A routine traffic stop turned into anything but on July 19, 2026, when deputies with Harris County Constable Mark Herman’s Office tried to pull over a vehicle in the 2700 block of N. Sam Houston Parkway W. Instead of pulling over like the rest of us do when we see those lights in the mirror, the driver kept going, kicking off a short pursuit.
Deputies eventually got the vehicle stopped safely, which is always the outcome you want in these situations. The driver was identified as Asonya Crawford, and according to officials, she showed several signs of being intoxicated behind the wheel.
From there, things followed a pattern familiar to anyone who has watched a few too many police procedurals. Deputies ran Crawford through Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, the same balance-and-coordination checks used across the country, and determined she was indeed intoxicated. But the story didn’t end at the roadside.
While being transported to the Harris County Jail, Crawford allegedly threatened to kill the deputy driving her there. That’s a serious escalation, and it’s the kind of thing that turns a DWI arrest into a much bigger legal headache.
What Happened During the Stop
Details from the Constable’s Office are fairly straightforward here. Deputies attempted the stop, the driver didn’t comply right away, and a brief pursuit followed before the vehicle was brought to a stop without incident.
No injuries or crashes were reported in connection with the chase itself, which is the best-case scenario when a stop doesn’t go as planned.
The Charges Against Crawford
Crawford was arrested and booked into the Harris County Jail. She’s facing three charges: Evading Arrest in a Motor Vehicle, Driving While Intoxicated, and Retaliation, the last of which stems from the threat made against the transporting deputy.
Her bond was set at a combined $17,600 out of the 248th District Court and County Court 6.
Statement From the Constable’s Office
Constable Mark Herman weighed in on the arrest, saying that refusing to stop for law enforcement, driving while intoxicated, and threatening a deputy put both the community and deputies at risk.
He credited his deputies for acting quickly and professionally to bring the situation to a safe resolution.
Most statements from the public, however, were focused on Crawford’s grill. Said one comment on Facebook: “Gold on your teeth doesn’t look as good as you think it does.” Another added: “Was it the alcohol you smelled or those tarnished gold teefesis?”
A Stop That Could Have Gone Differently
Pursuits involving an intoxicated driver are always a gamble, for the driver, for deputies, and for anyone else on the road at the time. This one ended without anyone getting hurt, which, given the circumstances, counts as a win. The legal process will now play out in court, where Crawford faces the combined weight of the evading, DWI, and retaliation charges.
Information for this article was provided by Harris County Constable Precinct 4.