate 35. During the pursuit, speeds exceeded 100 miles per hour.
The suspect vehicle was observed driving erratically, failing to maintain a single lane of travel on multiple occasions, and creating a significant danger to the public, police said.
“At one point, the suspect vehicle traveled through an active construction zone, striking traffic cones and weaving through barricades while construction workers were present,” police said.
“Several construction workers were forced to quickly move out of the vehicle’s path to avoid being struck. The suspect vehicle narrowly avoided striking multiple construction workers, creating a substantial risk of serious injury.”
Police said that due to the immediate and ongoing threat to public safety, Jarrell officers executed a tactical vehicle maneuver in an attempt to bring the pursuit to an end.
Following the successful maneuver, officers conducted a high-risk stop and issued multiple verbal commands for the driver to put his hands up and stop reaching.
“The driver failed to comply and continued making furtive movements, repeatedly leaning forward and reaching toward the floorboard,” police said.
“During this encounter, a single shot was fired by a Jarrell Police Officer, striking the driver in the upper right torso.”
Officers immediately removed the driver from the vehicle and began rendering life-saving measures until emergency medical services arrived.
The suspect was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and is currently listed in stable condition, police said.
A search of the vehicle allegedly resulted in the recovery of a semi-automatic pistol located on the driver’s floorboard.
Officers also allegedly located drug paraphernalia, an alcoholic beverage, a vape pen that tested presumptive positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and a baggie containing a substance believed to be marijuana.
In accordance with department policy, the police officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
The shooting remains under active investigation by the Texas Rangers, with assistance from the Jarrell Police Department, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office, and the Bell County Sheriff’s Office.
No further information is available at this time. The name of the driver was not released.
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