Arrest made, charges filed in Nov. 30 officer-involved shooting near Smithwick
The Burnet County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) on Thursday, Jan. 18, reported that the man accused in the road-rage incident near Smithwick on Nov. 30 is in the county jail under five counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The man is David L. Meyer, 45, of Rockford, Ill. He was shot by an off-duty Austin Police Department officer who observed a family under attack in the 1200 block of Ranch to Market Road of 1431.
“Mr. Meyer had been recovering from his injuries in an Austin-area rehabilitation facility,” said the BCSO press release. “He was transported to the Travis County Jail initially, and then was transferred to the Burnet County Jail on Jan. 17. His bond is set at $100,000 for each count. This matter is being referred to the 33rd/424th District Attorney's Office for prosecution.”
Burnet County Sheriff Calvin Boyd said last month the incident appeared to have stemmed from a road-rage situation which occurred about eight miles east of Marble Falls at around 10 p.m. Nov. 30.
"At 10:11 PM, the Burnet County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call regarding shots fired involving an off-duty Austin Police Department officer," said a press release from Boyd the next morning.
As the yet-unidentified officer was traveling home, he came upon a man exiting a red Camero and pointing a gun at another vehicle, occupied by a family of three, reportedly from Cottonwood Shores.
"The off-duty APD officer pulled up, and from what I understand, identified himself," said Boyd. "The subject and the officer exchanged gunfire and the subject was hit at least once, suffering non-life-threatening injuries."
The sheriff's press release said the male subject was located unconscious in nearby brush and was airlifted to Dell Seton Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition.
"While gunfire was being exchanged, the family of three successfully escaped into nearby brush," said the report.
"The officer was not injured, nor were the occupants of the other vehicle," said Boyd. "If the officer had not shown up, there is no telling what would have happened out there."
"We need to talk to the officer at length, which should clear up most of questions we will have about this incident," Boyd said.
"This involved an off-duty Austin PD detective who was driving on this stretch of road way. He came upon an incident where he felt the need to take immediate action to save lives," said APD Chief Brian Manley. "Due to the jurisdiction where this incident happened, APD won't be the agency for the investigating agency for the criminal portion of this investigation. They will be handling administrative portion."
"As is our typical practice, he'll be on administrative duty while we conduct these investigations," Manley said. "We have been participating and cooperating fully as necessary with the agencies conducting this investigation."
Neither Boyd nor APD Chief Brian Manley revealed the identity of the APD officer, although Manley said in a Friday morning press conference he is a 19-year veteran officer. Manley praised the officer for his quick thinking and quick reaction.
"This highlights fact that as a police officer, even when you're off duty, you may be on duty. You always have to be aware, pay attention and be prepared to take action," Manley said. "From what I understand facts to be, our detective saved lives last night. Had he not been on that stretch of road at that time, there's really no telling what would 've happened. The act of aggression he came across may have resulted in loss of life."
