Walmart theft leads to ‘dangerous’ high-speed chase
By Alexandria Randolph
An unidentified man is in custody after a nearly 50-mile, high-speed chase that involved several law enforcement entities and ended in a wreck Thursday morning.
Texas DPS Sgt. Tim Blackburn said the man has been hospitalized and is in police custody after leading law enforcement on a chase Thursday, Feb. 19 at about 9:20 a.m.
Marble Falls Police said the chase began after the suspect stole items from Walmart in Marble Falls, and police issued a watch for the suspect’s vehicle.
“The subject made it to his vehicle and was out on the highway before our officers could respond,” said Marble Falls Police Sgt. Tom Dillard. “Our dispatchers did a good job of relaying the information to Burnet County, and he was spotted nearing Delaware Springs.”
A Texas DPS Trooper traveling on US 281 caught sight of the suspect based on vehicle and license plate description provided to dispatchers by the Walmart Loss Prevention Department.
“One of our troopers saw a vehicle that matched the description and initiated a traffic stop. When the trooper walked up to the car it drove off,” Blackman said. “A pursuit ensued.”
According to dispatch officers, the chase began at about 9:20 a.m. and quickly achieved speeds of 80 miles per hour. Dispatchers said the suspect went through Burnet at high speed and took TX 29 east toward Bertram.
Burnet County Sheriffs Deputies and several DPS Troopers were involved in the pursuit.
“There was high speed and reckless driving involved,” Blackman said, and Dillard added he would “characterize the pursuit as dangerous.”
Dispatchers then reported the suspect turned onto east FM 243, and traveled north toward CR 213 at roughly 95 miles per hour.
Dillard said the suspect crossed into Williamson County and “wrecked out” on TX 195 between Florence and Interstate 35 just after 10 a.m. and was taken into custody by DPS Troopers.
Check this webpage for updates as information becomes available. For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.
