A Texas man is in custody after deputies say he hopped into a police car, leading them on a 10-mile chase before ultimately crashing the vehicle. The 35-year-old man was arrested by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), according to local ABC station 13 Eyewitness News.
It looks like everything started when deputies were called to a restaurant after a patron refused to leave. A fight ensued between law enforcement and the suspect, who HCSO later identified as David Hopson IV, according to CW39.
While the details surrounding the case are scant now, since the investigation is ongoing, HCSO has shared that Hopson faces multiple charges, including felony evading.
Here’s what we know.
The Incident Began at the Bombshells Restaurant
Deputies were called to the 13700 East Freeway location of Bombshells Restaurant at 10:30 a.m., according to 13 Eyewitness News. HCSO responded, and the outlet says that a physical altercation broke out between the suspect and deputies.
But before the police could subdue Hopson, he allegedly hopped into an unlocked patrol vehicle, taking off toward Baytown.
Deputies Chased Hopson for 10 Miles
It sounds like things were pretty hairy during the police pursuit, when Hopson was accused of reaching triple-digit speeds while driving the patrol car on the East Freeway. However, HCSO was able to regain control of the situation when one of the deputies following the chase performed a PIT maneuver, which CW39 says ultimately disabled the car, causing it to roll over several times before coming to a stop.
If you’re unfamiliar with the mechanics of a PIT maneuver, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs describes it as a Precision Immobilization Technique that involves having a trailing officer hit the rear of a car, forcing it to make an abrupt 180-degree turn.
The Suspect Tried to Continue the Chase
Undeterred by the chaotic end to the road trip, deputies allege that Hopson then attempted to flee on foot, but they were able to quickly apprehend him.
Now, the outlet reports that he is facing three charges, including felony evading and theft. Of course, the investigation is ongoing, so more charges could always be added. On 13 Eyewitness News’ Facebook post about the arrest, people were quick to question why the patrol car was left unlocked to begin with. “Someone’s getting a write-up,” one person wrote.
“I would think out of all people a police officer should know that you do not leave the keys in the car with the engine running,” another person wrote.
“Supply your officers with remote keys that shut the vehicle off when you’re 10 feet away,” one commenter suggested.
While there doesn’t seem to be any updates yet on what will happen, if anything, to the deputy who left the patrol car sitting idle during the call, it’s clear that this situation had a much happier ending than it could’ve. Given the speed the car was allegedly traveling and the distance of the chase, it’s incredibly fortunate that no one else in the area got caught up in the pursuit.